The Farmers' Column.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 150, 2 June 1883, Page 3

The Farmers' Column.

Sheep will endure severe col d if kept dry, but exposure to storms, either rain or snow, is hurtful. The water remains m the wool, and m an atmosphere little if any above freezing, it chills the body for a long time. The coarse— wooled sheep are more impatient of wet than the. fine-woolled, the heavy, oily gum on the wool of the latter ke -ping the water from penetrating to the skin. Hent, are early risers, and do not likfe standing round on one foot waiting for their breakfast. The morning meal with them is the most important; one of the day. Boiled potatoes, turnips, carrots, anything m the vegetable' line mired with bran or shorts, seasoned with pepper and salt and fed warm, will make any well regulated hen cackle with satisfaction. Feed a few handfuls of wheat screenings at noon, and ait night give a liberal feed of whole grain of some kind. Bftnes can be reduced m the follow* iiig manner:— Place at the bottom of a box or barrel a layer of dirt 3in | thick, and let the next layer be of wood ashes 3 in thick, and so continue the la yers until the box is within 3in of being fall. Four water m until the whole' mass is well saturated, but do not let it run away to waste . Keep the mixture damp with the water that runs off. adding warm water from time to time to supply the loss by evaporation.; In a few weeks the mass will be thoroughly decomposed, Procure your stock, of seed as soon as possible. As seed time approaches, the seedsmen p.re crowded with orders, and more or less delay may occur. In trying new varieties get only a small Quantity un'il it is known tbatsoil and locality are favourable , ; : - Pigs do much better while growing if they are allowed to graze more or : lessj-ae tbe grazing tends to a better development of frame and mqscle : than is formed when fed upon grain feed exclusively. It is best to use hogs for I by giving a variety -1 food rather than by attempting to keep them fat. • Build the frame fiwtand toy on the. fat; afterwards, though young Hogs should . always be kept turiffy and m growing condition. . - - •' ; " ''' ~ '" ; Farm implements, as a general thing, 1 are ioj ured more from exposure than by use. An excellent preparation . for thepresenratiori of any irijn farm implements may be made by the slow melting together. 'of. six or eight parts of lard to oiie of rosin,, stirring until cool. This remains semi-fluid, always: ready /or use, the rosin preventing rancidity and supplying an air-tight film. Rubbed on a bright surface ever' so thinly, it protects and preserves the 1 polish effectualy. the woodwork; should be well painted and housed 1 when not m une. Money saved is money! made. Care of tools is an important! matter, and should be attended to . : To preserve fence posts.- A writer m an exchange says :— I discovered many! years ago ihat wood could be made to last longer than iron m the ground. I have taken up baes- wood posts after haying been seven years m the ground, which were as sound as. when first put m. Time and weather seemed not to have, affected them. Ehe- posts can be! prepared for less than one penny each ;• this is tfie recipe — -Tako boiled linseed : oil and stir m, finely powdered coA to the consistency of painc. Put a coat of this over the timber, arid ho man will live to see it rot. •