Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-05-09
FARM NOTES

by time: ''He hauls out the manure
daily and spreads II on top OF the snow
in winter, which plan he thinks gives
best results. Places stress on the ad-
vantage of running pigs in orchards,
producing strong, healthy growth OF
pigs, and at the same time benehting
the trees. Has frequently saved con-
siderable sums by the practice OF keep
ing a cash account In connection with
his diary, in the way of avoiding the
repayment of small accounts once paid,
where credit had failed to be given.
Condemns the drawing of OF small
stones so closely as is sometimes done.
Believes that on his land there Is an ad-
vantage in retaining heat and moisture
In the soil. Would not remove these
small stones from any land except such
as might be termed stony land. Thinks
IL might pay on sIdehills when plowing
the last time preparatory to seeding
iOwn, TO follow after the plow and
throw them in the furrow and thus
leave them below the surface. Has
practised this some during the past few
years, and is pleased with the result.
WEARGNG OUT Cows.-It is some
times said that the COW is machine for
the manufacture of milk and butter.
This is true, with some important limi-
tations. The COW is a living mechan-
ism, and therefore requires more care
full management than an insensate ma
chine could need. There Is such a
thing as wearing out cows by injudici-
Gus feeding. Good cows have enormous
appetites, and demand abundant aad
nutritious food. But they should not
be forced OF tempted TO eat more than
they naturally Will. While the coarser
and less palatable ration should be
given freely, yet grains and meal must
be limited. Some of the great milk
and butter records for short periods
have been made by stimulation with
food, which for animals is almost as
destructive to health as stimulation by
drink is to men. Tue only correct test
of cows is their yearly product
Another way in which good cows are
spoiled is by deficient nutrition during
those times when they are not giving
milk. The owner thinks that less and
poorer feed will do them, and so the
cow while bearing her calf Is fed largely
on straw and becomes poor.
FARM PRICES OF AGRICULTURAL
PEODUCTs.-In the December report
Of the department OF agriculture occur
the following statements in relation to
pAACCo VI IAONoSNS-
The average value of corn is 43.S cents
per bushel, against SO g cents last year,
and 81. g cents in 1885. In 1881 it was
63.S cents. The average value of
wheat is 90 cents, only three mills
higher than the average last year. 1t
Is 50 in New York. 81 In Pennsylvania,
"A in Michigan, 73 in Ohio, ~ in In
diana, 40 IN Illinois, 81 In Wisconsin,
62 in Missouri, 81 in Iowa and Kansas,
50 in Minnesota, % in Nebraska and
81 in Dakota. The average for oats is
3O.T GEMS, against 29.S last year.
Barley average 81 2, instead of 53 last
year. Buckwheat, 56 l, or IL cents
higher than last year. The value of
potatoes Is greatly enhanced, being
6S.5 cents, against 45 last year. 1t is
higher than for seven years. except In
1881. The value of hay Is much in
creased. 1t averages 1874 per ton,
against 81. 36 last year. The advance
has been in the drought area or the
west.
RAISING GEESE AND DUCKs.-
Geese are not profitable unless one has
a suitable place for keeping them. y
strip of low, moist land affording green |
grass all summer and adjasent to a
pond, or with a small brook running
through it, will Just suit them When
raised on the bank OF river or a
smaller stream subject to sudden
freshets they need watching, else they
may take ride and go so far as never
to come back. Many persons are quite
fond of fat young geese, and when
marketed in that condition they usual
ly bring a good price, but tough, old
geese are hard TO sell at any price.
They may commonly be picked twice
year, and the feathers will about pay
for their keeping. Ducks are more
profitable than geese, as they mature
earlier, lay more eggs and sell better
in market. They are the greatest
scavengers of the feathered tribe, and
OF all others have the best faculty of
making their own living. Neither
geese nor ducks should be allowed on
, the grass plot around the house. PekIn,
Rouen and Aylesbury ducks and
Embden and Toulouse geese are large
and favorite varieties
CoMPARE the fifty quarts of milk
per day yielded by some OF the promi-
Il uent Holstein cows with the ten quarts
from the ordinary dairy cows, and it
will require but a few moments calcula-
tion to show the loss sustained by the
use OF scrub bulls. When IT Is con-
sidered that pUre-bred bull can in a
few years change the characteristics of
large herd, If the dairyman Will raise
his cows instead of selling off those
that become dry for the purpose of pro-
curing fresh ones, the surprise is that
daiTymen still continue to practice the
old extrayagant method.
= THE mutton breeds of sheep, have
been wonderfully improved within the
past twenty years. At an English eX-
: hibition Hampshire lambs less than 10
months-old averaged 234 pounds each
Z and gained over three-QuarterS of a
pound per day from birth. Two years
: ago at the Illinois State Fair year
old Oxford Down ram was exhibited
: that weighed 40 pounds. To make
| the mutton breeds pay the farmer must
aim to produce something superior and
thus obtain not only heavier carcasses
l but higher price per pound for quail
ty.
a THE winds IN the spring shake the
young trees and thereby damage them
to a certain extent, but this can be par.
TALLY avoided by cutting back the
young trees as much as possible before
! putting them IN. The peach tree viii
a thrive better If cut back and also be.
: come more "stocky."
Plant beet, carrot and parsnlp SEED
a early, so as not only to get ahead o
Il the grass but to give plenty OF tim,
for growth. The most importan
J, matter with such crops is TO have Z
perfectly fine, rich, clean seed-bed, an,
to use plenty of seed. The seed is SLOW
IN terminating, and often fails 4
sprout at all.
o Professor Able, OF jena, has been ex
per:menting for many years with
y view to produce an optical glass whlcI
= should be free from the defects Incl
IL dental to all silica glasses. In partiC
, ular, he sought to produce a higher de
l. gree OF achromaticity than WAS .hithel
'e TO possible, by diminishing the second
airy coloring effects inseparable fror
!, the ordinary siiicate, flint and crow