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FARM AND GARDEN.
Items of Interest on Agricultural
Topics.
Plowing Prevents Drought—Breeding
Cround Hogs for Food-Ventiiation of
Horse Stables, Etc., Etc.
PLOWING PREVENTS DROUGHT.
• It will be found that while the soil
is kept loose by plowing and cultiva¬
tion its capacity for absorbing and
holding water is much greater than
where it is neglected. Thus every
weed and surplus growth must be
scrupulously kept down, as everything
that grows is constantly drawing
moisture from the soil. If we cau get
the upper and lower moisture in the
soil to meet the battle is won. If,
however, there is a dry streak of soil a
foot or more below the surface, vege¬
tation will suffer.
BREEDING GROUND HOGS FOR FOOD.
Henry Singer, a well known and
thrifty farmer of near Duvall Station,
Scott County, Ky., domesticating has for the past the
two years been
ground hog with much success. Mr.
Singer found a burrow in which he
captured seventeen ground hogs, and,
taking them into a small lot on his
place, he built a close wire fence
through which none could escape.
Last year the hogs increased to 205,
and this year there were 1,673. Of
this number Mr. Singer killed 1,000,
which he salted away and will smoke
dry, as Kentucky farmers do with
ordinary pork. The ground hog
when so cured is a great delicacy, aud
Mr. Singer has more than enough to
furnish his meat for the coming year.
—Southwestern Stockman.
ventilation of hobse stables.
The necessity . for working , . the ,, , horse,
and therefore for keeping him in
working condition, prevents him from
having the advantage which every
other farm animal enjoys of running
in the fields of grass in the summer
season. There can hardly be the
change from old oats to new when the
new crops comes in without causing a
loosening of the stools, which always
meaus a weakening of all the muscul
ar system. But, though he must be
kept on dry food the wrork horse
s ou i • a ' e > as 1 -
the purest air that blows. Sles in
summer require thorough ventilation.
Horse manure and gives
not a onl l vrfts harnesses.*but it is also
very injurious to the horses: - We
hm known many horses to go blind
from being kept, iri summer, in dark,
poorly ventilated stables. Whenever
a horse goes blind, if the fact is hives
tigated, the lack of ventilation is more
apt to be the cause than anything
else.—Boston Cultivator.
_
WHEN DO HENS STOP LAYING.
A Virginia subscriber who has just
bought a 'lot of old hens desires to
know at what age they cease laying,
and writes as follows: I am just be¬
ginning tbe poultry business and I
have thirty old hens of mixed breeds
and have just bought twelve pullets,
also mixed. I want to know at what
age hens stop laying, or rather at what
age it is best to get rid of them. Some
I now have are at least three years old,
and from tbe thirty bens I average
about three eggs per day, sometimes
more and sometimes less. I
mostly on corn. How long will eggs
keep packed in salt, and what is their
market value compared with fresh
eggs?
The best hen we ever had was seven
years old, and she layed more eggs
than any other hen or pullet on the
place. The difficulty with old hens is
that they fatten more readily than the
pullets; and that is where the begin
ner is perplexed. The expression in
the above, “I feed mostly corn,” is
the cause of the few eggs, and not the
age of the hen. A hen is in her
prime at four years of age, and eggs
from hens that are not too fat will pro
duce stronger chicks than the eggs
from pullets.—The Poultry Keeper.
CliAY SOIL FOR PEAP.S.
Sand that contains too much clay to
be profitably worked may be made
profitable for growing pears if it is
made free from surplus moisture. It
is better to dig the drains deep on
such land, at least three feet, if
cient outlet can be obtained, But as
the clay may at first be impervious to
water, the underdrains should be tilled
with small stone to within twelve or
fifteen inches of the surface. Then
the soil will be gradually ‘ deepened by
freezing, and tbe pear roots will go
down to the depth of the underdrain,
The result will be ihat these deep
rooted pear trees will be much less
liable to the sudden changes of tern
perature which cause blight in pear
trees in shallow soil whose roots run
near the surface and are subject to
frequent alternations of temperature,
Besides, the clay soil almost always
Luo isiLcitti ioua Ui.*t
the pear tree requires, and which
underdrawn ng makes available. Yet
even on clay soils wherever pears are
grown, heavy applications of potash
and phosphate are always advisable,
THE SHEEP’S FOOT.
The foot is a tender part of the
sheep. It is different from that of any
boo f e d animal, the maimer or growth
0 f the horn. The crust of the hoof
grows downwards, it is true, but it
does not stop at the junction of the
sole. On the contrary, it turns under
the soles thus making a receptacle for
the collection of sand, mud, filth,
gravel and other matters that do much
mischief. It is much as if the shep¬
herd had the upper of his shoe grow¬
ing down over the sole, and having an
opening between the two for the col¬
lection of all such stuff as mentioned,
says the Kansas Farmer.
