How to raise Corn.

MR. EDITOR:-I have had it in my mind for some time to give the readers of the FARMER some of my experience in raising corn.

Muck, Ashes and Lime on Grass Seeds.

The Rural New Yorker, in answer to a correspondent making inquiries as to the sowing of lime, ashes and muck on grass seeds, says:

"Lime works a great change in muck, correcting the acidity and hastening decomposition. In fact, muck is about the only material that lime can be composted with to advantage. To put lime with stable manure, as is sometimes done, is a bad practice, often resulting in a loss of one-half of the value of the maUnleached ashes should never be comnure. in the winter, it may be mixed with the lime If the muck is got out posted with manure. as fast as procured, and applied to the land in the spring; or, it is about as well, and less trouble, to spread it as fast as taken out, and apply the dressing of lime and ashes early in the spring. About the best crop of hay we ever saw was obtained by a composted dressing of lime, ashes and muck, in the autumn, and a light coat of well rotted manure in the spring, brushed in. This, if anything, will it is best to give it a good harrowing before renew an old pasture, though, if very mossy, brushing. It is somewhat difficult to destroy sorrel without breaking up and thorough culture. Enriching the soil, liming, and deep cultivation, will soon subdue it.

In the first place, the land (if stubble) should be plowed at a considerable depth, say ten or twelve inches. Then roll, and plant the last of April or first of May, according to the weather. I have found that early planted corn is more likely to do well than that which is planted late. I plant with Woodworth's patent corn-planter, altered a little to suit our prairie soil, which plants it in drills. I usually plant about six quarts to the acre, which is about double what I want to stand, after it is up; and when the corn just begins to come up I take a Scotch harrow and give it a thorough harrowing crosswise the rows, which knocks the young weeds endways. You would be surprised to see how little corn it tears up. I then wait a few days, and then take my grain drill (the middle tooth out) and fix the teeth so that they will run as near the rows as possible without covering the corn. I then As the haying progresses let the subject of Grass lands get on and ride, which is much easier than top dressing be kept in mind. that begin to fail, and yet have a plenty of trudging on foot after an old fashioned culti-grass, may be made almost as good as new by vator. I then go through with the hoe and brush out what few weeds may chance to be left, and be sure and thin the corn so that there will not be more than three or four stalks every four feet, if dent corn; but if small Yankee corn it might stand thicker.

When the corn gets to be a foot high u more, I use a one-horse cultivator-sometimes a double shovel plow or any other plow of the like construction. In this manner I have usually raised from 80 to 100 bushels of ears to the acre, with less work, by one-third, a least, than by the old method of planting in the hill. If I plant greensward, I prefer not to plow it until the last of May or first of June, and plow shallow,-say three or four inches-and then plant some of the early varieties of corn; though dent will usually do well if the season is favorable.

HEART PRAIRIE, Wis.

JAMES H. SANFORD.

Top Dressing.

the application of compost. It will wake into
newness of life the old roots, and cause new
ones to form. It will wake up the slumber.
ing energies of the soil. It is like oats to the
old work horse. It gives him vigor. He must
have them or falter in the harness. The soil
must be fed or it makes but a feeble effort to
respond to the demands of the farmer. Top
dress those fields that just begin to fail. It
will save plowing them so soon. Plowing is
expensive. It takes muscle, both of man and
beast. It should be avoided when another
system pays better. The shortest route to a
destined place is preferable, other things be-
ing equal. The shortest cut to a good grass
crop is to feed it well all the time. Being the
first born of the family, it is entitled to extra
care and attention. It being the corner stone
of the whole fabric, it should be prized ac-
cordingly, and be kept continually in remem-
brance, and never suffered to become a matter
of secondary consideration. This is the case
with many persons at the present time.
corn and the potatoes must have the lion's
share of the manure. The grass must take
what is left, and a scanty pittance it often is.
Now then what shall be done?

The

droppings of his cattle. If they are not stabled, they should be put into a good yard, or into the barn cellar-the latter is the better place, if it can be well ventilated-with a good supply of loam or muck under them. Once every week the whole should be plowed over. No better plan can possibly be devised for the manufacture of compost, than a barn cellar, with doors and windows so arranged that a good draught of air may pass through at all times. It is very comfortable for cattle and a large amount of saltpetre will be deposited, rendering the manure much more valuable than it would be if out of doors. By frequent plowing, or by the services of hogs' noses, the mass will be well mixed, and the manure completely divided, which is of much importance.

Before the fall rains, this compost should be evenly spread upon the surface. The better way is to spread it from the cart. Some apply a brush harrow and brush it in.-Jour. of Agriculture.

