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AGRICULTURALIIINTS.
ABOUT HARD ROADS.
Tholr Advnntiitirn lo I'urmrr .Sot Forth
hy A. (1. .luilil, or Dixon. III.
A hard road Ih a road Hint is by arti
ficial menus prepared with a surface
of much more permanent and Hulid
material thnn that of Km natural (date.
The Kind of material tified for sneh nrti
ilcial Hiirfacc may differ with the local
ity or the use for which the road isiii
lended. The abundance of stone and gravel In
n comity makes It possible to build
excellent roads at a reasonably moder
nto cost, and the probabilities are that
they are the only materials that we
shall use in const meting1 any of the
country roads of Lee. county.
Brick, wooden blocks, asphaltum, etc..
are used for building roads In cities,
but I shall not describe the various
modes of construction, as I understand
that they are not included in this sub
jeet. Let iih realize ut once that different
compositions of soil require different
Ircntiiient In order to make equally
crvleenble roads. In this county we
Lave practically three classes of soil
to be recognized: Kind, black loam;
necond, yellow clay; third, sandy loam.
There are certain conditions, such as
upringy, quicksand or mucky places,
liable to occur in localities where any
A to A, entire width or rlnht of way; H
nml II, Much a distance us commissioners
tliink necessary to protect from fence or
liribte: C C, ditches at side of road, nml
used for summer, or dirt, road; D. atone
or Ki'avel.
of tliese three kinds of soil exist, so 1
tdiall treat drainage in a few general
remarks, and trust that the "road com
missioners" of each district will bo In
telligent enough to determine what to
do in their particular locality.
The prime requisite of every good
road is a thoroughly underdralned road
Led. When this'is not naturally so by
reason of a porous subsoil, it may be
economy to put in a line of tile, from
two to four feet below the center of the
road, of sullleieut size to carry off the
ground water. There may be spots
where it Is best to put in a line of tile
on each side of the road.
Ditches ulong the 'sides to carry off
the surface water are among the neces
sary elements of a good road. These
ditches should be of a uniform grade,
ho as to carry the water on lis nearly
level grade ns possible, in order to pre
sent washing-, and connect with proper
culverts or natural watercourses, (treat
care should be used in making these
side ditches not to get them deep
enough to be dangerous in turning off
from the main road either day or night.
Now let us turn our attention to the
construction of a stone road upon our
oidinary soil that does not need tile
drainage; and that we may better tin
dcrstaud eacli other, 1 will draw an
illustration:
Knowing how much money is to be
fipent each year, determine the cost per
rod, and proceed to prepare the number
of rods by grading up the natural dirt
to tile desired height and width. It is
desirable to have, roads around the main
cities for at least two miles in each di
rection not less than 18 or 20 feet in
width, as they are used so much by the
city folks for plensnre riding that it is
jiecessnry to have, them wide enough
lor safety at all times.
After the grading is finished, it is
best, but not the common practice, to
put on the heavy roller and roll the bed
thoroughly, tlmt it will better keep Us
tdiape and support the heavy loads, for
it la not the stone lllling that, supports
Hie load, but the. dirt beneath supports
both the stone roof and the loads upon
its surface as well; therefore, too much
I'M ins cannot be taken with the dirt bed.
Stone or gravel, when properly broken
and packed together, forms an Imper
meable roof that water cannot enter.
One of the great mistakes of road-making
is in not rolling the dirt bed, but
h! in ply grading up and putting the stone
on. The result is that the loads pass
over the center Jirst, the stones settle
into and pack down the dirt in the
center, and in a short time a road that
when built had the properly curved
hurfuce becomes almost or quite level,
thus allowing water to stand on Its
tiiirface until evaporation and absorp
tion remove It. While thus standing, it
lias a tendency to soften certain graded
of stone, and allows them to wear away
faster, thus producing ruts and requir
ing needless repairs.
An 18-foot road requires six cubic
yards of crushed stone and one and one
half cubic yards of dressing to the rod.
making it nine inches deep in center
and tapering to four or live inches on
the sides. After the entire number of
lods is properly stoned and dressed.
furrows should be plowed along each
lde, throwing the dirt against the edge
of the stone, thus forming a bank to
leep it in place, and prevent its working
off and becoming scattered over the ad
joining portions of the roadway.
Then when the road is properly
trimmed and leveled off to a' nice grade
1o the outer edge of the ditch, take the
big roller, commence at this outer edge,
roll lengthwise, going around in a land,
rind finishing up in the center. Thus
you put nn improved roof on the ditch
uj;d greatly lessen it liability to wuult.
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wiisifMmm.
You pack tli" outside id one first, and
that binds and holds the center stones
in place, thus preserving the elevated
line of the road and putting it In best
shajsj to bear the surface traille.
Such a road, where stone Is reason
ably convenient, can be built by con
tract for about $5.25 per rod, and where
part or all of the hauling is done by
volunteer work, the cost is greatly re
duced, (travel, not needing to be
crushed, and being so much easier lo
be taken from the pit, can be put on for
half, or even less than half, the cost of
stone.
For clay roads, the only material dif
ference is that the side ditches must be
deeper and the cone Jilgher.
For sandy roads make the side ditcher
more shallow and the cone wider and
Hatter. They should be built, If pos
sible, when the sand Is wet, for then the
grains of sand have a tendency to stick
together and will pack some, so that by
getting the stone or gravel roof on
while in that condition, the road is
much more apt to retain lis shape and
durability.
Sometimes there are narrow or
"single-track" hard roads built at onu
iide of the main road, intended tobe
used only during the muddy season.