How would the shepherd feel to be
compelled for weeks and months to
submit to this unpleasant condition of
things? But it is precisely what the
sheep suffers, unless it is closely looked
after and the mischief prevented. It
is going on when the sheep is seen
feeding on its knees, painfully crawl
ng about in tbe pasture, or when it is
standing stupidly in a fence corner
with its head down and fighting the
pestilent flies. ragged horn, turning under
The soft
the sole, is to be shorn off, and if the
toe is at all projecting, it is to be
shortened before it turns up like the
slipper of a heathen Turk. It will be
a good thing at the same time to dis¬
infect the feet by applying some of
this ointment, which every shepherd
should keep a stock of, for dressing avoid
cuts, wounds, sores, etc., and to
fly blowing. Take one pound of pure
lard or vaseline, one dram of carbolic
acid, half pound of Venice turpentine,
two ounces of acetate of copper. Melt
the first and third together, then add
the others, and stir and grind together
to get an even mixture.
This is an excellent remedy.for all
diseases of the feet, a preventive of
foot rot, useful for shearing cuts, and
all kinds of sores.
_
ctjltuke of koses. ’
One _ welcomes ,, ,. , _ .
e is 1 ses
alone for their eany, m a so as_au
indication of genial weather. The
early roses have a personal charm and
a ^ eaut J ali tkeu °^ n * ou & c
M'ecies ^ve been known a long time,
and ar ® “ ot ™ re , they seem to be cul
*' a mak^their “ ake wav " slowly' brcool into' small
| a ^ °' / theoR^ weather
go (li not precetle
speeies 1^ at as long « an interval as usual,
^ K spinosi8sima>
doselv This charmimr
creamy white flowers. The
leaves are small and the thin stems
b «“ r P"’* the 1 * 8 to merit its It
«fic name as very spiniest.
a neat bush about three feet
hl eL an<1 « Strays a f riking plant
m the hardy border. It is to be had
^di y from seed. J. N. Gerard, of
Elizabeth, N. J., says m Garden and
Forest, that he lias been told by a
high authority that Polyantha roses
are not of much account, but he has
in a border in his garden a Remontant
form or hybrid of this rose which
could not well be spared. It is very
hardy, forms a bush about three feet
high, and bears, during the season,
frequent crops of small single flowers
of a beautiful pink color.
Another hybrid much valued is the
Dawson rose, which is now coming
into flower. Hallowed to grow natur
klly this is a most beautiful plant at
flowering time, when its long shoots
nr® covered with small semi-double
pink. flowers in clusters, the buds
opening in succession. A spray six
i° nine feet long makes a glorious
decoration, and the old wood will
soon disappear for that service, much
to the relief of Mr. Gerard’s helper,
who objects seriously to untrammeled
growths. But the growth of this rose
is slight in comparison with that of
Rosa multiflora, which in wild Iuxur
iance covers twenty-five feet or more
°f fence, and would probably spread
over tbe entire garden if left uncheek
ed. One is sorry to touch knife to
a plant which evidently so enjoys life
i n ^ f ew days will be covered
with myriads of fragrant blossoms. A
few, at least, of the large number of
single roses should be in every gar
den.
The general culture of roses offers
some difficulties in this climate, owing
to hot summers and to the special
fondness of many species of insects for
their foliage. It has always seemed
that if the small grower would cx
change most of his hardy perpetual
roses (usually bought under the im
pression that they were perpetual
bloomers) for Teas or hybrid Teas be ;
wohW have more satisfaction and rid
his garden of some unsightly objects,
for after the rose season the plants are
usually neglected. Tea roses prodnee
flowers all the season, and, naturally,
their wants are more apt to receive at
tention. Perhaps, on reflection, that \
hint will not be of much service
farther north than this, though among
the Teas gome will be found much
hardier than others. La France re
quires no protection here; neither
does Auguste Guinoisseau (the alleged
white I*a France ;. There are other
surviving x oh roses ill rue gai uon,
the most interesting and promising
' on© is the comparatively new Kaiseriu
Augusta; ten plants which came
through the winter untouched iare now
growing strongly and are full j>f well
' developed buds. This variety
pro¬
duces an abundance of handsome white
flowers continuously during ‘‘he sea
: SO n, ftn d Mr. Gerard knows orino rose
0 f its color which is more likely to give
complete satisfaction.
POfLTRV TAED HINTS.
Eats are demoralizing in the poultry
yards. Keep the premises and sur¬
roundings clean and free from rub¬
bish, so that the rats can have no abid¬
ing places.
Do not trust the cat where there are
young chickens. The only safe cat
around the poultry yard is a dead cat,
and even then be sure it is the cat’s
ninth demise.
Do not wonder what is the matter
with your young chicks if they are
troubled with loose bowels, if you are
making cold-water-mixed eorumeul
their main diet. Growing chicks re¬
quire a greatly varied diet and space
to exercise in.
Do not expect f all returns from half
accomplished work. The henhouse
should be cleaned out every morning.
It cannot, especially in hot weather,
be kept in sanitary condition by clean¬
ing out once a week or semi-occasion
ally.
Farmers who want a good supply of
eggs in winter when prices are high
should remember that cabbages and
roots will be necessary. Every far¬
mer should raise a supply of these es¬
sentials for bis poultry flock. The in¬
crease in eggs will make the trouble a
well-paid-for investment.
