Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1889-01-19
THE AGRICULTURALIST
Newsy Notes Conce ming the Farm a. d
of Especial l. terest to tie Pa
cif1c Coast Husbandman,

Georgia is to have an immigration
bureau to encourage immigration to
the State of industrious and intelli-
gent farmers and mechanics.
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-
rends on the condition of the stock
and the severity of the weather be-
tween now and spring,
Every farmers son should be edu-
Gated to a knowledge of botany and
to thoroughly understand all the
points of the different breeds Of stock,
as we'll as be familiar with the nature
of fertilizers and their fitness for GER
tain crops and soils.
Do not be afraid to open the doors
anu 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 disagreeable odor noticed the
entire house is likewise affected.
A farm must not only be self-sup
porting but should pay a profit.
When the farmer reaches that stage
when he is compelled to borrow, or de-
pend on some income from another
source, his farm is improbable, and
he should then endeavor not only to
discover the cause OF his loss but also
aim to improve in some manner, in
order that the farm may be self-sup-
porting.
The most disagreeable thing on the
farm in winter is mud, and, although
it can not be entirely avoided, yet
some of lis disadvantages may be
overcome by carefully draining every
location that allows an excess OF wa
ter to accumulate. When the cattle
are compelled to stand knee deep in
mud there is loss of animal heat, and
a greater proportion of food will be
required to keep them in condition.
Churning cream when slightly
sour, as is the custom in the Holsteln
dairies, yields butter of peculiar and
fine aroma. Butter made from very
sour cream is destitute OF this aroma,
and has the tiste which the HOlstein
butter acquires after keeping some
time. Stirring of cream does not pro-
mote souring, but rather hinders it bG
increasing access of air; ii may be ad-
vantageous in making the souring
uniform.
Ferret breeding is a new and highly
prof able branch of farming in Aus
tralia and New Zealand. One firm
that has commenced the business on
a large scale has contracted to supply
$4,000 ferrets per annum for three
years to the government at Is. 6i. per
head, the creatures being delivered
when they &re three months old.
They have on hand two hundred fer
rets and thirty rabbits, and the milk
of three COWS is required every day
for their food.
For very early eggs warm, COM
Portable houses, proper feed, and good
care are necessary. If the hens have
to use all the feed they get to keep
themselves warm, if they are not sup
piled with food containing egg-forming
material, and if the houses are not
kept clean and we'll ventilated, the
egg basket need not be large one.
The roof of the poultry house should
be tight, the sides we'll battened and
the knot-holes covered, or the entire
sides covered with tarred paper to pre-
vent draughts, and the floor made IN
a way to take no drainage from the
outside and be perfectly dry. For
ventilation, any plan whereby the
fowls can be supplied with pure fresh
air without being subjected to draughts
will answer.
On how many places is it pleas
ure to visit the hen house? Although
there has been a great change for the
better during the last few years, the
average hen house is still summed by
all who are not obliged to visit it.
This is not surprising, as it is full OF
lice in summer, and in winter IS foul
with the stencil from years accu-
mutation of filth. This need not and
ought not to be. The poultry on
place, especially if a pure breed is
kept, should be 'joy forever" They
never lose their interest. Each has
its individuality, its likes and dislikes,
like all other stock, and half hour
spent in watching them is always full
cf pleasure, and seldom without profit.
Something new can be learned at
every visit.
Wood ashes have too great value
to be wasted. Every farmers family
should make its own soap supply. 1t
is cheaper for the farmer to make
soap than to buy it. When not utll-
lied on the farm, "soap grease" Is
either wasted or sold for pittance.
After the ashes are leached they are
as good as before for manure, where
the soil does not lack potash. Ii a
teaspoonful OF clean wood ashes is
given every third day to horses ID
their feed they will will very rarely
need condition powders. The same
amount given to cattle will have good
results. Cattle, also swine, are ire
quently seen licking ashes where rub
bish has been burned. The ashes
given to hogs may be mixed with
their salt. Ashes correct acIdlty OF
the stomach and destroys some in
testinal worms. Wood ashes are a
valuable fertilizer for all crops, but es-
pecially for orchard crops. They CON
tain ali the Mineral elements required