The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-02-20
HERE AND THERE.


"A correspondent asks in a letter in
our veterinary column if a SOW should
be fat at narrowing time. No, not too
fat. Breeding sows ought not to be
kept too fat at any time. Western
Rural.
Mistakes do not always result in
loss. 1t is just as important to know
how to avoid mistakes as it is to be
successful. Many Improvements have
resulted from the teachings of mis-
takes.
Very early lambs will begin to
come this month, and they will prove
profitable if given attention and forced
in growth. A lamb born not later
than February will be worth two born
in April.
EARLY spring pigs will make fat
and large hogs by Christmas, but UNI
less there are excellent accommodations
for the early pigs they will not be as
large at the end of the year as those
narrowed in April or May.
-Hot-beds are now in order. If you
want early cabbage and tomatoes the
beds should be ready by February, and
the seed sown before the middle of that
month. A small hot-bed will produce
all the peppers, cabbage, tomatoes and
elephants wanted for a family.
Sheep that are permitted to run
where the wool will become filled with
dirt of various descriptions, fed in a
way that hay and feed are scattered
over the animal, and the dirt work into
the fleece. will not produce the best
priced wool.
Fresh, coarse manure is much the
best for the hot-bed. Have a good
supply. If it is worth the trouble of
making hot-bed it is certainly worth
while to take pains to have good one,
and a liberal supply of manure is neces-
sary for this. The heat must be main
tanned until the weather is settled.
Cleanliness with the house plan IS
is important. In sweeping do not let
the dust gather upon them, or if the
leaves get covered with dust wash off
carefully with milk-warm water, taxi
ing care not to bruise the foliage in
handling. A sponge or soft rag can be
used in cleansing them.
The Grange doesn't dabble in poll
tics, yet it has been able to supply Sc !
eral States with Governors, including
Maine, Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin,
California, Arkansas, South Carolina
and several other States have farmers
for their Chief Magistrates.
The best results are obtained from
small focks. If too many are kept to-
gether there will be competition and a
struggle for existence. 1t is not diff
cult to keep large number of hens,
but they should be divided into focks
not exceeding twenty-five hens each,
and two males should never be together
in one flock.
"A disguised and discouraged sheep
farmer is advocating the deheading OF
worthless dogs. He would probably
contend that the process would add tc
the docility of the dog as dehorning
adds to that of the bull, says Farm,
Stock and Home. We guess it would.
Deheaded dogs don't bite.
| 1t does not require much moro
time to take care of hundred sheep
at this season than it does for one or
two cows, yet they need to be looked
after every day. They need fresh
water where they can go to it when
they please. Sheep drink but little at
a time. but drink often when not feed
ing upon green gras or eating roots.
Some one has correctly said that
every man can not be a breeder, nor is
it desirable that every farmer should
keep high-class thoroughbreds for his
dairy. But we may ask that if he
raises his own calves, he shall give
them that amount of care which they
need in early life to insure good health
and vigorous growth,