Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-09-20
Farm AND ORCHARD.
SOMETHING ABOUT RAMIE ARD THE
WAY IT IS HANDLED.
Green Food for Hens-Turkey Feeding
Tobacco Smoke and Delicate
Fruits-Farm Notes.

Ramie, or China grass, which has of late
wears become known in Europe as valua
BILE textile, is widely grown in Western
China. The London Times, quoting from a
trade report from Wenchow, describes how
it is harvested. The stems, when ripe, are
cut down, made into bundles and carried
from the fields to the house of the grower,
where they are stepped in water, and the
bark, with the fiber, removed by hand. In
the Eastern provinces different method is
sracticed. When the stems are ripe the
peasant removes the bark in the field in
very simple, ingenious and profitable man
ner. Selling each stem about SIX inches
above ground between the thumb and
fingers of both hands. a few inches apart,
he gives a smart push downwards, and for
ward, causing compound fracture of
the stem between his two hands. He then
inserts the forefnger of his left hand in
the fracture and draws the bark downward
to the root, where it readily detaches
itself. In the same way the remaining
bark and upper part of the stem, which he
holds in his right hand, are removed, and
by simple brush of the hand from the
root end of the bark upward the leaves
and stems are dislodged, and the
bark is ready for future manipulation.
By this means several inches of bark and
fiber are saved in comparison with the
produce resulting from the cutting down
80 c4a lo,,r4h Nf eta Ia Odds
much more to the value of the fiber, the
plan here pursued deserves some attention
in those countries were the cultivation of
"Boehmeria" is of great commercial value.
This is the case in India where labor is
cheaper than in China. Another advan-
tage of the system is that the discarded
leaves ana stems remain on the field and
hel p to manure the other two crops.
GREEN FOOD FOR HENS.
The Canadian Poultry Reriew says: The
fraternity is in need of more judges. Even
the old stand-bys, who have made reputa-
ton and money out of Judging the shows
of the country, will acknowledge that they
can not fill near all the demands, and will
join in the call for more judges. A good
judge must be true fancier. He should
be high-minded, impartial, and like
Cesar's wife, "aboye suspicion" For such
judges there is promising field. To be
sure the duties of a judge at show are
arduous but the remuneration is generally
good. 1t requires years of practice to de-
velop good poultry Judges that alone is a
reason why more young men should begin
practice at once. A good Judge can not be
made by mere knowledge of the standard
he must combine with that knowledge a
correct ideal gained only by much OBJ
servation and experience) of the living
fowl
TURKEY FEEDING.
A lady living in one of the Southern
States says that to make turkeys grow
fast, Chop up green onions and mix with
.clahber bread, add a little black pepper
occasionally when feeding it. The clabber
should be curdled by heating, when the
whey will rise to the top and is then
easily drawn of" The same lady also
recommends mixing strong liquid coffee
with their feed twice day, if hatched out
late in the spring.
TOBACCO AND FRUIT.
Tobacco smoke quickly contaminates
delicate fruit of all kinds. A few puffs
blown upon box of raspberries will en-
tirely destroy the delicate favor Of the
fruit and render it uneatable. The
same may, in degree, be said of straw
berries. This is something which but few
growers and shippers have ever considered,
and too much care cannot be taken to pre-
vent the nse OF tobacco where these fruits
are being handled.
FARM NOTES.
P; often obliges COWS to drink i'm
pur, Ter, and this Injuries both the COW
and utter.
yer you see a sprout of any kind
gre up from the roots of your grated
re IS, cut it off.
~ Is in clean, wholesome quarters
ear ,-- and make better return for it
thar . kept in dirty quarters.
II possible, get into that line of farming
aAich you like You will be much more
li&ely to succeed than with one that is
distasteful to you.
1n old fruit grower in the New York
Tribune says that for every dollar he spends
in thinning fruit he reaps profit of So
Good pay and good for the trees.
As to the stings of bees and wasps, an
English contemporary says: "These stings,
though very painful, are not dangerous to
a healthy person, unless in the mouth,
throat or eyelid."
Be sure, when purchasing an animal
that it is free from any disease, and that 1t
does not come from section where dis
ease has prevailed. 1t is an easy matter to
bring disease into flock or herd.
If there is any value in preventing trees
from overbearing, the fact that all kinds OF
fruit trees have been free from fruit this
season should give encouragement for ex-
pecting an unusual yield next season.
Stables should be cleaned daily, and the
bedding carefully removed, as it is an alb
sorbent of the liquids, the retention of
which results ia the liberation of ammonia
in the stalls. Clean floors, with clean
bedding daily, promote the comfort and
thrift of the stock.
In budding the best size of the stock is
about half an inch in diameter, but with
care smaller trees can be budded and much
larger ones. Special care is required,
however, with stocks of unusual size, and
beginners will do better by working on
those of half an inch.
A farmer should endeavor to grow every
thing possible for home use on the farm.
1t may not always be cheaper to grow
some kinds of fruit and vegetables than to
buy them, but when grown at home they
will be fresh and of better quality, which
Is very important matter.
Mutton is increasing in consumption in
England which is also the case here. In
England only the choicest breeds are used
for that purpose. The merino is almost
unknown to English farmers, as they do
not keep sheep for wool at all, mutton be-
ing the specially, although quite crop of
middle wool is also secured.
Many dairymen make good butter, but
fail to realize high prices simply because