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THE FARM. 449 |
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a large dung hill," and to this I would add, "Treat your dumb laborers as inferior brothers, deprived of speech." In his immortal Georgics, Virgil sings to its praise, and Cato extols it in his highest philosophy.
To make Marshy Places Healthy, our lady farmers should cultivate, in swamps, the following trees and flowers, namely: The blue gum, cherry, laurel, juniper, lemon, pine, cedar, clovus, lavender, mint, fennel, bergamot, anis, nutmeg and thyme ; and the flowers of the narcissus, hyacinth, mignonette, heliotrope and lily of the vally. These flowers have a powerful oxidizing influence of ozone, and are recommended to be planted in marshy districts and all places infested with animal emanations, thus producing a healthful influence. It is easily done. Flowers without perfume do not deve1-op ozone.
Juvenile Farmers.—Since every boy expects to come in poses-sion of a farm, they should, while boys, learn everything about it, and even how to dispose of their grain, as well as to grow it; to take care of cattle and sell it, and also their sheep and wool. This should be a nucleus.
Sweet Potato Vines can be kept through the winter. "Before the frost, cut the vines to a suitable length and place in layers in the surface ofthe earth at the depth of 1 to 1 1-2 feet, cover the vines with partially rotted straw to the depth of 1 1-2 feet and cover the whole with a light soil about 4 inches deep. By this method the vines will keep through the winter, and in the spring they will sprout out as abundantly as the potato itself, When bedded, the draws or sprouts can be planted first and the vine can be subsequently cut and used as slips are generally planted.
The Silk Womis in China are fed on the leaf of the white mulberry.
Silk Worms.—Mrs. Andrews.—One oz. of eggs, if good, will produce about 40,000 worms, and then, when at their full growth will require about 185 square feet of shelf room. They will eat about 1500 or 1600 pounds of mulberry leaves during their growth and should produce from 45 to 50 pounds of cocoons. From these data readers can make their owa calculations.
Amusements on the Farm.—Probably no class enjoy life better than our farmers. The pursuit of agriculture is itself a pleasure to those who view it rightly ; children in the country are seldom wanting for amusement, and the cornhuskings and the quilting bees form green spots in the memory of many a man, whose boyhood was passed upon the farm. A favorite amusement with the young and often relished by "children of larger growth," is the construction and parading after night-fall of jack-oMantefrns. The golden pumpkin is taker; |
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