Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-12
Farm AND ORCHARD.
BAD EFFECTS OF TOO MUCH WATER ON
GROWING PLANTS.
Harvesting Buckwheat-A Dutch Dairy
Economizing With Turkeys
General Farm Notes.

given of the effects of water on growing
plants than what we see in the case of
plants growing in pots. Every pot is pro-
yided with hole in the bottom to allow
the water to drain out when the soil be-
comes saturated, and with the exception
of water or bog plants. the drainage is
necessity. If we see a plant whose foliage
turns yellow, or drops off, or which fails
to grow, and whose whole appearance is
unthrifty, we are almost sure to find the
trouble to be at the roots, and not infre-
quently we find the drainage is clogged
and the roots are inactive. Turning the
plant out of the pot, placing some bits of
broken crock at the bottom, and then some
coarse material, the plant is returned to
its place and filled in with fresh soil, and
in a short time it starts into new growth
and shows that it can grow if the condi-
tions are suitable. Without healthy roots
there can be no vigorous growth A sup
ply of water is necessary for the roots to
take from the soil what they want, but the
water must pass off and not remain stag
nant, or disease and death will follow.
The case is exactly the same with plants
growing in the fields where there is an ex-
cess of moisture below the surface.
Pot-grown plants may still further serve
to show the bad effect of surcharge of
water in the soil. All plant-growels are
very careful in cold weather about water
ing their plants at night, knowing by ex-
cd
will too greatly reduce the temperature,
and thus check and stunt the plants.
The case is the same in effect over large
areas where the water is held in the soil
below the sdrface. The temperature is
kept many degnees below what it would
be if good drainage existed. Vegetation
commences later In the spring, arrives at
maturity later, and is coarser in texture on
such soils. The market gardner, the fruit.
grower and the farmer cannot afford to
raise crops on any but well-drained land
Vicks Magazine.
HARVESTING RUCKwHEAT.
This is one of the last crops to be har.
vested in the fall. As it is grain that is
very easily shattered off from the plants
and in this way wasted, the better plan
will be to handle as little as possible. II
will continue to send out side shoots on
which blossoms will form until frost kills
down the plants. So that the work of har-
vesting should be delayed as late as posi-
bic without running too much risk Of loss
or damage from frost In order to lessen
the waste as much as possible it will be
found good plan to cut in the morning
early, while the dew is on, as it will not
shatter as bad as when thoroughly dry. II
considerable acreage is to be cut, self
rake reaper that will leave the grain in
small punches will be found very conven-
lent or on small field cradle can be
used. 1t should be managed as far as pos
sible to avoid unnecessary handling. 1t
will cure and dry out very rapidly if left
on the ground. When only small guam
tity is to be handled a very good plan is
to thrash right in the field
Clean off piece eight or ten feet square
and spread down wagon sheet; this is the
best plan, although not positively neces-
sary. On this build rail or pole pen
about two or two and one-half feet high.
On the top of this lay layer of rails and
spread layer of grain over this. Stout
hickory poles, not too heavy, can be used
to beat out the grain. A fail can be used
if desired, but when this can not be had
conveniently good pole can be used. 1t
will be best to lift up the straw carefully
and shake it so that the grain will be
cleaned out. A good fan will clean ready
for the mill or market. The grain makes
an excellent food for poultry during the
winter and also to feed horses that from
any cause have been allowed to run down.
The straw makes good bedding for
stock and especially for hogs. If used in
the stable as bedding for the horses it
can be improved considerably by running
through cutting box.
As buckwheat can be sown after the
wheat and oats have been harvested and
will grow and mature by frost in the fall it
can be made a profitable crop in many
localities, either for the grain, or flour, or
feed, or to pillow under as a green manure,
being next to clover for green manuring
Practical Farmer.
A DUTCH DAIRY.
4 young farmer came down and invited
me and my frau to go and see the butter
and cheese making at his farm. We did
so, finding the house to be of the usual
type. The dixie surrounding the pre- nises
stunk most frightfully, and It's filth was in
extreme contrast to the neatness and clean
illness of the house, out-buildings and uten-
sils of the farm. We duly saw the round
cheeses nodded and made and the butter
pressed, and then entered the COW byres,
which at this time Of the year were empty,
the cattle being in the fields. They occu-
pied one side of the square house, and had
,a,liA,r tba ,rb,Ia IS L., IL
the hight of the walls and under the great
pyramidal roof being empty and open,
only the living rooms being ceiled off from
it. The byres were beautifully clean and
bright with paint and varnish, colored oil
cloth being laid all along where the sterns
of the cows would overhang, and the stalls
deeply foored with loose sea shells. Rings
in overhead beams marked the place
where the cows tails were tied up at milk
ing time out of the way. The farmer
pointed with pride to several swallows
nests under the Low beams, and underneath
each nest was placed fiat shell to prevent
the droppings Of the birds soiling the floor
below. In the garden we saw rabbits in a
dovecot perched on the top of a tall pole,
and doves in rabbit hutches close to the
ground, and some beautiful golden pleas
ants, and then we took closer photograph
of the storks' nest The old bird was very
suspicious Of our camera, and made her
young ones lie close in the nest.-Bldck-
tooods Magazine.
EcoNoMIzING WITH TURKEYS.
The amount of grain, young weeds,
grass and other material land we may add,
insects that are wasted on the farms of
this country is enormous, and yet it might
be saved by keeping turkeys Turkeys re-
quire no food from the granary at this
season, and being industrious foragers, will
Elk and di:cover every eatable thing
that can be converted into meat for mar
ket. II weed or an insect can be utilized,
the farmer saves its equivalent of food,
and there is no farm that does not suffer
loss from shaken grain, which is left on
the stubble fields. Not only will the tfIr-