The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-11-24
all Around the Farm.

Sandy soils are usually spoken OF as
light soils, because they are the easiest
to work, but in actual weight they are
the heaviest soils known. A clay soil,
usually called heavy, is really lighter.
To keep Hubbard squash perfectly, a
dry room should be secured, where the
temperature can be kept always above
freezing. Dryness is even more import
ant than warmth. Squash quickly mill
dew and rot when exposed to moist air,
either cold or warm.
Muck should not be applied to the
soil as soon as taken from the bed. If
thrown out and exposed to winters
freezing it will be pulveTized and rem
dered soluble. The best way to obtain
all the fertilizing value there is in
muck is to use it first in stables and
wherever an absorbent is required.
Professor Maynard proved by repeat
ed tests that the terminating power of
seeds Of dock, daisy, shepherds purse,
and similar meadow weeds is not injur-
ed by passing them through a horse,
unless they chance to be crushed during
the process.
A case Is reported Of a ounce bush
grafled upon common thorn, and un-
cultivated, which has borne regular
crops of fruit for over forty years. If
this be a fact, it is suggestive one, as
the ounce on its own roots is usually
short-lived. Hortieulturists should be
tempted to try so simple and easy an
experiment.
When you get a separator knock to
pieces every swill barrel on the farm.
Feed the Ives and pigs as soon as the
milk is separated. The milking and
feeding is soon done, aud there is no
after-handling of the milk. The stock
gets the milk sweet, warm aad regu-
larly, which is all in the line of advan-
tage.
1t was long ago the discovery of Eng
lish farmers that bone manure, as they
called lime phosphate, was good Cor
the turnip crop. This was often fed on
the land where grown, and the field
thus fer;ilized with the sheep droppiDgs
was afterward sOwn with wheat or
other grain. Usually sheep given
turnip patch to feed down were well
fed with grain or linseed meal, which
made much richer manure than turn
ips would do.
Growers are not vel agreed in regard
to pruning grape vines. Three years
ago a gardener trimmed a very thrifty
Concord vine tolerably short, and the
grapes nearly all rotted. Last summer
it was trimmed not quite so short, and
again the fruit nearly all rOtted. This
season the vine was not trimmed at
all but allowed to run at will, and it
was full Of grapes, with scarcely any
rot among them
II Is matter of wonderment to many
why so large proportion of farmers
build their homes close To the road,
when they have the whole farm behind
them. Instead OF a fresh, green lawn
in front Of the house, there is only the
dusty road, with its curious passers-by
and clouds of dust from every passing
team. A house gains in dignity of APP
pearaEee when set back from the street,
if a tree or two is planted so
as to shade the door. Study to make
the farm attractive as well as product
Michigan Fruit Grower.
If the garden is thoroughly under
drained, as it always ought to be, it
should be fall pIowed in ridges, and the
surface left rough, SO as to expose the
soil as much as possible to the action of
the frost. This is the more necessary
because the garden is always a shelter
ed spot, where the snow lies much of
the winter, so that there are few times
when the soil freezes very deeply. The
garden Is always the richest spot on the
farm. 1t is often what the Scotch farm
ers call ''much hidden or heavy with
manure. 1t needs the winters freez-
ing to Tighten the soil and make its
fertility available.
oe--