Why Seeds Fall-Practical Hints. Frequent failures are made in cultivation which are unjustly charged to the seedsmen. Seeds are sown, they do not come up, and they are set down as old and imperfect. While such seeds are doubtless sold by some, our experience is that respectable seedsmen generally send out reliable seeds, and that the want of success is oftener the fault of the sower.

The seeds of some trees and shrubs remain in the ground one and even two years before they germinate.

The common causes of failure with good seeds are: too deep or too early sowing, and excess of moisture. When small seeds are planted too deeply, the vitality of the germ is exhausted before it can reach the light and air necessary to its growth; such seeds should be barely covered with soil, and if there is danger of the surface becoming too dry, it should be shaded. Very small seeds may be sprinkled on nicely prepared soil, and then lay a board on the surface until they start. When sowing is done too early, the ground is too cold, and many seeds rot before it becomes of a proper temperature to cause germination. Too much moisture in the soil excludes the necessary air, and thus one of the requisites being wanting, the seeds decay.-Ex.

STOCK REGISTER.

Lambs-Treatment, Diseases, Preventives.

The lambing season just beginning, it is necessary, in order to be successful in rearing them, that the attention of the farmer be individually given. One hundred and fifty-two days after the ram has been admitted to the flock in the fall, the lambing season begins. The treatment of the ewe before and at this time is one of importance, for upon this depends the health of the lamb. Well kept ewes require no particular food before lambing, save a few roots, for from their food they have gained a sufficient amount of nourishment for their lamb at birth. If having been poorly kept, milk-producing food is best for

Seeds after being sown differ as to the power of resisting decay, if the circumstances are unfavorable to their immediate germination. Three conditions are necessary to the growth of all seeds, viz: air, moisture, and a sufficient temperature. Any one of these failing the seeds will not grow. The amount of heat required for germination varies greatly with different seeds; those of the common chickweed will start at a temperature just above freezing, while those of some tropical plants require 75° or 80°. The seeds of the plants them. Feeding too freely of this kind of food commonly cultivated germinate at a tempera- is injurious to both ewe and lamb. In the ture of 50° to 60°. Moisture is required not only to soften the seed coat, but to enable the germ to grow, and too much or too little is equally fatal to success. If the soil is too dry the seeds remain unchanged; and if an excess of moisture is present, the seeds, if delicate, will decay. In well drained soils the proper amount of water is held by capillary attraction. The third requisite, air, is always present in recently worked soil.

ewe, it tends to increase inflammation and often makes the food too nutritious for the weak organs of the lamb. The ewe at this time should be carefully caught, and the wool

and hair removed with the shears from the

inside of the thighs, under the tail, and around the udder. This treatment prevents the lamb from getting the dirt and filth generally accumulated there, which often destroys its life. If a ewe has lost her lamb, one that is disowned may be successfully placed upon her,

All the conditions being favorable, there is a great difference in the time that seeds require for germination. Placed under similar circumstances, it has been found that wheat and millet germinate in one day, beans, radishes and turnips in two, and lettuce in four days, while melons and cucumbers require by taking the skin of the dead lamb and five or six, and parsley thirty or forty days. wrapping it around the one disowned. This

imposition will soon create in her an affection as strong for the strange lamb as for the one she gave birth to, and she will nourish it as if her own. If the flock is large the young ewes should be selected and kept in a separate pasture, for they require double attention. There is a strong tendency for them to leave their lambs. Frequently from this cause the lamb dies. If the young ewe be held a few times to allow her lamb to suck, she will soon become attached to it.

Lambs often die from what is termed scouring, which is often caused by a diseased teat, or from having the ewe changed from poor pasturage to luxuriant. Great care should be taken in this particular, for so great a change, instead of being a benefit, creates a degree of inflammatory fever which no means will destroy, and creates in the lamb a diarrhoea which cannot be checked. The lamb thus affected is called a Gall-lamb.. The liver being the seat of inflammation, a great amount of gall is found in the intestines. This dis

very much distended, the lamb may be either costive or having a discharge of whey-like faces. In order to effect a cure it is only necessary to dissolve the hardened mass of curd. This may be accomplished by mixing a small quantity of magnesia with thin gruel, a small portion of Epsom salts and a little ginger to agitate the stomach to more powerful contraction

Costiveness and fever are produced by similar causes, and in each case a cure may be effected by giving about one-half ounce of salts every six hours.

There is also an importance attached to castrating and docking lambs in regard to the time when it should be done. It perhaps is most successfully performed when the lamb is a few days old and to all appearances healthy. There are often cases when the operation of docking is quite necessary, as in cases of fever or gali-lamb. These operations should be performed when the weather is cool, as it is not well for the lamb when very warm, as

ease is very fatal, and can only be cured in there is too great tendency to inflammation. its very earliest stages, by bleeding the lamb

a little and giving it some Epsom salts with a small portion of ginger. Its presence may be easily found out by the yellow tinge of the

skin.

