Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-04-04
FARM NOTES.

The early killed is the easily killed
weed, and the weed that robs the crop
the least.
If you are careful to keep the burrows
straight you will do faster and the better
ploughing.
A diversity of crops distributes work,
receipts and expenses more evenly
through the year and through the years.
The novice, who keeps few bees, may
prevent increase by doubling up swarms,
as they issue, thus strengthening the
weak, and increasing the honey crop.
The report that the Wisconsin Central
and Northern Pacific railroads have con.
solidated, IS denied by officials of both
com panies.
Here is good cure for bee sting
Take equal parts of soda and vinegar
and rub it on the place stung while the
Immediately.
In no other way can a farmer SO radi-
cally do the work of Nature to his advan-
tage as by using lyle; for underdrainage
both lengthens the seasons and deepens
the soil.
The annual honey product of America
is about 100, 100000 pounds, and its value
is nearly SIS 100000. The annual wax
product is about 100000 pounds and its
value more than 100000.
Poultry, if given half chance, can be
made to pay during this month by the
production of eggs. Cleanliness, variety
of food, busting boxes, gravel and lime
some form are essential.
Young cattle which have been wintered
at the straw stack are quite apt to be
lousy. This should be seen to, and prop.
er measures used to clean out the para
sites. Applications of lard and kerosene
oil will do very well.
Cows which are expected to come in
soon should have plenty of fodder, bran
roots and such food but none of heat
ing character They should not be al
lowed to run on icy places, as a slip may
pro nc ; serious consequences
Fresh earth in the hennery for scratch.
ing and busting is indispensable. It will
cleanse the feathers and skin of impuri-
ties, effete matter and lice. 1t should not
be overlooked; fresh once every three
days is sufficient.
If young trees, in spite of all the pro-
lection that has been given them through
the winter, have been barked by rabbits
or mice repair the damages as soon as
discovered. Where the injury is slight a
more earthingup with a mound of soil
that wilt not dry out will often suffice.
If the wound is very extended, a new tree
is the best remedy. If trees are still to
BIS planted, order them at once, and when
they are received heel them in, covering
their roots with soil in a trench from
which they may be planted at leisure.
Peach orchardists find this critical
time, as an unusually severe frost when
the buds are well developed brings de-
struction to the crop in whole or part.
We have called to our peach growers at
tention the method of the European vine
yardists, in keeping off the frosts by
making a smoke in their vineyards.
Preparations are made beforehand =
materials for fire and damp straw or
other litter with which to make a smndge.
Frosts do not come long before dayiig hi
and the watchers give timely warning that
the protecting cloud of smoke may be
spread. If any of the American peach
growers have tried this method, We hope
they will report the res ults.-American
Agricnlturist.
The merry chinch bag is subject to a
fatal epidemic about which some interest
ing facts are given by @. P. Gillette of
the Iowa Agricultural College experime n t
station. After referring to the compare
lively recent date at which it became
known that chinch bugs were subject to
disease. Mr.. Gillette refers briefly to DIR.
Shimmer's observations on an epidemic
in 1861 which carried off the bugs SO
COM pletely that it was impossible to find
specimens for his collection the year fol-
lowing. Then came the observations of
Prof. Forbes on similar epidemic in
Illinois in. 1888. This was truly a con
tagious disease, and is conducted from
bug to bug by microscopic germs, as
smallpox or yellow fever is conducted
from man TO man. These bugs are proba-
bly, the only reports on chinch bug dis
eases before the present season.