The Somerset reporter., 1889-03-21
Agricultural Items.
EGGS WITH THIN SHELLS

The non--itting breeds of fowls are apt
to lay eggs with thin shells 1t is almost
impossible for such fowls to get lime
enough In their feed to make the shell
for all the eggs they produce When
such eggs are placed under heavier bodied
hens for Matching. the shells are apt to
be broken, and with the albumen of
broken eggs smeared over others 10 the
nest none can be hatched.
WooD ASHES For HEAVY Soils.
The use of ashes Is always helpful on
light lands. because these are usually
deficient In potash. But they are often
used with great advantage for some crop.
on heavy lands were analysis does not
show deficiency of potash. In such
cases the potash in the soil may be So
fixed by combination with the earth that
plant roots cannot get what they need
or the caustic potash from ashes NAV act
as solvent TO llberate other plant food
otherwise unavailable.
SELECTING SEED OARS.
As the time for oat seeding draws near
farmers should look out for the heaviest
oats they can obtain. There is real
economy in this, as the plump grain
makes stronger plant, which tillers
more freely, and not so much bulk of
seed is required. Some of the best oat
crops have been grown on seeding OF
| ! bushels per acre. but In such cases
every seed grows. aud the season was
favorable for tillering Oats in our
climate soon run out If great care is not
taken to secure plump seed each year.
Coon FALL Pics.
John Shepherd of Putneyyile, Wayne
Co, n. Y, recently killed six pigs which
at six months old averaged isoi, pounds
each. The highest weight was 1850 and
the heaviest 22s and the six were sold
for $50. 1t is not often that Fall pig
can be made so good As this. and the
present warm Winter has greatly con-
tributed to the favorable result. The lot
Is not so even a one As the same litter
would have been IL dropped In the
Spring and fed through the Summer and
Fall, but the average weight is a good
one for pigs bred at any season only six
months old.
PLowISG LAND Too EARLY.
In some portions of the West Spring
grain is sown on Fall-plowed land befor,
the frost Is entirely ont Of the ground
and the surface is lightly narrowed to
practice a. it might seem, a. frost fire.
quently follows to tighten up the land
that has been cultivated in the mud, aud
thus puddled into almost brick-like hard.
ness. As a rule deep cultivation of all
soils should be avoided while they are
filed with water. The pillow going
through such soil only compacts 1t the
more, and even the tramping of the
teams drawing the plow is serious in.
jury. Land thus ill-treated will often
show the bad effects for years.
MINERAL MANrREs FOR GARDENS
Most kinds Of vegetables are very ex-
huastive troopers. Market gardeners who
make business or growing them hud
that they can scarcely manure too heayi-
ly, and that every year. II they rely on
accumulated fertility for a single crop
they lose money as the great amount OF
labor required in cultivating is the larger
expenses, and this is not diminished.
But market gardeners find II advantage
Gus to occasionally use mineral manures,
especially phosphate, in which the ordi-
nary stable manure made by atteDing or
working animals Is usually deficient.
Farmers who lind their gardens failing
may find II well to use commercial fer
SOWING CLOVER SEED.
March is the best month to SOW grass
and clover seeds in Winter grain. Ne
cultivation is needed as frost has pulyeI-
lied the surface soil, and II frozen it will
he full OF fine cracks into which much of
the seeds will either fall or be drifted
Rarely will the seed be carried down too
deeply, as 1t will catch on the side of the
cracks, and the first that will cover it
with soil. The best time for sowing
grass seed Is on still morning, with |
enough snow lying evenly over the sur |
face TO show the track of the seeder. 1t
Is easy then on the white snow to see
the seed is falling evenly. As
the seed is dark colored 1t will before |
noon sink down through the snow into
the soil by the heat il will absorb from
the suns rays.
Corn GLUTEN.
The refuse of corn that has been used
In making glucose sugar Is very good |
for mich cows where 1t can be obtained
near the manufactures. 1t ID wet and |
bulky 10 proportion To its feeding value.
80 will not bear transporting long dis.
lance % well IS grain. 1t consists Of the |
husk Of the grain, with such other parts
- are not starchy, and therefore cannot
be changed TO sugar. 1t Is commonly
called gluten meal. and has some fstten.
Ing propsieties. - mich cows fed what
they Will eat Of It give milk and fatteu q
the same time. It il much less likely t,
be inJursoss from heavy feeding than
corn meal or cotton-s seed meal, and ne ar
glucose factories costs much less than
either.
ROOTS FOR LATE YEEDING.
Ths white turuip becomes pIthy early
IN the Winter. and b, besides, objection
a6Ie for oileh cows q account OF the On.
pleasant favor Il givss MIX and butter
0ede feo0 feeding - owedkh terpIps
o. sstabaGns ~ essaF ksspsrs, bat ars