Year: 1876

| WOrk N tme GaT0en.
| Prairie Farmerl


The sooner work is begun in the gar
den the better 1t will be for those who
are compelled to practice economy the
present yenr. A good garden is One-half
the battle for the subsistence Of fami-
| ly. These should be looked to now, as
the weather gives good opportunity,
and the hired man, mechanic or others
who have a little patch upon which to
plant potatoes, beans. cabbages. etc,
can raise enough to save good many
dollars during the next year.


To Take Rust OF Plowsharc.
| Take a quart Of water and pour slowly
into half pint Of sulphuric acid The
mixture will become warm from chem
ical action put 1t on the iron and let it
remain there until it evaporates. Then
wash 1t again. The object OF this is TO
give the acid time to dissolve the rust.
Now wash with water, and you will see
where the worst spots are Apply some
more acid, and rub on those spots with
brick. The acid and the securing will
remove most OF the rust. Then wash
the mold board thoroughly with water
to remove the acid, and rub it dry.
s"nncwer seed.


Maryland FarmerJ


The seed Of sunilowers is the most
healthy feed that can be given to horses
in winter and spring; haif ,ETited Eiifts wtkh Ith
sleek coats, and more animated than
any other food. II prevents 'heaves'
and some other diseases. All places
with the least tendency to malarial diff
ficultiea, should have numbers of sun
flowers growing about the residences.
Then they are great favorites with little
birds yellow birds, blue birds. wrous
and many others which will leave fruits
aud berries to perch upon and pick sun
Hover seeds.


Raise Your own Hogs.


Southern Farmerl


Raise your own hogs this year. 1t Is
not difficult to do. Construct n covered
pen OF house out Of heavy logs or plank
have a plank floor 50 as to allow Of
cleaning a good strong door with a
good lock, and the work is half done.
Devote from one to ten acres to a hog
range: plant ii in peas. potatoes. Chufas.
artiehokes. etc, and pasture tho hogs
upon it by means of q movable fence
until the period arrives for corn-feed-
ing. They can easily be learned to
come to their pens at night by throw
ing them corn, or giving them a night
feed. BY this plan there is no danger
Of loss by theft. This plan would also
enable the breeder to improve his stock
by u judiciouS crossing with Berkshire
or other improved breeds on the best of
the native stock.


Rees on 81 small Scale.


Western Rurall


There are many householders whose |
means will not enable them to buy a
cow. or provide keeping for her were
they in possession Of one. But they may |
be equal to the purchase of q colony of
bees and provide hives for the swarms
therefrom. Bees. like other stock, re
uuire pasturage, but. unlike horses,
cattle and sheep. they are free common
ers. ranging at will in search Of stores,
nor can they be arrested and punished I
for their intrusion on premises. alias
their owners. A single colony of bees. |
in good condition in the spring. may be
counted upon double or treble their I
numbers in u single season, securing !
ample stores for winter consumption. |
while supplying n gratifying surplus |
each autumn for household uses. This |
accumulation will prove most accept
able in families. especially while the /
price of butter rules so high as TO place I
il beyond the reach Of those not blessed /
with elongated and plethoric purses +
Try colony of bees as an experiment. |


sheep ON the Farm.


That sheep can save farms from utter
ruin and improve the condition of good |
farms. is beyond doubt. However much /
we may prize the horse and cow for their
valuable services to mankind, still we
must admit that the Keeping of sheep is
very profitable to the farmer, in that it |
brings money to his pocket and improves
the condition Of his land. Experience
has shown that sheep husbandry Is
directly profitable. There are no losses
and very few risks to be met with in the J
business


Early lambs, fat wethers, wool and
pelts always bring good prices and find
ready market. Besides, sheep bring up
the condition Of the farm; and. as the.
old adage has it, turns the earth to
gold wherever their footprints are
found" Nothing will improve farm
SO we'll as a course of husbandry in
lowed. Sheep can be made the saliva
tion Of a poor farm, and If more of our
farmers would keep more sheep larger
share of prosperity would be the result.


A Lesson from Cabbage


Every one knows that cabbages will
not grow fast or head out well unless
they are hoed very often. Most have
also learned thatthis crop does the best
y
the dew is on the ground. Hoeing later
in the day, when the dew has evapora-
ted, will not have the same effect. The
reasons appear to be these The dew
being covered with soil, is retained. and
helps keep the earth moist. 1t contains
u large amount Of oxygen. which it took
from the air. These act to decompose {
the soil and to hasten the growth Of
plants. 1t also absorbs q large quantity
,.p I,,t
by the plant. Now the same cause ought
to produce the same effects on other
plants, and it has been found by observ-
ing farmers that they do Market gar
leners prefer to have potatoes hoed
either when the soil is wet with dew or
after a slight rain.


Observations made by one Of the best
farmers in Wisconsin, extending
through many years, convinced him
hat there was great advantage in plow-
ing land while it was wet with dew. Es-
pecially was this the case whon clover