Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-23
FARM NOTES


beef cattle was 500 pounds; now it is 400
pounds.
Put the onions in a cool place. If they
should freeze do not disturb them, but al
low them to thaw gradually. Do not lay
them too thickly. Onions sets may be
kept in the same manner.
Prentice, the champion shorthorn, at
the recent Chicago Fat Stock Show, was a
grandson of the Duke of Connaught,
which sold for So, 500, the highest price
ever paid for bull of any breed.
New England horticulturists say that
the rose bug on the grape vine can be
prevented by laying the vines on the
ground, thus causing early blossomin G,
and before the rosebug shall get around.
Look out for lice; while they are not as
hard on hogs as they are on chickens,
they are very unsightly and cause the
poor creatures great deal of discom-
fort when they have to keep up an inces-
cant scratching.
Since the color is pleasing to the eye,
Prof. Alvord saw no objection in adding
coloring matter directly in the butter. In
answer to a question as to what breeds
give the best milk for infants food he
said that physicians recommend the milk
of Ayshires and the various Dutch breeds,
since it was not too rich in fats.
A hoed crop should be part of the re-
gular rotations on all farms, for the
reason that such a crop requires close
cultivation, and when removed leaves the
ground clean. Unless this be done the
weeds Will at some time take possession
Of the fields, though much benefit will re-
suit from the use of the cultivator if a
corn crop be grown.
mixture of two bushels of ground
plaster with thirty bushels of wood ashes
is one of the best fertilizers that can be
it should be put on early, being evenly
broadcasted. The work should be done
on damp day, and the rains will carry
down. The effects of the application
will be noticed during the whole sea-
son.
Early tomato plants can be started
now if preferred, but they should be
transferred to pots containing only sin
gle plant until the time shall have ar
rived for placing them in the open
ground. It is laborious matter where
large numbers of plants are to be used,
but age is an all important factor in in
ducing early bearing with tomato plants.
If only few plants are desired it will be
an easy matter to thus produce them.
In preparing the manure it should be
allowed to heat at some stage of its pro-
gress, for heating is only the process of
decomposition. When the center be-
comes decomposed the heap should be
turned over, and the coarser materials of
the outside in turn thrown to the center
in order to have every portion of the ma
nure in as fine and available condition as
possible.
Deep blowing, subsoiling and under
draining are excellent precautions against
droEth. SubsoiliDg is of no advantage
unless assisted by good drainage, and the
deep tillage not only carries of the sur
plus water during wet spells but supplies
moisture during periods of drouth by
capillary attraction of the soil, as well as
allowing the roots of plants to penetrate
deeper.
Old fruit cans may be profitable used
for startling early plants. Egg shells
can also be used, placing the shells in the
ground with the plants shall expand they
will break the shells and grow in the
ground. In this manner the earth around
the young tender plants, such as peppers
and egg plants, will not be disturbed.
Egg plants, require light, warm soil,
and being very delicate and tender, must
not be set out too early. They require a
high temperature at all times. Sow in
hot-bed about the 1st of April, with good,
steady, bottom heat, and delay trans
planting out until such time in June as
necessary to avoid a temp erature much
below 700. Set 2 Or feet apart each
way, according to the nature of the soil,
more room being needed if the soil is
very fertile.