In the selection of lambs for stock rams great care should be exercised. As it is usaally done when the lamb has but few marks of value, reference should be made to sire and dam. Each should have compact fleeces, well built frames, and short legs. Attention should be given to the head. As compared with its size it should be small, and not wide between the eyes, but thin and short, yet not too much 80, for it indicates delicacy of constitution. If the head be small there is less danger of trouble at the lambing season, which often proves of great importance. Quite as much care should be exercised in the selection of breeding ewes. Every loose, hairy fleeced one should be given to the market, while those of compact form and fleece should by all means

At the time the lamb begins grazing, the condition of the stomach being somewhat deranged, gives rise to another form of disease, not unfrequently called constipation. Its cause may be traced to an increased flow of milk caused by rich and nutritious food. The milk on entering the stomach of the lamb is first converted by the gastric juice into a curd, that portion of it remaining liquid is changed into whey. If the stomach of the lamb is not in a healthy state this curd accumulates to a great extent, which after a time becomes extremely hard, and the lamb labors under what appears to be a severe purging. This harden-be selected. By this attention the flock may ing or coagulation has often been observed to be increased in value a very great per cent. weigh three or four pounds. This disease every year, and will in a short time be of may be suspected when the lamb, becoming great value.

stupid, heaves at the flanks and has its belly MADISON.

F. M. G.

In answer to the question, "What is a Cotswold sheep?" a competent writer says: "We it. answer, a bold and commanding animal, with it is the cheapest way I ever kept sheep fat.

Balsing Sheep.

ED. FARMER:—I will give your journal the credit of first inducing me to try the wool growing business. I find it the only business that I can make pay upon my lands in this State One year ago last July I sheared 3,100 pounds of wool from 700 Spanish Merino sheep. One year ago this month I took my wool to Philadelphia and sold it for 73 cents per pound, amounting to $2,218.

This year I have sheared 1400 sheep, and now I have 7,000 pounds of wool, (5 lbs. per head) ready to take to market, and I expect to get 80 cents per pound in Philadelphia.

I am now wintering 1600 sheep, and I would say, from my experience, that rye and timothy hay is the best feed for wintering sheep, especially for late lambs. Oats are not sufficiently hearty, and corn will frequently kill lambs by scouring them.

My sheep are of great service in clearing my lands from brush, and I think effectually pay for their pasturage through the summer months. IRA S. HASELTINE.

RICHLAND CENTRE, Wis.

RECIPE FOR SWELLED LIMBS IN HORSES.-
Bleed the horse on each side of the hoof. If
one bleeding does not give relief, repeat it.
This is an infallible rule.
N. DODGE.
WINDSOR, Wis.

Poll Evil in the Horse.

The first symptom is protrusion of the nose, as a means of relief from the intense pain caused by the contraction of the bruised musThe animal stands at a cles while eating. distance from the manger in feeding, so as to bend the head as little as possible. A longer time is required to empty the manger. struggles violently when the collar is forced over the diseased part. In a few weeks the swelling becomes prominent, if the injury is near the surface. In deep seated cases the swelling never becomes prominent.

It

Pressure with the finger gently applied at first and gradually increased, will determine its character. If superficial, the horse will wince under it; if deep seated, greater force will be required to produce uneasiness.

When deep seated, the disease is more difficult to manage, as well as harder to detect.

THE BEE-KEEPER.

Mr. Shaw on Beehives Again.

EDITOR FARMER:-It appears from the numerous comments upon my article in the January No. that I ignore the renewing or the comb-removing principle, while I really consider it a great advance in the science of bee keeping. The present popular arrangement I think can be improved, however, both in utility and convenience, and conform nearer to the known habits of the bee.

Poll evil consists of a deep abscess ending in an ulcerous sore, which has numerous sinuses. It is most generally in the forward part of the neck, near the top of the head, a part specially liable to injury, particularly in farm horses. It is invariably the result of external injury. In some cases it is produced by the pressure of the halter upon the seat of the disease, this pressure being an attempt of the horse to relieve himself from the unpleasant position consequent upon the inequalities of the floor of the stable. Pressure stops circulation; numbness and itching are the first results. The horse tries to relieve him-elf by rubbing against the stall, rack or manger. This rubbing frequently produces bruises of the flesh, and a deep seated abscess is formed. Again, poll evil is often produced by low stable doors, which compel the horse to stoop when entering or going out. A sudden eleva- with their natural habits.

If you have received and think proper to publish my article of February, your readers can see some more of my objections to the present style of movable frames, to which I will here add:-The honey board is superfluous, and the shallow chamber the bees will fill with comb, if let alone but a few days, showing that they do not want that vacancy, and that it is, therefore, not in accordance