Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-25
FARM AND ORCHARD.
THE ESSENTIALS FOR MAKING
GOOD CROPS.
Among the Poultry-Cows and But
ter Making - General
Farm Notes.


In the making of good crops three
things are essential. These are a good
soil thoroughly prepared; good seed care
fully planted in good season, and thorough
cultivation given at the proper time. The
growth and yield of the crops are largely
dependent upon these three items, and the
failure of either one will affect the yield
to a greater or less extent. With the rich
soil the elements of plant growth are fur
nlshed, the preparation places it in a good
condition to be taken up and used by the
growing plants, and in addition aids mate
rally to secure a better termination. For
good seed planted in well-prepared soil not
only terminate in a shorter time, but
there will be less of the seed that will fail
to grow, so that with these conditions pro-
vided not only will a better termination
be secured but thriftler and more vigorous
plants will be started up.
With these secured the next important
item is thorough cultivation, given in good
season. With vigorous, thrifty plants at
the start, a good growth can be readily
kept up if good cultivation is given. 1t
must he given in good season., as the best
growth can be obtained only by keeping
clean and in a good filth. If five or six
workings are necessary to give a good crop,
as far as possible the first three at least
should be given in the first four weeks
after the plants appear above the ground.
If a good growth is secured from the
start and the crop is planted in good sea-
son, so that a good growth is made, the
plants will Withstand a drought with more
or less damage than when this has not
been done, and it is possible, by securing
this growth, to keep it up by good c~ultiva-
ton, so that a fair yield may be obtained,
even in an unfavorable season. But
neglect of either one of the essentials will
be certain to affect the growth and yield.
The quality of the seed and the manner
of planting largely determines the stand,
while the fertility of the soil and the cul-
tivation largely determines the growth
and yield of the plants that have started
up. The best yield can only be realized
by getting a good ever stand of healthy.
vigorous plants and then keeping up a
good growth until the crop is made by
thorough cultivation. The more thor
oughly these conditions are supplied the
better the yield and the profit.
AMONG THE POULTRY.
Just at night is the best time to set hens.
Sulphur is not good to give the young
chickens.
Kerosene and lard make a good oint-
ment for scaly legs.
After the chickens are two or three
weeks old they can be fed on cracked
wheat.
If the eggs are to be Matched, keep a
drake for every five ducks, in order to be
sure.
Never keep a slop hole where the poul-
try can help themselves if you expect to
maintain health.
One advantage with ducks is that they
do not harbor lice. They have too much
oil.
Old pieces of oilcloth can be used to
good advantage as a covering for coops in
rainy weather.
One advantage with Pekin ducks is that
only a low fence is needed to confne or
keep them out.
On the farm the laying of FIVE dozen
eggs ought to pay for the keeping of a hen
yard. All above this is profit. On the
farm it will always pay to plant a few
rows of sunfower seed especially for the
poultry. Geese are fond of weeds, espe-
cially OF prrslane, and will often do good
service in killing out and destroying
weeds.
Very often a few drops of turpentine
put IN the drinking water at this time will
prevent the gapes. If the chickens are
already affected, a drop or two on a small
piece Of bread viii cure.
As a rule, guineas should be Matched
under hens near the house. They are
naturally rather wild, and this will aid
materially in making them gentle, if the
young g~uineas are kept near the house.
Milk is a much better food for poultry
during the summer than corn. Corn is
heating and fattening, two conditions that,
as a rule, ought to be avoided, unless feed
ing for market.
The value of the manure ahould always
be considered in keeping poultry properly
managed. 1t is one of the best fertilizers
that can be had and is well worth the
trouble of gathering up and storing until
ready to use.
Care must be taken that the nests are
kept as free from lice as possible. One
way OF doing this will be to clean out oc-
casionally and substitute fresh, clean ma
terial, burning up the old and using kero-
sene, carbolic acid or sulphur to clean out
the nests.
As the weather becomes warmer it will
be necessary to provide good ventilation
and the more thoroughly this is done the
more comfortable the poultry can be kept
Direct drafts should, however, be avoided,
and yet at night, during the summer time,
care should be taken to have it as cool as
possible.
ARTIFICIAL BUTTER.
1t win probably be news to most people
that the land of steady habits and wooden
nutmess is, with the sole exception Of
Illinois, by for the largest producer and
consumer of artificial butter Of any State in
the Union. Over six and a quarter mill
ions of pounds Of oleomargarine were made
and eaten in Connecticut and Rhode
Island forming the Connecticut Internal
Revenue DISTRICT last year, being ar
average of nearly ten pounds a year fol-
every man, woman and child in the com.
munity. There are seven factories en-
gagged in the production Of the stuff, ane
nearly three hundred dealers licensed tS
retail it. All this is to be done away
with, so far a Connecticut laws can effec
the purpose. The bill which lately passed
the Legislature and is now before tn.
Governor for his signature prohibits botl
the manufacture and sale Of artificial but
ter and cheese within the limits of th'
State. This will reduce the surplus rev
enue of Uncle Sam $4,000 a year, ant
will also, it is presumed, diminish tn
profits Of Country board in that vicinity
A FooTHILL ORCHARD.
Mrs. Emily Robertson. who owns tn
Gould ranch, two miles west Of Auburn
has planted twenty acres to olives an,
peaches thi, spring. She has now abou
5000 fruit trees on the place, 1900 Q
which are olives. Three hundred of tn
olive trees are seven years old, and hav
made a fine growth. We were shown som
of the oil produced from these trees
which is of excellent quality. Anon
other plants growing about the yard ar
several lunches Of tea, which seem to b
growing to perfection, although but littl
attention has been given TO them. Re