Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-09-17
Farm, Orchard and Garden.

Farm, Orchard and Garden.
A good deal of discussion is going on in
the general press on the subject of country
roads. Among other things, it is stated
that the power required to draw a wagon,
weighing with its load one ton, on level,
macadamizsd road of broken stone, is IS
| pounds, which is Increased to 200 pounds
| on a com mon dirt road. This loss of force
means greater expense for feed, deteriora-
| ton OF horse flesh, repairs to wagons, &c.
The burden OF it all falls directly upon the
farmer. There is no single question to
which farmers clubs and Alliances could
more profitably devote themselves than to
tho study of road-making.
The Journal of Mycology, Washington,
ID. c., announces the discovery of the fact
that the smut of oats, SO often disastrous
to the crop, especially in wet seasons, can
be prevented almost wholly by treating the
seed with hot water before sowing. The
method consists only in subjecting the seed
for few minutes to the action of scalding
water. While such treatment does not in
jure the vitality of the seed in the least, it
readily destroys the spores by means of
which the fungus is propagaied. This
remedy is so easily applied and is so inex-
pensive as to be within the reach of all,
and, if effective, there is no further reason
for smutty oat fields.
The ability of legumirous plants to
gather nitrogen from the atmosphere is
well proven, and helps to explain the use-
fulness of clover, alfalfa, peas, beans,
vetches and cow peas as renovating crops,
and enforces the Importance of using these
crops to restore fertility to exhausted soils.
The judicious use of mineral fertilizers,
containing phosphoric acid, potash and
lime, will enable the farmer to grow crops
of legumes, which, after being fed to his
stock, will, with proper care TO collect and
preserve all manure, both liquid and solid,
enable him to return complete fertili-
zer" in the shape of b7rnyard manure to
his land. A further advantage of growing
these crops is that the nitrogenous material,
proteine, which they contain in such great
abundance, is especially valuable for fod-
der.
Among the practical things that the Al
lance has undertaken is that of building
and managing their own cotton warehouses
in some portions of the South. This policy
might we'll be extended into some of the
grain growing districts of the West There
shonld be no lack of capital for such enter
prises, for the stock, divided into small
portions, could be distributed among all
the formers of a district, so that no one
would be called upon for large invest
ment. Cooperative enterprises, properly
managed, seem to be one of the most avail
able methods for self-help now open to us.
In many of the older States there ia an
average Of 5000 farmers to q county. A
subscription of $40 each from these would
give fund sufficient to build, equip and
manage any one of these enterprises A
cooperative warehouse, Touring mill, a
canning factory, large co operative store.
In the South oil mills are building by the
Alliance.
The tomato is of growing Importance to
the market-gardener, and much has been
done toward its improvement during recent
years, but the ideal tomato has not yet
been reached. The nearest approach to it
seems to be the Ignotum, sport from q
German variety, first grown by Prof. Bal
ley, of the Cornell Experiment Station, and
by him distributed in small lots to test. 1t
has proved very nearly the earliest of all,
ripening in 116 days from the seed, and
giving the largest season of fruiting of any
grown-from July "a to October 10, when
the vines we're killed by frost, although
still loaded with fruit. The Cornell Bull
letfn says "It is by far the finest market
tomato we have ever grown. Its points of
superiority are, its large size, regularity of
shape, solidity, productiveness and uni
formity throughout the season. A Long
Island market gardener who grew it last
year states that his fruits averaged one
pound each"
Brood mares in foal should have the very
BEST of care. Moderate exercise for them
upon the road will be much better than :
standing in the stall. Feed only the best
of hay aud sound, clean, sweet oats. 1t is
best for both mare and foal that the former
does not take on too much flesh. AS rule
foals from very fat mares are much more
puny at birth than those from strong,
hearty ones that are in only fair condition.
The american CultiUator says that one of
the things that those having the caro- of
brood mares should be careful to avoid, Is
permitting them to drink too much cold
water. When salt is kept constantly in
their hangers, and they are watered three
times day. there is not much Danger
When they ara sated only once a week,
and perhaps not so often, the danger is in
creased. Probably there are more foals
killed prematurely in the North during the
winter months by their dams drinking cold
water to excess than from any other single
cause. Very few farmers are aware of this
fact, however.
A well-informed Pennsylvania farmer,
who by repeated experiments has proved
the fact to his own satisfaction and profit,
says: "With me cooking adds just one
third to the fattening quality of corn. In
feeding 100 head, with corn at 80 cents per
bushel, make $780," Another, Ken
lucky farmer says: "One bushel of dry corn
made five pounds and ten ounces Of live
pork; one bushel of corn, boiled on the
ear, made IA pounds and ounces, while
56 pounds of meal cooked made in one In
stance 16 pounds and 7 ounces, and in
another nearly 18 pounds of live pork
Estimating hogs at four cents, the dry corn
made 221 cents, the whole corn cooked 81
cents, and the meal cooked 65 cents. This
matter of feeding cooked food is one in
regard to which every farmer should turn
experimenter, determining for himself il
the practice is a profitable one. The bulk
of the testimony available is that it will
largely repay all the labor and expense de-
manded, but at the same time this and
other like undertakings depend for their
result largely upon the man and his
methods.
The following ''don'ts' which the Amsri-
can Garden sets forth for the consideration
of every man who plants garden are good
enough to be put where we can sse them
every Gay. OoserVe tnem carefully Whep
planning and planting
Don't deprive yourself and your family
of fruits and vegetables.
DON'T depend upon wild berries.
Don't depend upon the market.
Don't set aside your poorest land for
fruit and vegetables.
Don't plant in a restricted area which is
closely fenced in.
Don't plant in little beds.
Don't plant in an old orchard.
Don't plant largely of anything which
will demand greatest labor when other
work is most pressing.
Don't get plants or seeds from neighbors
who are negiectful in culture, or who do
not grow the finest varieties.
Don't put great faith in novelties. As