The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1904-07-15

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The Garden.--For many years we
have drawn straw on our garden plot
and early potato patch. We do this
each spring just before blowing and
planting seeds. We believe this to be
a good plan: First, because we burn
the tomato, pea and bean vines, thus
getting rid of them and destroying
lots of larvae; second, because 1t en-
riches the soil. We have our garden
in the same place every season and 1t
has got so mellow and loose that a
pillow will not scour there at all, yet
seeds and plants grow wonderfully and
mature quicker than in ground not
treated thus; third, because we destroy
and burn lots of weed seeds. There
is hardly any trouble to keep it clean
We plant everything in rows three feet
apart and go through with a horse
and cultivator.-W. F. K.
Separator Springs.-It appears that
some of the cream separator manufac-
turers are supplying very poor quail
ity of extras. possibly designedly so,
as these extras can be procured no
where else, and an extravaganza price
is charged for them. I have Reid
hand machine and of late cannot get
a steel spring for upper bearing that
will last for more than one or two
runs For the last three months I
have used no spring at all. [ simply
wrap the bearing very carefully and
evenly with cloth. so that it will fit
the frame very tightly. This takes
care and frequently has to be done
two or three times before it will work
properly, but when once we'll done will
last for weeks. 1t holds the bearing
better than a spring which is too
weak and saves paying 25 cents every
run for a spring that could be sold
for cents or 10 cents per dozen.-W.
M. Scott, Yakima Co.
Borers.-As we have no sure proven
tive for borers, we must confine our
selves to remedy. which is the knife.
We must know when and how to use
it, or we will do as much damage as
the borers do. The proper time to
use the knife is in September and
October. We want to get after the
borers Of the previous summers hatch
ing. This is very easily done, as they
give themselves away by the small
lump Of wood-dust on the bark near
the ground. 1t is sometimes found on
the ground, but we can see where it
came from. By shaving off the bark
we will find the little pests from one
eighth to three-eighths of an inch long.
If one have to cut deep to find large
ones, it proves that the work was not
properly done last fall If we find
three or four borers on the first exam
ination we must not think we have
them all, for we have only the early
Matching. In two or three weeks we
may find many more.-J. F. w.
The Hand eparator.-About the
hand cream separator it is the only
thing to have on the farm, where
there are at least four cows. If a
farmer has from four to ten cows he
will certainly need a first-class separ-
ator; not one Of those five or ten
dollar concers, but one of the stand
ard makes. They take away the old
way of straining, cooling and skim
ing, etc., which usually is left for
the women to do. I think a farmers
wife has enough to do, let alone the
milk and cream business and all the
cans to be washed. If you have a
o. boz