Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-20
Farm And ORCHARD.
SOME THINGS THAT EVERY FARMER
OUGHT TO KNOW.
Guinea FowIs-Pigs That are Diverted
Butter in Cream-Rust on
Grain-Farm Notes.

can turn his hand adroitly to different
kinds of work, as opportunity calls for it,
in the presence of his hilsd men, has a
great advantage over the owner who may
be bungler in gauging a pillow, turning a
furrow, repairing horse rake, sowing
grass seed, laying drain tiles or running a
reaper Professor S. R. Thompson of New
Wilmington, Pa, named in public ad-
dress the following among other "funda-
mental arts which the farmer should I'M
derstand: o. Adapting harness to a
horse; (2) hitching up team; (9) driving
team; a. holding pillow; (5) setting up
and adjusting mower; (6) grinding a
mower knife; (7) planting tree; (S) graft
ing and budding: 90 judging the merits
of horses, cows sheep and other animals.
T8e list may be readily doubled
Manual labor has been thought by some
persons to be degrading. A certain lady
once remarked to the writer with apparent
pride, when speaking of her son, who had
charge of high-priced farm, -" | want you
to understand, sir, that J. don't have
to work p A few years later he failed in
business by depending on others. On the
other hand, manual skill is sometimes
quite an accomplishment Many years
ago, on the occasion of a great public trial
of agricultural implements near London,
when the want of skilled plowman en-
barrassed the trial, the former Duke of
Richmond stepped forward, adjusted the
implement and turned the furrow in a
skillful manner. Sometimes readiness in
hard labor is quite a convenience, and the
owner who employs hired men will succeed
better if he can show them personally how
to do piece of work than be compelled to
call on one of them TO teach the owner
how to do it.
An amusing illustration occurred in the
writer's early years when he had charge of
a nursery and many days of work were re-
quired to dress large plantation of trees
with hoe. Being called away from home
day he spent little time by way of en-
couragement among his men before leay-
ing, and took the hoe in hand for single
row. He took no apparent notice of their
ywinks at one another, apparently saying,
"Now let's give him a sweet" But the
owner had done much more Of that kind of
work than his men, and it was no effort to
keep even without noticing their move
ments. Pulling out his watch at the end
of the row he remarked to them: eve
have been Just half an hour a row-that
will give you sixteen rows apiece .dav,
and We shall get along nicely with the
work, reaching sixty -four rows to that tree
by the time | get back" They saw how
they were caught, but said nothing, and
discovered that they would have to make
brisk work 10 get the allotted task COM
pleted, which they preferred to do rather
than to make balk.
The physical exercise in learning how
to handle tools gives great advantage to
students who are closely engaged in men
tai studies A distinguished gentleman of
South Carolina stated, half century ago,
that when closely engaged, when young
man, in his studies, he acquired more
knowledge, and in better manner when
he gave ten hours to study and four to
bodily labor each day than he had previ-
ously done with mis- entire fourteen hours
in study.
The helplessness of the young man who
is afraid of work, or who affects to despise
it, is not desirable accomplishment. The
one who knows thoroughly how to help
himself, even if he happens to have no
money in his pocket, is better of, feels
richer and has happier days than the
young man with 100000 coming TO him.
but who is compelled continually 10 call
on servant to supply common bodily
wants. Many instances could be cited
where young men have been spoiled by the
prospect Of a great fortune to them. and
they either become drones in the COM
munity in after years or else speedily ran
through with their means after they OBJ
tanned control,-C6UHtrp Gentleman.
GUINEA FOWLS.
Guinea fowls are not nearly so much
kept as they well might be, considering
that they are as a rule, very profitable,
writes Stephen Beaie. They cost nothing
to raise they prefer to seek their own
food in the fields, and seldom come home
for food as long as they can find a supply
for themselves. As rule they mate and
it is best to have the sexes equal The
hen steals her nest, but cannot refrain from
making noise when she comes of. which
betrays her TO the watchful farmer. Guinea
fowls are valuable on farms where their
range is wide, as they destroy a large num-
Der of insects and do not scratch up seeds.
In fact, flock Of twenty guineas will con
sumo a number of insects 50 large as to
almost appear Incredible, as they are active
and always searching. They also consume
grass and young seeds, as well as the seeds
of the undesirable plants and grasses.
A breeder of this variety of ornamental
fowl some time ago wrote that it is usual
for the guinea fowls to lay in the nearest
hedge bottom, or among group of nettles
One soon finds ont where the nests is by OBJ
serving when the cock is alone and watch
ing to see from what direction the hen re-
turns. She viii certainly do her best to
hide the eggs by picking fresh grass and
laying il upon the eggs, which lie on the
ground, not in any regular nest.
A guinea hen will begin TO lay about the
end of April or the beginning of May, and
viii generally produce altogether about 100
eggs. She may, perhaps show signs OF
wanting to sit; this must not be allowed
and she will soon begin to lay again. 1t i.
not advisable to set any eggs later than & e
second week in June. because they take a
month to hatch, and the chicks, though
quite easy TO raise in June and July, Will
probably succumber to the FIRST cold if
Matched later. When young they need
chopped eggs, and it is also well to supply
them with insects; sod full Of ants is a
capital thing to bring them.
The proper number of eggs for a sitting
is sixteen. Each hen should provide
three sittings, and that would leave about
fifty eggs for use in the house. They are
very rich and are much fancied by some
people for delicacy. 1t is best to eat
them cold like plover's eggs, with salad,
or in the shape Of aspoc.
Once reared, the birds are not expen-
siye to keep, as they roam far afeld and
partially feed themselves; they eat great
many insects, and without any special fat
tening are always nice and plump in
spring. They come into season when
rnr,a rrnns ont and are Generally killed