FARM ITEMS.

Patea Mail, 18 August 1882, Page 4

FARM ITEMS.

A potato raiser advances the following theory :—“ A potato that has greened in the sun is always a good =ced potato. We keep our seed potatoes too close and dark before planting. This tends to develop the eyes to rapidly. And this premature growth exhausts the vitality of the potato ’’ How many let the soapsuds from the family washing run off into unsightly gutters, when it might be applied to plants to destroy insects. Into this water may be put a little carbolicacid or tobacco. The curculio will be killed by it ; also the currant worm. ■ A famous horse breeder of France has reared Ins slock for twenty years on a diet of parsnips, instead of carrots and oats, with the result of “ great vivacity of spirit and sleekness of coat ” —conclusive evidence of healthful condition. The yield is about twelve tons to the acre. The reason why 50 hens kept together will yield more profit in proportion than a flock of 100, is that the smaller the flock the better it can be kept as regards comfort, health, and convenience. It was recently stated as the general experience of the members of the Elmira Farmers’ Club that the smaller the flock the better it pays in proportion, and this is the common experience of all who keep poultry. Crowding 100 many together is very detrimental to fowls. An acre of ground is little enough for a hundred fowls, and if there are two separate houses on the acre at opposite corners with 50 fowls in each, more eggs will be produced than if the whole 100 were kept in one house. Fowls are very unclean birds if left to themselves ; and as cleanliness is indispensiele to their health and thrift, t lie less number there is in a house the better it is for them.