The record-union., 1895-10-05
FARM And ORCHARD.
Some Short Items of Interest to Agri-
cuIturists.
Shipping of Fruit-Varfety Of Crops
Packing Butter-FeedinR Sheep
Oil on the Farm.

Clipping off the runners is necessary
in growing some of the fresh varieties of
straw berries successfully. If left to
themselves they will produce great
mum ber of new plants, but there Will be
fewer and smaller berries next year for
it. But the Crescent is a berry that Will
stand this usage better than any other we
know. If planted in rows three feet
apart and left to form row filling all the
intermediate space they will produce an
immense amount of fruit. The Crescent
is never a large berry. however carefully
it's runners may be clipped, and it will
bear neglect in this respect better than
any other strawb berry.
The cow pea is grown on every farm in
the South. When a piece of land be-
comes unserviceable it is broadcasted to
cow peas, which are then plowed under
when the seed pots are forming. They
thrive we'll and ripen their seed in New
Jersey, and will no doubt do equally as
well in California. However, as they
can be plowed under at any stage of
growth. they are never out of place. They
will grow on all kinds Of land, from the
poorest to the most fertile soils.
When young tree does not grow and
the leaves are yellowish instead of green,
dig down to the roots and endeavor to
discover if some insect or parasite is not
working under ground. Then dig away
plenty of dirt and drench tho roots with
strong soap suds, to which should be
added a few pounds OF unleached wood
ashes. or put the ashes in after drenching
the roots. 1t will not injure the tree and
may prove of great benefit.
Here is a new wrinkle in feeding sheep:
The whole corn crop is run through
threshing machine or shredder, tearing
the stalks, husks and leaves into fine
feed. with the grain intermingled or sifted
out as wished, as with other grain. A
flock thus fed left timothy hay untouched
for it, which shows them 10 be wise
sheep, and, mixed with clover hay, the
sheep did remarkably well.
Many ask which breed is the best for
the novice, and stop alter putting the
question. There are many established
breeds that are prominent, with charac-
teristics and qualities suited to the var-
GUS requirements, so that one need only
to select what he wants, with the under
standing that all good qualities are not
found in one breed, as is the case with all
domestic animal.
The bulky foods which can be grown
successfully upon the farm have no su-
perior as feed for the dairy-corn, oats,
clover hay, and plenty ofsilage. Results
from the bought concentrated foods can
not equal the results which do these more
easily digested foods. Forcing" a cow
does injury to her digestive organs, and
is decidedly not profitable in the long
run.
There should be no ironclad rules for
milking. but improper handling will
spoil good mich cow quickly. None
but a careful and level-headed person
should break ina heifer to milk. Learn
that cows natures vary, and that they
cannot all be treated alike. The cows
can learn your whistle as well as dogs
can; keep the dogs away.
a horseman gives the following ad vice:
Avoid the lunkhead horse; breed the best;
breed none but the best; breed from
nothing but your best, and look out
sharp to improve on the next cross, and
when your dam is lacking be sure the
sire you use is not lacking in the same
point. and if possible, not lacking in any
essential qualification.
Professor Crozer, of the Michigan Sta
ton, from a careful study of the subject,
especially commends broom corn mIIlet
for poor soils and a dry climate, or dry
seasons. On good soil aud seasons it
yields less than several other sorts, but it
stands drouth remarkably well and is
better adapted than any other kind TO
poor soils.
Soiling is feature of more intensive
farming, and finds more extensive appli-
cation AS the value Of the land increases.
Not only can much larger number of
COWS be kept on given area of land, but
tnat land may be brought into a higher
state OF cultivation, so that at the same
time there is saving of much grain and
fertility.
Oil is the cheapest substance to use on
the farm just now, as it saves wear of inn
pements. Have several oil cans at con-
Venlent points SO as not 10 be compelled
to hunt for one. Neglect to use CENTS
worth or oil may cause q loss OF several
dollars. OH also saves labor by render
ing the working OF the implements much
easier.
The careful Argentine farmer can raise
from thirteen to fifteen bushels of wheat
an acre, and he can rent land for about
forty cents an acre. The cost of produo-
ing wheat in that country in 1892 was
about thirteen cents bushel, according
to the average of several crops investi-
gated by the English Consul at Buenos
Ayres.
Nervousness and viciousness are en-
gendered in the ill-treated cow. and are
transmitted to her offspring. The more
doclJe the cow the more are her energies
likely to be devoted to the dairyman's in
terests. We cannot be too watchful over
Irresponsible help, who hesitates not to
beat, hurry or frighten the COWS.
all that can be expected in the way OF
change is the evaporation of some water
and final decay. They must be- in per-
feet condition for eating when plucked.
or their full value will be missed. II
stored In some cool place, they will last
even longer than pears.
Last year horses were cheap. and
farmers declared that never again would
good prices be obtained, as there WAS less
demand in the cities since electricity ann
planted the Car horses. The farmers who
continued to breed horses, however. made
no mistake, for already prices for work
horses have gone up.
1t seems to be popular delusion that
when fruit as arranged for shipment in
warm weather special provision should
be made for ventilation. The opposite is
true. Air should be excluded as far as
may be. The upper and outer tiers of
boxes always spoil first in any large
shipments of fruits.
Warmth, moisture aud similar oondi-
tions always favor the activity OF both
the ripening and decaying forces in fruit.
fruit left on the tree begins to decay i'm,
mediately. The whole art of preserving
is III separating from the tree and placing
it under conditions whore these forces
cease 10 act.
on farm where a variety of crops Is
grow III ofoA shlnS cAu De leu OUT TO bet
ter advantage If there be a variety of
stock. 1t is an item that the risks of loss
are lessened, and the varied stock and
their products can be made the most of:
but the variety must be in kind, not in
quality.
Get the butter away from the air as
soon as possible after packing, and keep
il as cool as can be until going to market.
The small pals and parchment paper are
30 cheap that it can be packed solidly,
and the consumer have a chance to get
the butter fresh for the table ss long as it
lasts.