The record-union., 1892-08-23

sheep for raising spring lambs.
The American sheep-raiser has missed
no opportunity or breed of sheep to gain
point, whether of fancy or usefulness.
curiosity, and a cross between the Rocky
Mountain sheep and the domestic sheep
may be mentioned in this connection.
The collection OF sheep that may come
to the Columbian Worlds Fair in 1898
will be looked with certainty of finding
buyers among the American sheep-rais-
ers, who miss no opportunity of finding
a breed OF sheep that promises to live
X. NJ. Bell in Farm and Fireside.
TO CURE LEMONS CHEAPLY.
The lemons were picked from the trees
in November and later, as soon as they
were large enough and while still un-
changed in color. Many at that time
were still entirely green. Without wait
ing for the sweating or shrinking as
many do, Mr.. Burnham Immediately
wrapped them. He lined his picking
boxes with MANILA paper, and after put
ting IN layer OF wrapped lemons laid
sheet OF manila paper over them, and SO
continued until the box was filled. The
ends and top were also covered with
paper of the same kind. These boxes
were then stacked fourteen high in large
shed, one side Of which is entirely open,
the building being shaded by large trees.
Ihere these have stood untouched all
through the winter until opened for
packing at the end of seven months.
Strange to say there was not a loss of 3
per cent. of the fruit of the earlier pick
ing and not over per cent. OF the later.
Inc lemons, when opened, were all
changed to beautiful lemon color, and,
as we have said, were the firmest of any
long-cured lemons we have ever exam
lned. The only ones not up to the gen.
eral standard Of excellence were those in
the top boxes, which were in some cases
slightly shriveled. The specimens we
saw were beyond question in the finest
condition OF any we have ever handled,
and we claim to have shipped a good
many fine lemons ourself. = Riverside
Press.
AN UNPREJUDICED WITNESS.
In review of the fruit sections of the
United States the Northwest Trade of
Minneapolis gives us the following
highly appreciated encomium coupled
with word Of sound advice: California
seems to stand pre-eminent among her
sisters of the Union as a State whose pro-
ducts cover nearly every cereal and fruit
OF the temperate and tropic zones, and
are still among the best of their several
kinds. Wine, honey, oil, nuts, dried
fruits, raisins, figs; the list is long and
almost illimitable. Long may she con-
tlnue to pursue her majestic and prosper
Gus career, and send TO every less favored
State her delicious and varied luXuries.
1t is hoped, however, that her people will
learn from the failures of the past that
they cannot afford to be lax in their
choice OF stock, methods of preparation,
packing and marketing their products.
The failure of California wines to realize
their full value as compared with less
delicious European Vintages; the recent
Governmental expose of adulteration in
California honey; the fact that despite
scarcity and Increased value of dried
fruits large amount of California goods
cannot be sold at a profit, are all warn
lngs that every Californian should heed
and act upon"
MEAT, MILK AND GRASS.
If the hens must be fed on anything at
all it should be on lean meat. 1t is better
to feed nothing, and let the hens pick up
all they can from the range, which gives
them a variety and keeps them in exer-
else; but when the hens do not lay, a mess
Of cooked lean meat, once a day, will
often start them to laying when every
thing else fails. Hens will not lay after
they begin to mott, but as long as they
are not melting they should be laying,
as there is no season of the year so favor
able to egg production as the summer
When the hens are not laying during
summer, there is something wrong. it
may be that they are too rat, or that lice
are annoying them. 1t may happen that
even on the range there is not a suffi-
cheney, but it is seldom that such is the
case. The majority of those who feed
their hens give nothing but grain, and in
SO doing they soon get the hens out of the
favorable condition for laying by making
them too fat.
The best summer foods are meat, milk
and grass. The hens can secure all the
green food they wish if they are at large,
and also seeds and insects, but if supplied
with skim milk they will need no other
food as long as they are laying; but
should the supply of eggs fall OFT, give
lean meat. Cut off every portion of the
fat from the meat, and use only that
which is lean. A pound of meat will be
sufficient for sixteen hens, or an ounce
for each hen. When the hens cease lay
ing il would be well to first examine for
lice, as that is where most of the ditfi-
culties begin, for when the hens are kept
clear of lice they will usually give good
results of themseIveS.-tarm and Fire
side.
KILLING AND DRESSING POULTRY.
1t is not difficult to kill and scald a
fowl, but tie market demands dry-pick ed
poultry, thousands of pounds of scalded
poultry being also sold, however, but at
~" SI pl1SOSs Ao gives the
carcasseS more attractive appearance,
otherwise there is no advantage in the
method. The skin should not be broken
or show surface blemishes in any man
ner. All fowls should be fat, but should
not be fed for thirty-siX hours before
killing, in order that the crop and intes-
tines may be empty. Have slip-noose
of strong cord, suspending the bird by
the legs, with sawduSt or a pail to re-
ceive the blood. Hold the head with the
left hand, open the beak and with a sharp
knife sever the arteries and vertebr;p
near the base of the brain. All the work
should be done rapidly, and as soon as
the first convulsive struggle is over
pluck the quill feathers SO as to do so
while the body is warm. Then carefully
pick off all the small feathers and espe-
cially the pin feathers. Throw the car
cass in ice-water and allow it to remain
for twelve hours. Nothing is removed
but the feathers.
In some markets the fowls must be
drawn, the entrails and the crop being
removed later first cutting off the head]
and the skin drawn over the neck and
tied. The wings should be folded across
the back, and the carcass made to have a
clean appearance.
Pack in clean boxes, and have uniform
sizes and appearance of the carcasses, by
asserting them. The best prices are paid
more for appearance than for quality, and
two or three cents pound on a box OF
fowls amounts to large sum, compared
with the small extra labor required to
make the birds reach the market in con-
dition to satisfy the customers.-Farm
and Fireside.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
Greece exports about $500 tons Of
picked olives annually.
Don't preserve eggs. Improve the
houses and your methods, and produce
eggs in abundance fresh at all seasons.
Apples are claimed by a German
physician to belong to the list of most
Valuable medicinal frnits. The varu