The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-09
THE FARM And TIE GARDEN.
The Experiment Station at Cornell Uni
YerSity on KanurcS.
USEFUL HINTS ON FARM MANAGEMENT.
The Treatment and Handling Of Horses In
Hot weather-Oid Maids tho Cause OF
Variety in Plants.

The experiment station of Cornell Univer-
sty recently issued an important bulletin on
the production and care of farm manures.
A series of investigations were made TO de-
termine the loss in stable mGnUres by expos
ure in open barn-yards. In one experiment.
two tons of horse manure, mixed with straw
bedding, were put in place exposed to the
weather where the drainage was so good that
all water not absorbed by the manure ran
through and off at once.
Cheminal analysis of samples showed that
the two tons of fresh manure were worth
$500. At tho end of six months the weight
had decreased from 1900 pounds to 1870
pounds, and the value to 90 IL.
In summing UP the results Of this and SINH
lar experiments the bulletin says: 1t seems
safe to say that under the ordinary conditions
of piling.and exposure the loss of fertilizing
materials during the course of the summer IS
not likely to be much below 80 per cent. OF
the original value of the manure"
Comment is hardly necessary to call atten-
ton t. the enormous waste that Is daily gong
on in the open barn-yards OF the whole coun-
try
As the manure has 10 be handled and
applied anyway, this waste is a net loss The
value given is based on the prices OF nitrogen,
phOsphOric acid and potash in commercial
fertilizers SO the net loss in dollars and
cents may be more or less than given above
in different localities
For preventing the loss from frefanging
and teaching, where manures are not taken
direct from the stable 10 the fields, cheap
manure sheds are recommended. A descrlp-
ton and illustrations of inexpensive sheds Ior
this purpose will appear IN our next number
HOW TO OIL A HARNESS.
Take the harness TO a room where you can
unbuckle it, aud separate the parts complete
". Wash each part we'll in lukewsrm water
TO which has been added o little potash.
Scrub well with brush until oil grease and
dust has been removed. Work the pieces well
under the hand until they become supple 1t
won't do to oil until IL becomes so. Let the
parts dry in a place where they will do so
slowly When Just moist, oil. For this pur-
pose use cod liver oil II is the best for the
purpose Besides. if you were to use meats
foot, the rats and mics are your enemies at
once, while they will not touch harness
oiled with cod liver OIL Give a good dose of
oil to all parts, thon hang up to dry. When
dry rub well with soft rag.
DUCKS FOR PROFIT.
W. Vale. in Feathered World says: II
shall endeavor 10 make 1t clear that ducks,
when properly managed. are source of profit,
and even when kept in very confined places.
With only an available space Of from eight to
ten square yards, pen Of ducks can be kept
with less trouble cleaner and healthier than
pen of fowls.
There are very many who start keeping
ducks who soon give them up through some
fault in the system of management and having
failed TO keep them in satisfactory manner,
they condemn them and say they are dirty
creatures, big eaters, cannot be kept healthy
in confined places. are unprOhltable. etc,
all OF which is wholly without foundation.
AS regards cleanliness. there is not any
creature that takes moro time and care in
cleaning itself. The duck Will preen and
dress its feather by the hour together there
fore. if it has the means il will keep itself
clean They will live and thrive upon
coarser and less costly food than fowls, and
yield greater weight ofeggs. Scraps potato
parings and other waste from the food supply
of most houses is usually thrown into the
dust-bin; this cooked and mixed with mid
dlings the dressing from wheaton Hour Will
generally be found TO be sufficient food for
pen of ducks. Still they should have some
corn each day
when keeping Aylesbury Pekin, OF com
mon farmyard ducks, have always more than
eighty eggs from each during the season.
averaging in weight two and one-qnarter
ounces. Some people object to the flavor OF
the eggs, which depends very much upon
where the ducks are kept and the KIND of
food supplied to them. The eggs from duel
cupplied with clean water, sweet and whole
some food and kept on a smooth, hard floor
which is kept clean. are entirely different
from those from ducks that seek for food IN
muddy ponds and foul bitches.
Though my own ducks are kept IN rather
close confinement. | have never lost one. old
OF Young through disease; and consequently
their state OF health has never been a cause OF
anxiety. but pleasure to contemplate"
HEAVY Mixers.
The Rural World says. Cows that are large
mixers and fresh in milk when turned 90 the
pasture should be MIXED three times a day
instead of twice. They are hearty feeders and
have plenty of paunch room, and having been
bred and developed almost with the one OBJ
iect of turning fodder into milk, their produc-
ton is limited only whom they can hold no
more. Contrary 10 a common opinion, by so
doing the milk obtained will be OF q better
quality. as well as increased in quantity.
When anything greatly disturbs the COW the
percentage of fat in her milk ~ lessened 20
even a greater extent than her milk now
This has been proved by repeated tests. when
thew have been worried 10y dogs, abused by
ill-tempered mixers or in any way frightened
or excited. Perhaps the fever in the blood
burns out the fat, or causes it TO be absorbed
into the system But whatever the reason.
the fact is abundantly proven, and as the
over distention of the over-hled milk veins
and glands cannot help but cause pain, this
will explain why the milk il richer in solids
and especially IN butter fats. when 1t Is drawn
three times q day than when il Is drawn twice.
SHEEP BIG FOOLS.
No animal that walks on four legs is as big q
fool as a sheep, according to sneep-raiser,
who says:
I'VE have 10 watch them every minute and
IL vigilance is relaxed for an instant the entire
flock is likely 10 practically commit suicide.
IL caught in q storm on the plains they Will
drift before the wind and die of cold and OK
posure rather than move one hundred yards
10 windward TO obtain shelter in their corral.
To drive sheep against the wind Is absolutely
impossble. | once lost over one thousand
head because could not drive them 10 cor
raj not two hundred feet away. In the
corral they are still more foolish.
II storm comes up they all move
down wind until stopped by the fence;
Then begins the proceeding so much dreaded
by sheepmen, known as pillng. The sheep
will climb over each others backs until they
are heaped np ten feet high. OF course all
those at the bottom are smothered. Not one
has sense enough 70 seek shelter under the lea
of the fence. as a horse or dog would do.
Again. if sheep gets into a qulcksand It's
fate teaches nothing % those that come imme-
diately after, but the whole flock will follow
It's leader 70 destruction. No more exasper-
atingy stupid brute than sheep walks"
THE ADVANTAGE IN STRAIGHT ROWS.
We are obliged to pass by two gardens
avery day, says the Rural New Yorker. In
one the rows were made either by guess on