St. Landry democrat., 1888-04-28
FACTS FOR FARMERS.

1t is generally conceded that to
feed suntiower seed is productive of a
gloss on the plumage of fowls not to be
otherwise obtained.
Laying hens should have o good
proportion of oats and wheat, and
should be made to scratch for their
grain among leaves or cut straw.
-Stagnant water on the farm is the
| hot bed of disease, and annually will
cause ten times the loss equal to an
amount appropriated for draining it
| of.
-Proprietors of first-class hotels
and restaurants state that there is
more difficulty in obtaining superior
mutton than any other kind of meat,
poultry or game. Ii this be true it
should be hint to farmers in all Sec
tions of the country.
-Neatsfoot oil is the best oil for
harness. Before applying. the leather
should be slightly dampened, SO that
the oil will penetrate. Rub every part
of the harness. except the PATENT
leather parts, with WOODEN cloth
saturated with the oil. letting it soak
we'll into the leather.
Hives should always have free
circulation of air around them, as
when placed on the ground not only
is dampness induced in the hives, but
the bottoms are liable to rot. The
hives should be kept in a cool place.
also in order to prevent the accumula-
ton of too much heat inside should
the weather become warm.
1t pays better som etimes to keep
q patch of rye for pasturlng instead of
allowing it to grow and mature. II
used as green food until grass shall
become plentiful the rye may be
plowed under and the land put in Ger
man mil let, which is q summer crop.
By this method no loss of time or crop
will result.
Chickens sometimes ave dropsy.
The usual symptoms which accompany
it show, by the bird staggering for q
short time, and then seeming to lose
the use of its feet. which turn in
wards, and in most cases its under
bill protrudes further than the upper
one. The shortening of the under bill
is an invarable accompaniment OF
water on the brain, being due to the
abnormal development of the fore
head.
THE best soil for the strawberry is
q deep strong loan, with an imper-
vious, hard pan subsoil. This land
should be an old field that will grow
three-fourths of ton of hay to the
acre, and should be planted to corn
the first year, the second year to po-
tatoes. These two years to hoed crops |
will we'll fit the land for the strawber-
ry and will clear it of the white. grub. |
the worst enemy of the strawberry
plant
The sheep is the poor mans |
friend, says an exchange, and can
winter on the stubble and straw that |
the farmer can not sell. and at the |
worst requires but little grain. The
ranchman, under favorable circum-
stances, becomes wealthy with large |
t1ocks, can submit to occasional losses
and still make handsome profits
Only in time of severe drought or I'M
usual severity in winter is his capital
in danger.
1t is impossible to know whether
you have made profit unless ac.
counts are kept. Charge the hens
with all the food allowed, and also in
terest on capital invested. Credit
them with all sales and for that used
in the family. The difference will be
the profit, unless you wish to charge
for your labor, the value of which de-
ponds upon how much it was worth to
you at the time. A large flock costs
less for labor than smaller one, but
in families where small f1ocks are kept
.or pleasure as well as profit the labor
is not estimated.