FARMING ITEMS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5179, 27 October 1877, Page 2 (Supplement)

FARMING ITEMS.

Grasshopper Traps. —Mr. Wood and Mr. Hardin, farmers, living at Bushy Bend, and other enemies of the ’hopper, dug a ditch, over a half-mile long, recently, on the north fide of Mr. Wood’s farm. At the bottom of the trench they made holes about five feet apart, making about 480 holes in all. Each of these holes will hold about one bushel, and the ’hoppers south from the sand ridges will fill them “ plum” in one day. This would seem incredible, but nevertheless that one ditch is destroying about 480 bushels of grasshoppers per day. Nebraska Eagle. Large Boots. —The mania for large roots seems on the increase ; but Dr. Yoelcker some time ago stated that a large turnip was frequently inferior in feeding substance to a moderate-sized one. Mr. Jamieson’s experiments support Dr. Voelcker’s theory. He states that neither bulk nor weight per acre, nor specific gravity, is a sure test of the nourishing matter which is best determined by a chemical analysis of the solids. Dr. Voelcker thought that the feeding power of large turnips was diminished by the presence of acrid juices, and increased in a moderate-sized one by the fibre being being ripened, and by the presence of saccharine matter. —London Live Stock Journal.

Hanging a Gate. — l will suppose the gate, when shut, to hang on the west side of the post, opening southward ; dig the post hole at least three feet deep, flatten the east and west sidss of the post (the part in the ground), then nail a short hoard, say 10 X 12 inches, on the east side even with the bottom of the post; now put in the post, placing it where you want it; fill in the dirt and beat it down thoroughly till within 16 inches of tho top, then take a 2-iuch board, 16 x 24 inches, nail it on the west side of tho upper edge even with the top of the ground, and one like it on tho south side, 16 inches long, then fill up and pack the dirt well, and ray experience is that your post will not sag. —lndiana Farmer. Blight. — A .year ago we gave some account of experiments, by D. P.’Westoott of this city, in treating blighted pear trees with linseed oil. He had, in the latter part of the previous year, washed several pear trees which had commenced blighting with raw linseed oil, and tho spread of the blight seemed to have been arrested, and the trees bad then put forth their foliage, which appeared perfectly healthy. We felt a little anxious to know whether those .trees entirely recovered, or whether in the course of last season they succumbed. So we visited the grounds, and found tho trees perfectly healthy and making a vigorous growth of new wood. You can see upon the trunks and some of the branches the dead, blackened exterior bark, showing tho effects of the blight two years since, but not a leaf indicates that auy remnant of the diseese remains. We took a knife, and, cutting through the dead bark, found the inner bark green and sound. We think that these results are sufficient to warrant further trial of the remedy; ns it is easily applied, and seems to do the trees no injury.— Rural Home.

'To Preserve Wool.—Cover the wool with a sheet or common stack cloth, and dust it over with sulphur from a dredging box; the moth-fly will not touch it ; but the covering must be complete, which will also, keep the wool close and compact. —Hereford Times. Cutting Wheat,—The best time to cut wheat is when it is in the dough-state. The straw at this stage is yellow at the ground, and all the remainder is still green, but is followed by a speedy change to yellow threughout the whole length as it approaches maturity, A large proportion of the wheat of the country is permitted to become too ripe before harvesting to secure the best results.— Journal of Agriculture. Storing Manure.—The difficulty experienced in preventing from heating injuriously in a dry, rainless climate, may be avoided by carefully saving the liquids from the stables, and drawing the fresh manure to a heap where it may be composted with waste matters and earth, using two or throe parts of earth to one of manure ; or another, and less troublesome plan would be to keep the manure in a cellar or pit made with cemented walls. This method is used im Italy, and succeeds well in that dry climate. When the manure is too dry, water it.— Queenslander. . Dosing a Pig.—To dose a pig—which you are sure to choke if you attempt to mako him drink while squealing—halter him as 'you would for execution, and tie 1 the rope to the end of a stake. He will pull back until the rope is tightly Strained. When he has ceased his uproar, and begins 1 to reflect, approach him, and between the back part of his jaws insert

an old shoe, from which you have cut the toe leather. This he will at once begin to suck and chew. Through it pour your medicine, and he will swallow any quantity yon please.—Professor Mcßride in Mark Lane Express. Experiments with Phosphate. —At a meeting of the Western Now York Farmers’ Club, a member reported that in 1 5 74 he used 150 pounds of phosphate to the aero on a field of barley, and secured 47 7-10 bushels per acre, against 28 1-7 bushels where the phosphate was not used. In 1875, on two-rowed bailey, he raised 42 3-8 bushels against 25 5-6 on land not so manured. He believes in special fertilizers, and proposes the coming year to use 500 pounds sown broadcast on potatoes ; then mix 100 pounds with wood ashes and apply in the hill. Another member said ; “We ought to know what we buy the special fertilizer for—if for potatoes, buy a fertilizer rich in potash ; if for wheat, one rich in phosphoric acid." Hoeinq Wheat. —l have learned that wheat can be hoed with horses as readily as corn, and as fast as it can be drilled, the implement occupying the same space and the number of hoes being the same as a drill ; and wh n hoed it looks as much improved as ft cornfield dressed out with a cultivator. It does not destroy any greater percentage of the plants than is done in cultivating corn. Any man that can manage a plough well can manage a wheat hoe ns readily. I can’t see any reason why it won't help wheat as much to hoe it as any other crop, so ns to let in light, heat, and fertilising gases of the atmosphere to give vigor to the plants.— Western Rural. Tub Kelly Froit-Drting Process. —The merits of Kelly’s fruit-drying process are said by many to bo greater than those of the Aldan process, while its methods and appliances are both simpler and cheaper. The Kelly process is thus described by an American contemporary :—“The machinery is a tin cylinder, ten or more feet long, heated from the inside by' steam. It is made to revolve slowly, and the fruit, which has first been ground to a pulp, is allowed to drip on it from a perforated trough placed immediately above it. The fruit dries in a very perfect manner, preserving ail the color, flavor, and sweetness of the original. The process may go on until the cylinder is coated an inch or more in thickness, when it can be removed by dividing it with a knife and peeling off as from an’orange. It is then rolled up, and is ready for use or shipment. Fruit thus preserved has been taken to sea, and exposed in open boxes through the tropics both ways, without any injury to its preservation qualities or taste whatever. The utility of this machine is not restricted to the drying of fruit or berries, but any vegetable can be ground to a pulp, or any juice and beer or milk can be condensed in the most perfect manner; and to say that fresh milk can be condensed until it resembles flour, and when wished to be used a little water is to bo added, and in a short time it will return to fresh milk, and cream will rise upon it the same as when drawn from the cow, is rather a rough statement, but it is nevertheless true. When it is desired to use the condensed fruit, a little water is added, and allowed to stand a short time, then cooked as fresh fruit, when it will contain almost its entire natural taste.— Week.