Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-25
Farm AND ORCHARD.
DRAINAGE AN IMPORTANT MATTER AT
THE PRESENT TIME.
Scaly Legs and vermin-Packing Fruit
Figures About Fggs-Mangers-
Farm Notes.

1t is well known that if vessel is full
of water no air can enter therein. Water
is also a conductor of heat, and its pres
ence in the soil largely conduces to the. de
gree of heat or cold to which the lane
reaches under certain conditions. Plant
require moisture, but will not thrive if the
land is wet, because the excess of moisture
prevents the warmth from reaching the
roots. To render the land warm, dry and
adapted to the production of crops, the
water in the soil must be reduced below
Its usual level. AS the water in the soil
must be lowered 10 an extent TO permit
horses to tread on the land, and as open
bitches are Instructions and entail expense
in repairs and cleaning, the only correct
method of draining land is by tiles placed
under the ground and at depth sufficient
to carry off the water at all seasons. 1t is
not necessary to explain the manner in
which tiles are placed in the ground for
purposes of drainage, as it is very simple
and also familiar to nearly all farmers; but
the majority of farmers do not view the
matter from a stand point of economy. The
cost of the tiles, the placing of them in
position and the labor in general over
shadows the great advantages gained. The
object here is to point out the fact that
tile drainage brings under cultivation land
that would otherwise be of no value
Heat and air in the soil are essential to
plant growth. The air exerts an influence
I.oo L. L
ing oxygen, while heat hastens and pro-
notes all chemical processes. As the water
is compelled, by its weight and other nat
ural influences due to gravity, to escape by
the nearest outlet, it is carried off by the
drain tiles very rapidly, and it is impos-
slble for the water to again remain near the
surface after the land is once opened for
cultivation. As the water in the cold soil
descends the air follows. and the earth be-
comes dry, and consequently more porus.
The escape of the water causes vacuum,
which is Immediately filled with air, and
warmth is carried wherever the air enters.
The soil, which was before saturated with
stagnant water, is now rendered friable,
and the moisture which reaches the plants
is fresh from the clouds, carrying oxygen
and heat the roots going down into the
sub-Soil in search of moisture during dry
seasons, which the drained and porous soil
retains, although the excess is carried off.
The air also enters from below, through
the drain pipes, and not only dry soil is
obtained by drainage, but the land can be
cultivated early in the season, is easily
warmed after the spring begins, and in a
single year may, with suitable crop, pay
the entire cost of drainage philadelphia
Record
SCALY LEGS AND YERMIN.
A writer in the american Poultry World
gives the following remedies and modes of
treatment:
For the former l use nothing but coal
oil. Take tin vessel about six inches in
depth and diameter, fill it to within one
inch with the oil, place it on chair,
bench or box, take your fowls, one at a
time, from the perch, immerse both legs up
to the hook joint in the oil, and let them
remain there for a few minutes; then re-
move the fowl to its place, take the next
and proceed in same manner, until all
have had foot bath. Two applications
are generally sufficient This is cheap,
simple and effective, and can be applied
when the common days labor is finished.
For the latter, sulphur is recommended
in all poultry works, and there is nothing
better that | have found, if applied rightly.
Some take the pulverized sui hur and
dust the fowl all over, others mix it with
lard and anoint the whole hen, set her on
valuable eggs, and then growl and even
assert that the eggs purchased of Mr.. So
and-So were of no account, and will not
hatch, and that he (the seller ought to be
exposed as a swindler, etc. Again, others
sprinkle it in the nest and find that it
amounts to about the same as if they had
sprinkled the same amount of road dust
there, only it costs little more.
In my experience | have found that the
best way to exterminate this pest is by
fumigation with sulphur. The fumes will
not only kill the lice, but also the thou
sands Of nits Take barrel with both
heads out, cut slot about six inches deep
from top down and one inch wide, and
another hole enough to admit your arm, to
one side, about ten inches from the former );
set the other end of the barrel on three
bricks, place your right hand through the
hole made for it, have your assistant hand
you the fowl, grasp it by the legs with the
hand, and with the left pass its head
through and down the SLOT next have
your assistant cover the top of barrel with
blanket, and also the slot above the
fowls head then have him get a shovel
of hot Goals on which are thrown about
two spoonsful Of sulphur, place it quickly
under the barrel and let il remain there
for few minutes; then with your right
hand raise the fowl and you can take it
out without inhaling the fumes, and all is
done.
SOME FIGURES ABOUT EGGS.
American IMPORTS of eggs, mostly from
Canada, for the fiscal year ending with
last June, amounted to 15,062,S96 dozen.
and the exports to Europe 54S,750 dozen,
SAYS the Chicago Tribune. Either the
consumption has decreased or there must
have been an increase of industry by the
domestic hen over that of the twelve
months next preceding. The imports for
that year were 15,9lS,S59 and the exports
3S0,SS4. For the last named period Dem
mark and Germany contributed 365, 469
and China 1885, dozen, the latter COM
ing for use by Chinese residents OF the
Pacific slope About all the rest came
from Canada, half of them being entered
at Buffalo and Niagara An egg train
once week Iroin OSuensouis, uisti ioutins
the product through New England, is q
regular feature of the trade. The United
States census of ten years ago showed q
home production of 457,0O0,000 dozen
eggs, which, with the imports, gives ar
average per capita consumption of III
eggs. II this rate be preserved the home
production for the present year will b<
500 millions of dozens from l52, 100000
fowls. The computation for this con-
sumption includes the unknown number
which we're organized into chickens, SC
that the average of nearly one egg every
three DAYS for every man, woman and
child 10 the United States will be reduced
by the quantity taken for incubation
This is more than double the egg con