The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1889-11-23
FARM NOTES AND QUERIES.

correspondent advises the application of
pine-not coal-tar to a brittle hoof. Used
once or twice month it heals and softens
A correspondent of the Prairie Farmer rec
ommends an application of boiled oil, thicken-
ed with pulveriZed charcoal to prevent posts
from decaying.
Dry earth is said to be an excellent thing for
gals or sores on horses, to be retained by
bandage, and changed as often as it becomes
moist from absorption.
The practice of milking but once each day,
where cows give but little late in the year. is
bad one. They shrink much faster, and if
young, the habit of not "holding out'' is found,
to the owners subsequent cost. They should
be milked, as long as they are milked at all,
twice each day. and if well fed and stabbed, the
process may safely and prohtably be continued
up to within six weeks of their calving.
When fowls are killed before being sent to
market, it is best not to pack them as soon as
they are plucked. 1t is best to let poultry
hang at least twenty-four hours after being
picked before packing, so as to allow the ami
NAL heat to entirely pass off. After picking,
wash off the bloOdstains with a cloth and warm
water in q careful manner for if any are left
TO harden and become dry, their removal will
prove very troublesome.
A correspondent of the RurGl World suggests
the following plan for keeping a gate from
sagging which he has tried with good results
'Set the hanging post three and half feet in
the ground, tamp well at the bottom on the
side opposite the gate; then dig trench six
inches deep from one post to the other; in this
put q three by four scantling, or pole of white
oak, black walnut. mulberry, or some other
lasting timber, seeing that it just fills the space
between the two gate posts, and cover with
earth, and the gate will stand as you hang it
till the post rots off.
w w w. asks how to keep new cider sweet.
Sulphite of lime has been used for this purpose,
but it imparts an unpleasant flavor. The best
way is after the fermentation has ceased, to
rack the cider off into clean barrels and keep
them full and in clean place. Cider cannot
we'll be kept upon draught and remain sweet
unless used up very rapidly. A partly fllled
barrel has large surface of the liquid exposed
to the air, and it will sour or become hard
in a short time. The best way is to bottle the
cider.
We notice in an exchange the record of some
experiments which tend to show that night is
the proper time for transplantlng. II any OF
our readers have tried night transplantng, we
shall be happy to hear from them. In the
case alluded to, gentleman transplanted ten
cherry trees while in bloom, commencing at
4 o'clock in the afternoon, and transplanting
one each hour until in the morning. Those
transplanted during daylight shed their bios
soms producing little or no fruit; while those
planted the dark hours maintained their con-
dition fully.
In transplanting seedlings of any kind of
tree, the tap-root should always be shortened
at least one-half. and quite often three-quar-
tiers of its length may be removed with benefit.
1t is passing strange that men who know moth
ing practically of horticulture will constantly
advise leaving the tap-root entire, and insult
common sense by declaring that it is an injuri-
Gus practice to remove it, because it seems to
be natural. The horticulturist who strictly
follows nature will never make any great pro-
gress, for all there is of art is in merely chang
ing or diverting nature from its legitimate
channels.
An exchange gives the following sensible
directions for driving young horses: I'm
teaching young horse to drive well, do not
hurry to see how fast he can trot. Keep each
pace clear and distinct from the other-that is,
in walking make him walk, and do not allow
him to trOt While trotting, be equally care
full that he keeps steady at his pace, and do not
allow him to slack into walk. The reins.
while driving, should be kept snug and when
pushed to the top of his speed, keep him well
in hand, that he may learn to bear well upon
the bit. so that when going at high rate of
speed he can be held at his pace, but do not
allow him to pull too hard, for it is not only
unpleasant, but makes it often difficult to man.
a0e him ~