The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-04
Farm Notes.

-Nottss
During damp weather, especially when north.
east storms occur, keen the hens under shelter
in order to avoid roup in the flock
One good team OF heavy horses is better than
two teams of ponies. The fewer the number
the less work Of feeding and managing them is
required.
Many abandoned farms have been abandoned
because they were too large to be probably
cultivated 1t is seldom that a small farm is
abandoned.
Feedeyour hens meat and induce them to lay
Eggs will soon be high in price, and the hens
will need reproducing food If they are ex-
pected TO lay.
Any time after the ground becomes frozen
will answer for cutting out the old canes of
blackberries. Old canes should be consigned
to the flames as precaution against insects.
When breeding any class OF stock selection
OF the breed is the most important requisite.
Some breeds demand better management than
others, and a mistake in selecting the breed
may entail a loss.
Experiments show that any portion of the
seed from an ear of corn may be used in plant
ing, and there is no advantage possessed by the
butt seed over the tip seed, nor is the middle
seed better than that from the butts or tips.
Pumpkins contain II per cent of solid
matter. They are excellent for cows that are
changed from pasture to dry food. Many dairy
men advise that the seeds be removed, as they
act on the kidneys. Pumpkins should be sliced
and a little bran, slightly salted, sprinkled
over the pieces.
When crossing for improvement Of the stock
the male should always be pure bred. When a
graded male Is used the tendency is to retard
seasons TO affect marked improvement on the
farm stock ii careful consideration is given the
selection of males.
The state board Of agriculture of New Jersey
is fostering the poultry industry OF that state
by organizing a state poultry association. 4
convention will be held at Trenton Dec. 4, all
the poultrymen and county board of agricul-
ture being invited. The poultry industry is now
one OF the most profitable in some sections.
One can not learn too much about deirying.
There are many details and ii is very easy TO
make mistake. The best dairyman succeeded
only by giving the business close attention and
study Each individual animal required par
ticular management, and success depends upon
a faithful observance of every requirement.
Abandoned lands are given over to sheep,
but il is doubtful lift is profitable to keep sheep
in that manner, owing to the loss from dogs
and exposure If the land is cut up into small
fields, the sheep frequently changed and the
fields powed, the land will be improved and
some kind of crop, such as rye, may be grown
for the sheep.
Too much land means taxes on that from
which only partial crops can be obtained. 1t
is the small plots, well MANFRED, that yield the
profitable crops IL is more expensive TO at
tempt TO secure large yields from a tract re-
curing a portion of the time TO be lost in
travelling over il than to concentrate all the Ia
Dor on a small area.
If the frost has killed the grass and weeds
and the field is dry. it will do no injury to the
grass by allowing fire to run over the field
which, however, will clean il completely and
give the young grass better appearance in
spring lie should be done when the ground is
frozen. Strawberry beds will he benefited by
burning, and the plants will come out stronger
next season.
When the ground is plowed in the fall OF
early winter the frost goes down and reaches the
insects that have sought refuge therein. The
clods and Jumps are broken by the action OF
frost, and the soil pul in condition for being
easily plowed in the spring. Hard, lumpy
manure is also pulverized by FROST due to ex.
pansion and contraction during alternate thaw.
ing and freezing, which renders the manure fine
when it is spread over the surface at this sea