Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-05-10
Farm Notes.

Farm Notes.
Save all the wood ashes. Rene m
Der that they have great fertilizing
value for most soils. Secure all you
can for top dressing meadows and grain
fields.
At the present low prices paid
for beef, it doesn't pay very largely 10
raise cattle TO that end. Still there
must be stop in every thing, and
let us hope the beef market will soon
be firmer.
In selecting fertilizers for the coming
spring, remember that gypsum, or land
plaster, is cheap and valuable form
Of plant food. 1t is especially valu-
able for mixing with hen manure,
ashes and compost.
Young cattle which have been win
tered at the straw stack are quite apt
TO be lousy This should be seen to,
and proper measures TO clean out the
parasites Applications of lard and
kerosene oil will do very well.
Cows which are expected 10 come i'm
soon should have plenty of fodder,
bran, roots and such food, but none of
a heating character. They should not
be allowed TO run on icy places. as
slip may produce serious consequences.
Stock OF all kinds should be kept off
the meadows and grass lands while
they are soft and spongy. The dam
age done by the hOofs in cutting up
the turf is many times more than any
possible value of the withered foggage
they can pick up.
If you have any young colts, now is
a good time TO break them. When
colt is a year old it should be harnessed
and taught TO rein readily. There is
no danger of breaking a colt when too
young. The danger consists in using
them. The same is also true OF steers.
When breaking n colt, do not use "a
bride having binders. Binders are
"A nuisance, and if discarded when
breaking colt they can be dispensed
with thereafter
There are n few vegetables which
many farmers never think of cultlvat-
ing, and they are the richest and rarest
too; we refer 10 asparagus. celery, wa
tercress, spinach and the like. There
ought 10 be an asparagus bed on fifty
farms where is one now. 1t is one of
the earliest and most healthful of vege-
tables. Celery too is just as easily
cultivated, and dish Of nice, fresh.
crisp celery in the early fall is a most
delightful appetizer.
Il costs about half a cent a head. on
the average, TO feed flock of fowls.
n well bred hen should lay about 40
some experienced breeders say 100
eggs per year. Success in this business
depends upon the adaptability and in
telligent labor of the person engaging
in it. Some fail while others succeed
in exactly the same environment But
the failure OF 90 per cent Of commercial
ventures does not deter men from going
into business Let the first effort be
small. Learn the business through ex-
perience, not through books.
No man on earth is in II better posi-
ton to possess and enjoy more luxuri-
Gus table than the American farmer.
Properly fed and nicely cured there Is
no better relish than nice slice of
bacon or PORK. But apart from flesh
food entirely, what better can any man
ask for than such dishes as may be
made from milk and eggs, fruits and
vegetables, honey and syrup, corn or
oat meal. and either white or graham
bread. We venture the assertion that
never IN the history OF the world had
the people the opportunities for luxuri-
Gus living as American farmers possessi
to-day, and it only requires a little apt
ness to have and enjoy them all, aud
what is more, and still better, the in
estimable luxury Of good health and
appetite. Long life attends on simple
diet and plenty OF work. Cincinnati
Enquirer.