The record-union., 1891-12-17

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limit, for the greatest neglect has been
given the roads. Though road is public
property and devoted TO the use ofeach and
all, yet no one has sufficient private in
terest therein to permit him to cease farm
operations in order TO look after the roads.
1t is only when the roads become inn
passable that their condition is noticed
and regretted. Experiments have re-
Gently been made at several points which
show that bad road in winter VIII cost
the farmer a sum greater than his taxes
on the farm, in some instances, as he
must not only sacrifice time, wear OF
vehicle, and lessen the weight of his loads,
but must use two horses To do the work
of one. The draft on good gravel road,
according to Professor Sanborn, COM
pared with even good dry dirt road,
showed a difference of over 1900 pounds
load for the same force, or ll9 per cent.
more of net load could be carried on the
gravel road than on the dirt road, while
the draft was lessened more than one
half
If this difference between a good gravel
road and a good dry road Is so great, now
great should be the difference between a
good road and one of mud, on which the
wagon-wheels sink nearly to the hubs,
bringing up great loads of sticky mud at
every revolution, the reader can estimate
for himself, as it is only a matter OF OBJ
Servation and comparison. NOR IS thls
all. In addition to producing the power
the horse raises a large share OF mud
with his feet. and must use extra eXer-
ton to propel his body, even without
load.
rhe first object that should be accom-
plished is to have the roads hard and
smooth, also graded wherever ii can be
done at little cost. How to make good
road depends on the locality and the ma
terials most easily and cheaply procured,
but the farmers in each community are
in duty bound to take the matter OF good
roads into their own hands by refusing to
elect anyone to the position of road man
ager unless he is capable. and they should
not only agitate the subject but insist on
good roads. The first cost is the greatest,
but where good road is once established
it will not be costly to keep 1t III good
condition. and it is not so difficult to re-
pair as are the muddy ways denomlnated
as roads.
FARM NOTES.
The currant tree came from Zante, and
was planted in England in 1888
In Sweden22, 600 children are Instructed
in tree planting and horticulture.
Cabbages, carrots, ETC., We're introduced
into England about the year 1917.
The sacred bean of India (nelumbium
speciosuml is a large petalled aquatic
plant.
Cos lettuces were brought from the
Island of Cos, near Rhodes, in the Medi-
terranean.
1t is stated by some one that when the
thermometer stands at 30 degrees at sun
down frost will not occur that night. 1t
is worth observation.
Money spent in improving property
= h1
ness than money spent IN making pay
ments on more property than can prop
erly be managed.
Watch your farm expenses and be sure
that your income always exceeds your
expenditure. In order to know your
standing, you will have to keep an ac-
count book, Of course.
Cover your rhubarb and asparagus
with plenty Of manure, which will show
its good effect in the spring. Salt the as
paragus beds slightly, and rake Oft all
dead grass before applying the manure.
The best material for a hen with brood
of little chickens is the sweepings from
the barn loft. The seeds and broken
leaves are readily accepted, and the litter
serves as scratching material for the
chickens, thus keeping them in exercise
and health.
Not every farmer has the time or taste
TO cultivate flowers and shrubbery to
much extent, and it is better not to plant
at all than to plant and then neglect, but
there are two things which cost little, yet
will beautify the home acre on any farm.
These are trees and grass.
Slush and manure in the barnyard in
dicate a lack of care. No animal should
be compelled to stand in a barnyard that
is damp and filthy. The. easiest and
cheapest mode to avoid such barnyard
is to fill it well with absorbent material.
The stables should never be filthy, but
should be cleaned thoroughly every day.
Holland is noted for it's poultry raising
as well as its truck farming. Portions OF
Holland abound in small twenty-five
acre farms on which independent for
tunes have been produced from these
small industries. Geese, turkeys and
ducks are largely bred, and both fowls
and feathers have had large market in
the United States before the Mckinley
bill became law.
An Illinois farmer thinks that sweet
apples are better for hogs than any root
crop. he says hog viii leave a clover
patch to eat sweet apples, and he thinks
apples will make more fat and muscle
than clover. 1t puts the hair in shape,
cools the stomach and intestines. regu-
lates the bowels and makes them vora-
cious feeders, and he thinks it tends as
W ldbAOI ihSIil OlHGI DOTI1OH
of the rations.
If you wish to have patch of large
onions next year lay Off a plot of ground,
cover it with three inches OF manure, and
on the first warm day that such work can
be done, spade the plot, mixing the ma
nure well into the soil, and broadcast a
small quantity of lime over the surface.
In the spring spade the plot again, rake
it down fine and plant it to onion sets.
oh no 10
plenty of them.
Plenty of shade trees about the farm
house and home grounds are essential
both to beauty and comfort. In summer
they give shelter from the burning sun.
and in winter from the cutting winds.
They should, however, not be too densely
grouped close about the house, as then
they cause dampness. Plant iudiciousIy.
but plant, and plant now; for anything is
better than bare grounds. If you chance
TO get the trees in too thickly, part NAV
be easily removed when they have grown
larger, and SO shown that they are not
needed.
The average farmer does not work, all
told, more than six months ont of the
year During the winter he manages to
iced his stock and himself and that is
about all. During the summer the old
motto, More rain, more rest" is APP
plicable, and little mathematics viii
show that the farmer manages to let
good many summer days go by without