The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-26
AGRICULTURAL NOTES.


It is said that il green catnip is placed
over the broods in hives where ants
sometimes gather the ants will leave.
The calf that has not grown well be-
fore it reached cold weather will make
but little progress from now until spring.
1t will soon be time for the ewes to
lamb and they require warm place. 1t
should be provided now, when tho work
can be done at leisurs.
1t is said that our corn does not pay
our sugar bill. That is, we do not sell
enough corn to foreign countries to pay
for the sugar brought in.
The first six weeks OF the life OF q
young pig are the most important.
Warmth will do more at this season than
food to give the fall pigs a start.
Bees, If not protected in winter, will
consume more honey then when. in a
cellar, strong colony using about 20
pounds outside and II pounds inside the
cellar.
Old stumps, il allowed to season, can
be utilized for back logs IN the fire.
places, or may be chopped for the stove,
as they should be converted into ashes
for spring use.
Very cold weather does not injure the
stock as much us dampness. A moder-
ately cold day, with a driving rainstorm,
causes more illness to stock than severe
cold on a dry, clear day.
The flower bed for next year may be
made very rich by scattering the sweep
ings OF the poultry yard over it. Soap
suds may also be well utilized by throw
ing them on the flower beds.
The young trees that have been kept
clean in cultivation should have the
ground well tirmed around them il the
frost leaves the ground at any time, or
they will be thrown over by high winds.
II the hives are kept too warm the
bees all come out ut periods when it is
not desirable to have them do so. The
hives easily become warm from the ami
NAL heat OF the bees If not in a cool
place.
II the bulbs OF certain flowers start to
sprout when in the cellar it indicates
that they are kept too warm. They
should be kept cool enough to remain
in dormant condition until spring.
Sprouting Injuries them.
Every farmers son should be educa-
ted to u knowlt dye OF batony and also
to understand all the points OF the diff.
ferent breeds OF stock, rs well as be ia
miliar with the nature OF fertilizers and
their fitness for certain crops and soils.
Do not sell off your surplus hay or
straw yet, or you may find yourself
short Of supply before the winter is
over. The amount to be retained de-
ponds on the condition OF the stock and
the severity Of weather between now
and spring.
Do not be afraid TO open the doors
and windows OF the cellar on clear days.
1t is much better to have pure air in the
cellar than to keep it close and damp.
When the cellar is musty and disagree
able odor noticed the entire house is
likewise affected.
Dehorning no doubt causes some
pain, and has its advantages and disad-
vantages, but us long as We can resort to
the hOrnless breeds for crossing, such as
the Angus and Galloway, it is better to
breed cattle for beef by the use OF these
breeds than TO resort to methods that
verge on.cFuelty.
So fur the pastures are not entirely de.
void OF grass, as the few warm days OF
December have somewhat caused the
young clover to keep in green condi-
ton in many localities, but it is not ad-
yisable to allow stock to trample the
fields at this season, as the ground is soft
and the grass may be injured.
Eggs are scarce this season, compared
with the corresponding period OF last
year, and prices are high everywhere.
The operators OF lncubators find great
difficulty in securing eggs that give good
matches, and offer extra prices for eggs
from choice stock. Artificial incubation
is being conducted now on larger scale
than at any previous time.
A farm must not only be selt.support.
ing but should pay profit. When the
farmer reaches that stage when he is
compelled to borrow, or depend on some
income from another source, his farm is
Improbable, and he should then en-.
deavor not only to discover the cause oil
the loss but also aim to improve in some
manner, in order that the farm may be
self.supporting.
Put potatoes on clean land that has
been in corn, so as to have the land free
from weeds. GiYe the potatoes close
cultivation until harvested, and after
fertilizing the plot put it in grass. II
the seed is clean the weeds will not come
up TO kill the grass when it is young.
The growing OF grass crop demands
that the land be gotten in condition
year before the seed is sown.
The most disagrecable thing on the
farm IN winter is mud, and, although it
cannot be entirely avoided, yet some of
its disadvantages may be overcome by
draining every location that allows an
excess OF water TO accumulate. When
the cattle are compelled to stand knee
deep in mud there is q loss OF animal
heat, and n greater proportion Of food
will he required to keep them in condi-
ton.
Farmers institutesan clubs have done
much to educate the farmers to a knowl-
edge OF better systems OF agriculture.
The advantages are the expressions otin.
dividual experience, which often brings
on beneficial discussions Of special sub,
jeCts. Cooperative effort in procuring
thoroughbred stock, and the making Of
experiments aid improvement and add
to the wealth OF such community. The
winter is the appropriate time for such
organizations, and the children should
also be induced in some manner TO be-
come interested.
How to Gain Flesh and strength.