If your poultry are confined in re¬
stricted yards, if you wish to keep
them in health, keep the spade bright
with frequent use. Frequently spad
ing up the soil will keep theykids in
good sanitary condition, and will fur
nish the bens exercise they delight
in.
There are a great . many persons
offering sure roup remedies. If they
took as much interest in properly
avoiding the causes which produce the
digease as they do in experimenting
^ remeJies to cure it, they would
gavfi them8elves mucb WO rry, and
would have a healthier flock of fowls
at all times.
Scaly legs on fowls are a pretty sure
indication of indifferent poultry keep
ing. The trouble mainly come from
filth and neglect Watch the legs of
blie fowls, and the first indication of
scurf wash them with soap suds and
anointwith sulphur and lard, Never
— * scaly-legged hen for a sitter.
The farmer who keeps scrub poultry
ls feeding good food and getting poor
results. Haphazard breed ’ O
cures inferior results. Good returns'
or results never come by chance. It
will pay to keep goeffl pure-bred ponl
try, but if they are treated as scrubs
generally are, better continue with
scrubs.
Farmers should get rid of all the
mtt i e birds soon as the breeding season
ig over Tbe ben8 wib lay j ugt a s
many eggs without the company of the
males, and many fanciers declare they
will lay more. A lot of males running
with the hens during hot weather and
during the moulting time are i source
of unnecessary annoyance. Eggs that
are not fertilized will keep much
longer than those that are.
At the summer season of the year it
is very easy to overfeed fowls. Do
not trust to their appearance, but go
at night and lift them and see: if they
are not getting too heavy. An overfat
hen will suffer greatly in hothveather,
and is liable to drop dead at Any time,
Avoid feeding fowls any fattening food
—do not give any whole corti during
hot weather.
The litter nests are made of are
often great sources, in hot weather,
for breeding vermin. Change the
nesting material at least every two
weeks. Fresh cut, green, fine grass,
red top, makes excellent material, and
if some green tansy can be had to put
with it there will not be much danger
of such nests harboring insects.—
Baltimore Sun.
Pilfering Sparrow Hangs Himselfs
A. S. Cooley, of Canandaigua, N.
Y., recently found in his yard a spar
row hanging by the neck from a limb
of a cherry tree. The bird had evi
dently attempted to rob the nest of a
robin in the tree, and, wbiie affecting
an entrance to the nest fi-in tbe un
der side, accidentally pushed its head
through a noose formed of horse hair,
which had been utilized in the con
struction of the nest. Irom appear
ances the sparrow, in withdrawing its
head from the nest, had tightened the
noOBe and was hanged.
-- ‘
How to Swing a Hammock in the Yard.
“If you want to s>ving a hammock
in a yard offering but little space,’
savs the Ladies’ Home Journal, “bav<
two brackets or davits made of two
inch gas pipe and bent at the black
smith’s. At the hanging ends hooki i
are welded, to which bang the ham
mock. The pipes are fastened securely
to the fence by bands of iron screwed -
fast to the fence. M ires may be strung
overbeau upon wmctl vines can bt
trained.
An Old Minister.
Many stories are toM of Dr. Gad
Hitchcock, who was a minister In Pem¬
broke, Mass., before uud during revolu¬
tionary times. He was noted for bis
patriotism and the four lees expression
nf his views when opportunity offered.
He was chaplain in the army at one
time, e.ttd preached many a stirring ser¬
mon to the men.
The first sermon he published was ad¬
dressed to u military company at the
time when the French were making In¬
roads on the northern frontier. The
year before the breaking out of the rev¬
olution he preached his famous “elec¬
tion Sermon,” which roused Gov. Gage
to great wrath, and struck oven the
minister's stanchest friends ns ill-ad¬
vised. It ls said that when Doctor
Hitchcock wrote it, the Governor was
not expected to lie in the audience at
the time of its delivery.
When it was found that he was there,
one of the minister’s friends suggested
that a slight modification of some of
the strong expressions in the sermon
won Id .perhaps he advisable; hut Dr.
Hitchcock was of another mind.
“My sermon is written,” he calmly
said, “and it will not be altered.’’
On his journeyings to and from Bos¬
ton he usually fell into conversation
with any one with , whom . lie , a as
thrown. One day he traveled to Bos¬
ton in company with a sailor of wltora
he asked many questions aa to his
name, residence, habits and tastes.
At last the sailor began questioning
Ip his turn: “What ls your turner ho
asked.
“I am Gad Hitchcock from Tank”
(tbe name of Ida parish.).
“Three of the worst names I ever
hoard!” cried the sailor, bluntly, great¬
ly to Dr- Hitchcock’s delight.
A London cablegram-cays that “Queen
Victoria ls greatly emhorrassed by
riches.” Her eldutrt hopeful seems to bo
embarrassing others by his tuck of
riches,
The maid from Boston swept Hie
street with her glance. It was notice¬
able that the asphalt was covered with
a. claro of ice.—Cincinnati Enquirer.
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ft
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Excel Tandem > Reduced to 83.50
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Our reputation of 50 years is a guarantee that our 180, model
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