The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-21
EARN Notes.

II you do not have enough manure for
large field use il on a small plot. and en-
deavor TO make as much as possible by
concentrating the manure and work TO a
limited area. Manure may be wasted by
attempting to make IL do service on a
larger space than IL will proftably cover.
as we'll as entailing more labor than the
crop can compensate for.
Sheep are one OF the best kinds OF stock
TO keep in orchards After little practice
they will pick up fallen fruit quicker than
hogs; and this is often very important as
the cooling moth worm generally leaves
the apple soon after IL drops. But, with
either sheep or hogs, sufficient food must
be supplied or the trees will be barked.
The food thus given goes. however. where
II will do the most good. in the production
of the largest and best fruit.
There is quite a difference in the advan-
tages of budding and grating. The proper
time for budding Is any period when good
buds can be procured and the bark will run
the stocks Peaches and roses are al
ways budded but grating is used on
apples, pears and grapes. Budding Is some
times done in order TO change the tops OF
quite young fruit trees. Dry weather is
not favorable to budding, and as a rule
budding is not as successful grating
Bones may be dissolved by the use OF
unleached wood ashes, especially II they
are broken or ground. The proportions for
a fertilizer, used by some farmers. are
one barrel Of raw bone flour, three barrels
dry wood ashes. fifty pounds Of gypsum
and ten gallons OF water. The materials
are placed in a heap upon the floor and
stirred with hoe while the water is added.
The mast Is kept moist and in two OF
three weeks will be ready for use. Five
barrels Of this mixture is considered an
efficient and cheap dressing for an acre OF
ground.
Potato disease. which is caused by a
fungus. first attacks the tops OF the plants
and Is conveyed 10 the tubers by means
of spores washed into the soil by rain. To
prevent the infection Of the tubers grow
er recommends running a pillow between
the rows so as TO turn up furrow on the
top OF the hills. and then bending the
plants over the furrOw. This causes the
water which washes the tops 10 run away
from the hills. The furrOwing should be
done on the first appearance of the disease.
and as a further precaution the crop
should not be dug for at least two
three weeks after the tops are entirely
wilted. A trial Of this method has given
very good results.
The COtswOld sheep possesses large
frame and long fleece. but IL Is not suita-
BILE for farmers where pastures are not OF
the best quality. The Merinos. wheE used
for crossing. do not increase IA size. al
though the grade OF wool Is better The
SOuthdown Is best for use on common
fiocks. as II is bred for mutton In preference
TO wool. and. being hardy and active. the
cross Is less violent than those between
COtswolds and our small natives. The wool
from the Southdowns Is not inferior. being
classed with the middle grades. nor Is il
deficient in quantity as compared with COM
mon stock. but much above the average.
Their excellence Is in the superiority Of
the mutton. and in that respect they have
no superiors.
The complete shading OF the soil rapidly
enriches IL. even without the application OF
manure. IL may be that shading causes a
deposit OF nitrogen from the air, every
farmer knows that wherever a stack OF
hay or straw has stood FOR several months
the ground underneath h not only enriched.
but grows much darker in color. Any one
may try an experiment as follows Select
| the poorest spot OF ground on the farm. lay
/ over a strip OF any length. but about
| yard wide. few inches of straw. and cover
with a board or. IL preferred. lay only
board on the ground. IL the place II seed
| ed TO something after the covering h re-
moved the difference In growth between
| the portion previously shaded and that not
shaded viii be very marked.