The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-04-14
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

IL
other people. By the census OF 1880
the value of agricultural implements
made the previous year was S6o'-
OOO. 900. Ten years is a long life to
the average of farm tools, and many
are worthless after three or four
wears use or rust. 1t is probable
that the entire amount invested In
farm tools now in use is nearly or
quite $1,000, 100000.
GROWING CABBAGE WITHOUT TRANS
PLANTING.
If cabbage is properly set out it
suffers little by the operation, and
after a few days it's growth will gen
orally be more rapid than n not
transplanted. But SO often is this
work poorly done that it is worth
while to grow some Of the late, large
varieties by sowing seed in hills
three or four in a place where the
plants are needed. AS soon as they
get large enough all but the best are
removed and transplanted else
where.
CLOVER AND GRASS SEEDS.
Too much care cannot be taken to
get clover seed free from weeds.
This is becoming increasingly diff
cult every year. The weed seeds
most dangerous are the narrow and
w~ide-leafed plantain in clover, and
in timothy seed there are wild car
rot and daisy. 1t is safer to take
seed two years old if we'll kept, than
that about which there is any doubt.
Spread the seed thinly OF a white
sheet and examine with a micro
scope. Any deteriorations from the
regular shape of clover and seeds
will in this way be made conspic-
SAVING LIQUID MANURE.
No waste of the farm is more
common or serious than that of the
liquid eXcrement of stock. The
barnyard unless we'll beded is the
receptacle of a vast amount of valu-
able fertilizers which cannot easily
be gathered up. The liquid excre-
ment of a horse is worth vastly more
as a fertilizer than the solid excre-
ment from the same animal.
ASPARAGUS.
Every farmers family should have
a bed of asparagus. 1t is a delicious
and healthful vegetable. A bed once
set and properly cared for will last
for years, and grow better with
time. Roots a be procured so
cheaply hat it is not worth while
in making the first bed to grow
plants from seed. Farmers espe-
cially should not make the mistake
of planting too closely. Rows four
feet apart are better than narrower,
and plants two feet apart in the
row. With rich soil, as an aspara-
gus bed should always have, the
plants will soon occupy the entire
room and produce finer shoots than
if crowded.
GARGET IN COWS.
For some days before dropping
her calf a cow should be closely
looked after to see that her bag does
not become feverish and sore from
excessive amount of milk. Many
COWS need milking for a few days
before calving to avoid trouble there
after. If young heifer springs her
bag long before her time of calving,
she should be MIXED, spite of the
protests of those who urge that this
practice once begun must be contin-
ued every time she drops a calf
thereafter. The objection is a true
one. Milking thus early keeps the
bag in good condition for secreting
and holding milk, and this habit
lasts through life. But if the bag is
neglected with the first calf the
damage is equally i%rreparable.
I N VS.. COARSE WooLED SHEEP.
There is good reason why coarse
wooded sheep will never become
popular on thin and unproductive
soil. They require cheap and abund-
ant feed, and in this respect the
western farmer has an important
advantage. Eight fine-woolled sheep
cost as much to keep as an average
COW, while of the Cotswold and Lei
cester five sheep will eat a cows
rations, and the proportion between
the two is even more diverse than
this. Unless coarse-woolled sheep
have abundance of feed they will
starve. The Merino breeds will pick