The record-union., 1891-06-12

countries much later than India or China.
To-day more than three-quarters of the
worlds supply comes from these three
countries. Beside the true silkworm,
which feeds on the mulberry, but which
Will also produce good silk from the
leaves OF the Usage orange, there are
number of moths the eggs of which pro-
duce strong, lustrous and valuable silk.
China and India have a caterpillar from
which is made the fabric called tussah
silk, and also caterpillar producing
silk which feeds on the castor-oil bean of
commerce. Nevertheless, no insect has
yet been found so valuable for cocoons
from which the best silk is made as the
true silkworm (BoDa6yr mora, though
the Ailanthus (PhdlosGneia cy'stIsid) has
acquired considerable importance, and
large American moth (Ieleo pol
gphenad) of the family of the true
silkworm, makes "a strong silk, and
Will feed on the oak, chestnut, willow,
cherry, apple, and leaves of some other
trees.-Prairie Farmer.
HEN RoosTs.
Seeing farmer near me building a new
hen-house the other day, took occasion
to give him new idea. He was putting
in his roosts in the old-fashioned way,
one being above the other on an angle of
about forty-tive degrees. In this way the
fowls are led to attempt to all get upon
the highest roost. and as it gets full, the
weak ones are crowded off and fall to the
ground; they begin again to climb up,
only to repeat the same performance,
until 1t gets so dark that they stop climb
ing. resting content upon lower roost,
or even upon the ground under the
roostS. In the morning the fowls will
not go down as they went up, from one
roost to another, but fly from the roost to
the ground. In this way, and by falling
from the roost to the ground at night,
heavy fowls, especially when very fat or
very full Of eggs, are often crippled in the
legs or otherwise injured. Many likely
hens l have seen completely spoiled in
this way. l told him that / should build
the roosts all of the same height, and no
more than two and half feet from the
floor, putting them about fifteen inches
apart. Before j left had the satisfaction
of seeing him commence to undo the
work he had done and to build his roostS
as l suggested. and of hearing an old
farmer who was present declare his in
tention of taking out his roosts, which
were of the ''ladder'' style, and putting
in new ones, level and lower. / think
they will save hens enough before sum-
mer by so doing to more than pay for the
labor 1t will take.-Boston Journal.
POULTRY NOTES.
Do not put up an expensive poultry
building because some millionaire sets
the example.
If the ducks and geese are picked regu-
larly during the summer and early fall
they will not molt.
1t is not the state of the market that
causes failure in poultrykeeping, but the
state of mind of the poultry-keeper.
The lazy man never makes ends meet
on poultry farm. Drones can never eX-
pect to have hens keep them in idleness.
The scraps from the table soaked in
sweet milk until soft make good feed for
young turkeys, especially in the summer.
Do not be afraid to give your fowls
plenty of clean water. 1t will not hurt
them, though judging by appearance of
the drinking vessels in many yards, one
would be led to think the owner thought
so.
AT least once a week the hens should
have feeding of charcoal, or nubbins of
corn on the ear may be burned and fed.
At this season, after a long winters con-
nnement in small pens, and before Ian
abundance of green food can be obtained.
the charcoal will be found good altera-
tive and an improved condition will follow
its use.
FARM NOTES.
According to the Census Bureau we
have in this country 500 200, 900 invested
IN truck farming, not counting kitchen
gardens.
Some New Jersey farmers intend to
select certain days to be known as ''bug
days." to be devoted to killing bugs in
stead of driving them to each others
fields.
The best remedy yet known for the
asparagus beetle is a hen with brood of
chicks. The whole bed will be diligently
searched over, and those who have tried
the method claim that not only is the
beetle kept in check, but the chicks
thrive well and grow fast.
No matter where the sheep may be
feeding during the day they can be
taught to come up readily at night. A
small allowance of oats. every evening,
with little salt placed where they can
help themselves, will be inducements.
They also like cool, dry place on which
to sleep.
Dry plaster is excellent for the stables.
1t does not injure the feet of the animals,
as 1t is not caustic. 1t will greatly aid in
arrestng the loss of ammonia, and is
very cheap. Mixed with four parts of its
bulk of dry earth it is an excellent ab-
sorbent, and will greatly assist in keep
ing the stalls and passage ways dry.
AS a duck rarely has an established
nest, but usually lays wherever she
chances to be, they should be confined to
shed or small inclosure until or 9
O'Clock in the forenoon, that the eggs
may be found; otherwise, most of them
viii be lost, as ducks are "early birds"
and start out foraging before it is fairly
light.
How high would the pile be if all the
grain grown in the country could be
heaped has been calculated upon, but
when 1t Is considered that over 90. 900 tons
Of twine must be used for binding the
crop ii shows that even apparently insig-
nlticant materials connected with har-
vesting the crop are enormous when the
whole amount is looked upon.
When horses come in at noon take off
the harness and allow them ten minutes
to cool before watering and feeding. AL
ways examine to notice if any part of the
harness rubs the skin, or is causing a
sore. a horse may suffer a whole days
torture from sore before it is discovered
unless this precaution is taken. The
easier the harness is to the horse the bet
ter the animal will work.