The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-04-25
ALL AROUND THE FARM.
THINGS THAT FARMERS OUGHT
TO KNOW.
The Potato CrOp-Hay for HOgs-Lima
BeanS-Early Peas May Now be
Planted - Other Valuable
Farm Notes.

Farmers who were disguised with low
prices for potatoes will find many others
who are not now very partial to them, and
there will probably be a much smaller crap
venture into crop which gave such little
profit as potatoes did the last year The
fact is, that it was not so much the acreage
devoted to potatoes last year that caused
+ the large crop as it was to the favorable
conditions for their growth, it being what
is termed good potato year.
Feeding hay to hog7 may seem new, yet
there are farmers who provide bulky food
to their hogs in winter, when green food is
scarce, by cutting clover hay very short
and steaming or scading it. The cut
hay, after it becomes softened, is sprinkled
with bran or corn meal and fed warm. 1t
is not only highly relshed by the hogs but
promotes thrift, and is as cheap as corn
serving also to afford a balanced ration.
Thousands Of darymen have been ruined
by abortion in cows, and it is subject that
has long received the consideration OF
scientists, but the evil has not been abated
1t may safely he claimed that it can never
be prevented until dairymen raise their
cows and use every endeayor to prevent
the introduction of the disease in the herd
1t is buying fresh cows that spreads the
! disease from one herd to another.
The main objection to growing lima
beans is the providing of supports. In
some localities the poles are costly, aud if
they must come from distance the haul
ing is an item of importance. Two strands
of strong wire, fastened to poles suitable
distance apart, will answer as well as to
use poles exclusively, string to each vine
guiding it to the top wire The pods can
he collected better than under the old
method. The only objection is that the
vines cannot be cultivated except up and
down the low; hence the check row system
must be abandoned.
Drainage should he such that water can
not stand around the roots OF berry plants.
II early peas are desired they may be
planted this month on soil that is light and
warm. Growers of early peas usually put
the seed in as soon as the frost is out of the
ground but it frequently happens that a
cold period comes and the seed rots in the
ground
An economical mode of growing early
tomatoes, melons, etc, where but q few
are desired, to produce crops for home use,
is to use egg shells. Break the shells near
the small ends, fill with rich dirt and plant
few seed of the kind desired. The shells
may be set in shallow pan or box of BRAN
and placed in the sunlight on warm days,
care being taken not to expose them to
cold at night. When transplanting simply
set the shell with the plant in the ground
The roots of the plant will soon break
break through the shell.
Hog cholera makes fearful ravages wher-
ever it appears on farms, and although
hundreds of remedies have been suggested,
yet there is no sure cure known. Expert
ments show, however, that the disease
appears most frequently is on farms
where the hogs are inbred and confined too
closely to grain diet. Feeding slop Of a
filthy kind is also cause. To avoid the
disease feed the hogs on variety Of food,
making grass an article of diet, give clean
water, and procure new males every year.
If turkey hens begin to lay early the
eggs should taken and placed under hens
(chickens), leaving the turkey hen to lay
another clutch of eggs which she should be
allowed to hatch
Nothin. is gained by trying to grow toe
many plants or trees on an acre. 1t is not
always the number of plants that increases
yield, but their thrift and feeding capacity.
a dozen strong and stocky plants will pro.
duce more than double that number which
are weak and spindling. Trees that are toe
close together simply come into conpeti
ton for food and do not grow as rapidly as
they should.
There are great many garden plants
which are not usually grown, but tria
will induce many to give them a place il
the garden every year, among them being
caulifowerS, egg plants, okla, satisfy and
parsnips. 1t is the variety grown in the
garden which makes it valuable
Although turnips are considered Il sum
mer crop yet they can be grown for an
early supply, being hardy ana well adapted
for nearly all soils They grow quietly
and can he soon gotten ont of the way for
some other crop.
In the spring there is temptation to
begin planting on the first approach of fine
spring weather, but it often happens than
frost puts in an appearance somewhat late
and unexpectedly. Such seeds as beans,
melons, squash, cucumbers and other ten
der plants should not be planted until the
ground is well warmed and liability of
frost is apparently passed.
Those who use incubat0Ts and are dis
appnintn1 when thpv S,crnpl in hat,hi NJ,