Sharp County record., 1888-04-05
FACTS FOR FARMERS.

Corn is the only crop that can all
be fed back on the farm, says a South
Carolina farmer
The successful farmer is the
thorough farmer who understands
farming prin ciples and practically ap-
plies them.
-Cesspools, hog wallows and duck
ponds in close proximity to wells arc
liable to defile the water, and are num-
bered by physicians and observing
people among prolific causes Of sick
ness in rural districts.
1t would be better to Kill q few of
the young pigs at birth than to COM
pei the sow to suc6le too many, as
lack of milk anG cold will cause the
weaker ones TO die. Large litters are
at no time desirable, and especially in
winter>
Ducks usually begin to lay in Feb
ruary, and until that time they may
be kept at but little expense. Cooked
turnips with small amount of corn
meal make good feed for them. After
they begin TO lay they should have a
proportion of animal food.
1t is curious fact that wasps'
nests sometimes take fire, as is sup
posed by the chemical action of the
wax upon the material of which the
nest is composed. Undoubtedly many
fires Of unknown origin in hay stacks
/. and farm buildings may thus be ac-
counted for.
Testing the store of field and gar
den seeds is good winter work, and
can be done by the kitchen stove.
Place one hundred seeds on flannel
or blotting paper laid on sand in a
saucer. and cover with blotting paper;
then moisten the VIII ole and keep them
moist and warm. The number ger
ninating will show the percentage OF
good seed.
"A good many feeders advocate
grinding the cob with the corr. Prof
Stewart, who is an excellent authority
says that when the cob is finely
ground, it is evenly mixed with the
cornmeal III at taken thus into the
stomach of the animal, it separates
the concentrated food Of the Cornmeal,
4. is made more porous and all is far
better digcsted, and thus keeps the
animal in better he alth than when fed
on pure cOrnmeaL
Fall pigs are claimed 10 entail less
labor than spring plg', as they can be
fed and cared for in the winter This
is true to a certain extent, but much
depends upon the age Cf the pig on
the approach of cold weather If ex-
pected 10 pass through the winter they
should be from early litters, or they
will lie stunted in growth, should the
season be severe. September farrowed
pigs will be old enough to keep over
to the second year.
Trimming an apple tree does not
mean that one must 60 into the orchard
and hack away with an aX} and saw
simply TO cut away a certain propor-
ton of wood, but the tree should be
evenly trimmed, and no limbs removed
except such as may benefit the tree by
being cut off Where limb has COM
menced to decay it should be removed.
however, as it may be caused by dis
ease Especially is this necessary
with pear trees, which are subject to
blight.
"A forehanded husbandman OF
Western New York, whose land is level
or only slightly rolling, draws manure
in winter as fast as made and broad
casts It upon bare ground or not more
Than SIX inches of snow in folds in
tended for hoed crops next season He
has persisted in this practice for years,
and makes the remarkable statement
in Farm life that zone load So applied
Is equal in effect to three, at least,
spread in spring" Moreover, he gets
Just so much work out of the way
during comparatively slack time.