The record-union., 1891-03-25

Lne Top SOIL Kept loose. There are those
who advocate what they call root trim
ming, which means that the young corn
should be plowed between the rows so as
to cut the roots, but this is not indorsed
by others, who claim that the crop thrives
best If only sufficient cultivation be given
to keep the top soil loose, so as to form a
soil mulch, and thus protect against
drought. All kinds of manure will serve
for corn, as the plant is gross feeder.
Push it forward rapidly, as the more
growth before dry weather the better.
The main point to be impressed here is
to begin preparations early, before the
busy season arrives.-Phitddetph Rec
ord.
WHAT BREED OF POULTRY?
1t is said that a Yankee always answers
one question by asking another one. We
would have to answer the above question
by asking several. In what section of
the country do you live? What have you
market for? Have you unlimited range,
or are the fowls to be kept in close yards?
These are only some of the queries, and
may not be the most important to the one
who might ask the question.
There is much difference in the hardi-
ness OF fowls. Some are more closely
feathered, some have peculiarities in the
comb, wattles, feet, etc., that make much
difference III this respect. Some chickens
are hardy, but the chicks are almost bare
while growing to broiling size, and extra
care is needed. Then the large size of
these same chicks may overbalance the
lack, and you might consider them more
profitable than the hardy little fellow
that is almost feathered from the she'll
1t may be great distance from market
will make the marketing of fresh eggs
an Inconvenience. SO you want to raise
chicks to sell instead of eggs. Or, if
there is near market eggs may be most
profitable. In the one case, if other
features are favorable, you need the large
breeds, and in the other, the egg ma
chimes, which are the smaller ones.
We might as well ask, and expect to
get an answer that would be applicable to
all our country, what variety of apples
shall plant? We were much interested
in friend Snyder's article on Plymouth
Rocks. They are as yet rather new, but
there is no question but that they are at
the front in the West, as we have chance
to observe, and we could say amen to al
most everything he writes of them. But
in some situations we should prefer the
Light Brahmas. We have not thoroughly
tested the Black Langshans, but their
friends are just as enthusiastic as brother
Snyder. Situated as we are now we pre-
fer the Brown Leghorns, as they are suf-
ficiently hardy for this section, and eggs
pay us best, as we get them when eggs
are high priced. A neighbor with very
clean surroundings prefers the White
Leghorns, on account of their great
beauty.
Not breeding any stock to sell, we can
write, perhaps, with less of bias than if
we were specially interested in one or
more breeds. Let each study his sur
roundings and the characteristics of the
different breeds, and then decide as to
those best adapted to his needs.-J. NJ.
RicP an prOj)ip EO1IUo9
FARM NOTES.
Insects do not like wood ashes.
Use the ashes for the trees and vines. If
you have no ashes buy some. Ashes
contain both lime and potash.
An excellent coating for peach trees. to
prevent borers, is to swab the trees well
with mixture of lime and wood tar.
Dig away the earth, swab the trees six
inches below the ground and twelve
inches above 1t, and return the earth to
the trees.
In planting new strawberries do not
overlook the fact that there should be
staminate and pistilate variety together,
unless the variety used is both staminate
and pistilate. Beginners may make mis-
takes in such matters, and it is well to
call their attention to it.
Chop the manure well into the soil of
the garden. Use only the fine aud well
rotted material. Coarse manure, contain
ing cornstalks, straw, or other litter not
decomposed, viii only be in the way of
the young and tender plants. The finer
the manure the better.
Costiveness in sheep is very apt to
occur in winter when no roots or ensilage
is fed. In such case the value of oil meal
can scarcely be overestimated. If the
tiockmaster has no green food we believe
it will pay him to buy some oil meal at
any cost that anybody will likely have to
pay.
Let the top dressing of the asparagus
bed be of well decomposed manure, or if
you covered last fall with manure that
was a little ''long," rake off this spring.
and let the fine remain. Three hundred
pounds of nitrate of soda to the acre lust
before grass comes through will be a
benefit.
Early cabbages require very rich soil,
while late ones will do well wherever a
good crop of corn can be raised. We plow
our ground early for late crop, summer
following as for wheat. Early crop is set
about the 10th of April, the second crop
about the 1st of May, and the third crop
the Goth of June.
The more wrinkled the peas the better
the quality of variety. The early peas are
usually smooth. The dwarf varieties can
be grown with the least labor, as thew
need no supports; but later on the taller
kinds should be planted, they are not
only of better quality, but afford greater
number pickings.
1t is not necessary to blanket horse in
the stable unless the animal is wet, or
should not be cooled suddenly. A sheet
may be used to keep the skin clear of
dust. When standing on the road, or in
any exposed position, especially during
windy weather, the horse should always
be covered with blanket.
A hand-seeder will distribute the seeds
in a row much better than can be done
with the fingers. Some seed drills open
the rows, plant and cover the seeds, and
mark off the next rows If the proper
implements were used for the garden
there would be less complaint of the labor
required in growing vegetables for family
use.
The first thing to do in invigoratinp n
worn-out orchard is to enrich the ground
by top-dressing the whole surface with
barn manure; if practicable, at the rate of
thirty or forty two-horse loads to the
acre, or with less If this amount can
not be had. Let this manure be finely
broken up so as to be evenly spread and
not left in Jumps.
Rotation of crops is always beneficial.
Land that is given different crop every
year will not become exhausted as soon
as when given up, year after year, to a
single crop. A crop will take from the
land certain food in excess of others. and
cause it to fail, though it may not be lack
ing in other elements. BY rotation of
crops the supply of plant food removed is
equalized, and the soil is better enabled
to produce crops for a longer period of
time.
All kinds of food may be relished by
stock, but the food that gives the best
results is that which is most easily di-
gested and assimilated. The individual
characteristics of an animal should he