The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-02-24

of fowls. Corn is only allowable
and in small quantities during severe
| cold. The Asiatic breeds should
rarely have any, as they naturally
take on fat too readily. For the best
egg-production in heavy fowls oats
are as good a feed as any. They
give bulk, while the nutriment they
contain is of the kind which goes to
make eggs rather than fat.
FLOUR FOR SOUTHERN USE.
Owing to the failure of the crops in
the Winter-wheat States a large
quantity of flour from Michigan and
the Northwest is being sent to points
south Of the Ohio River. Most deal
ers there prefer it in one-eighth and
one-quarter barrel paper sacks, but
the railroad lines charge from tento
fourteen cents per barrel
freight than if in barrels. All the
Eastern lines take 200 pounds in
sacks at the same rate as per barrel.
AS the colored people buy chiefly in
bags this is a sharp discrimination.
Sales of Northern flour will increase
rapidly through the South.
THE CULTURE OF PEAS.
DIR. Sturtevant, at the New York
Agricultural Experiment Station,
found hat mulching the soil lightly
between the rows of peas with straw
retarded the attack of mildew very
perceptibly. The date when the
mnlched rows became Overrun with
this parasite was not noted, but On
August 18th they were free from
mildew, while unmulched rows plant
ed at the same time were entirely
enveloped. A slight promotion of
earliness, say three or four days, was
noted as the effect of pinching the
terminal shoots. AS a matter of eX-
pertinent the permitting the seed Of
peas to sprout before planting indi-
Gated an advantage in the earliness
Ut the first pods of three to eight
d VS.. 1t appears as if the position
of the seeds in the pod has little if
any influence upon the resultant
plants.
% THE VINEGAR BARREL.
Cold tea can be utilized by putting
it in the vinegar barrel. 1t is all
the better if sweetened, but without
will and flavor and something of the
color of good cider, which is the best
foundation for making the best vim
egar.
FROZEN ONIONS.
1t is not generally known that
once freezing of onions does not in
lure them, provided they are not dis
turbed until thawed out. Seedsmen
usually plant onions for seed in the
Fail, and they remain uninjured by
the severest Winter, and + ready
to grow in the Spring.
CORN For FUEL.
In many parts of the West wood
cannot be had for burning, and coal
is so scarce or hard to get that far
mers n obliged to grow something
to burn. Strange as it may seem to
Eastern farmers, corn is the most in
favor for this purpose. 1t gives
more heat per bushel than soft coal.
KEEP FOOD CLEAN.
No kind of animal will thrive so
we'll if obliged to eat food that has
been fouled. Pigs and poultry will
eat more or less fresh soil or gravel,
and both thrive better from having
access to it. But this is very differ.
ent from the foulness of their own
droppings which accumulate in yards
and pens.
MAKING NEATSFOOT OIL.
There is no mystery about max
ing neatsfoot oil. The only thing
necessary is to boil in a kettle as
many cattle's feet and hoofs as can
be obtained and skim off the oil un-
til no more rises. From the four
feet of n animal a pint of oil is
usually ATTAINED, and it is we'll worth
the triiing cost of making it.
DANCED FROM FIRES,
Most fires in country homes come
from leaking of cinders around old
and defective ~stovepipes. These
should be seen to every Winter and
before they become defective should
be replaced by new. With this pre-
caution, farmers who are careful
and are not too heavily in debt can
do part of their own insuring.
MIXED GRASSES.
A much heavier sod and larger
~,,0 NTH 81 a1fhno noaf,ro, ~, Now g