There Is no material difference In tin1
manner of building stone roads of dif
ferent widths.
Narrow tracks are usually ndopVd
only by districts remote from cities and
mailable material. They are frequent
ly covered with drifted snow, the
hedges or fences shading them so that
the snow does not get off until hUe,
thus rendering them unavailable when
most needed.
MeAdain and Telford are the nenies
usually applied to stone roads. The
former is the one generally adopted in
this country, and consists of break ng
the stone fine.
Pieces larger than an egg should be
broken smaller. It Is desirable to have
them range from a hickory nut to an
egg In size.
Tel fold's system consist in putting
larger stones on the bottom and cover
ing with small ones.
Such roads Insure level or easy grades
and equal serviceability at all seas-K'.i
of the year. While costing some ninf"
at the outset, the expense of mainte
nance is so much smaller that after
completion they become actual income
producers. They increase the comiort
of travel; they place the markets of the j
great grain centers at (he farmer h door i
every day or the year, thus enaoiin
him to take advantage of the temporary
rise in the markets occasioned by
muddy roads during certain jsirtlons
oi w u yc.tr. a .c.y ..ring i..c .......... a ,
fain ly in touch with nearly all city
.. il. . . ri'l ,.! .1... i .. i
privileges; enanie iiem to attend ite
tu res, and
various evening entertain
IIICIlt.H.
A good road raises the value of the
adjoining lands anywhere from ten to
four hundred per cent. Land that
could not Hud a buyer at $.".0 per acre
lias sold for $200 an acre after a stone
road was built, thus making it. available
to city markets as a truck farm.
The farmer is bending Ills every en
ergy to the solving of the problem of
cheaper production. When we con
sider the facilities for quick and
economical transportation furnished by
lailroads and steamships to aln'.w.
every part of the world, it behooves us
to put ourselves in direct contact with
the push and energy of commercial
activity, and save our share of theSIiji),
000,000 lost yearly on account of bad
roads. Farm and Fireside.
THIJ rOWIIll OK MO.NKV.
Yea, "money makes tho mnro so,"
When properly applied
In bulltllnr; roads whereon with loads
She can jjot rlRht up and Klldu.
Good Roudd.
Floworit In tho Dooryurd.
Next to a good cgetable garden In
Milue Is a neat and well-kept dooryard,
in which the well-fed farmer can satisfy
his taste for beauty and bloom, and his
children can grow up to appreciate tho
leflning influence of flowrs, which
some one lias called "the smiles of God."
Kendall Ferry tells of an humble home
which was enriched by flowers and
shrubbery and well-kept walks, and we
have no doubt the people who lived
r i1
' ii-iv lii
there enjoyed themselves much better i J ou ot noticed fowls that had the roup
than they would in a grand new house j"Ht because the floor was damp or ad
with a barren yard about it. Cultivate mitted draughts through its openings'.1
flowers, not only because they brighten
iijc, .jut ncciniKc u is i ue cheat
j cheapest form
of pleasure possible, bringing with it
the richest results In the lives we live.
Farm and Fireside.
Pedigree is full of promise, but will
not, of itself, give milk or make but tor,
FARM AND GARDEN.
FERTILIZING
DEVICE.
Uood Thine for Plaroi Whom
tho Work
I Dono hy Hand.
We present a vcr, simple and practical
device for putting on fertilizer by hand.
We have used it for four years when
wanting to put fertilizer into rows con
tinuously, and not having a fertilizer
attachment on planter.
The sack used for holding the fertil
izer should be of the best quality of
cotton, woven for grain, sons to be tight
against the escape of the finest portion
of the dust, and ci(n he ttsed in two dif
ferent ways. The plan best for carrying
and handling is like the illustration,
(iet a tin spout, about six inches long,
made at the tinner's, with one end
bulged considerably, like a funnel, as
at A. Cut a hole just large enough to
let the tube through from the inside,
then wrap the edges down tight to the
tin tube with strong cord. This tin tube
hould be placed about halfway between
the bottom and top of sack.
A strap y3 inches wide and eight to
twelve inches long is sewed on the bot
tom of sack with strong cord attached,
to tie up mouth at C, after putting in
fertilizer. I used the old gum hose from
ni3' grain drill to fit over the tin tube,
the latter being made to fit in the gum
tight. By placing I he sack over the head
with strut! rpHtimr nn mmn.slti- xlimildfr
flirom side the sack is to be worn, the
fnrtilizLM. nilt,milly settles to center of
8Hvk mu,y to ,.,, OHt of iIie Rtnn tllbc
lly placing the hand at 11 the tube can
be guided and the How of fertilizer regu
lated by pressure on the gum hose, and
the mixture can be shaken up by the
,owep rt ()f arnu ,0 jrt.vi,llt dogging.
Tm, fermwr t.an l)C sc,lttered over imv
width of row by zigzag motion of h;';v2.
This arrangement, will allow any speed
that the operator may want to use. A
hole of, say 1 inches, will allow a
large amount of fertilizer to pass out,
which may be lessoned by the speed of
operator in walking as well as in the use
of the pressure of the hand on the gum
tube. George IC. Scott, in Ohio Fanner.
ORCHARD AND GARDEN.
In setting trees for a wind break,
take those of a close-growing habit.
Currants will grow and bear fruit 25
years If they are properly cared for.
If the bark of the fruit trees is split
by frost, cover the wound with grafting
wax.
Washing suds and sink water will
help the grapevine wonderfully in Ft-s
growth.
When setting out peach trees cut
them back to within two feet of the
ground.
Black knot is best kept in subjection
by cutting off and burning all affected
branches.
In planting shade trees the hardiness
of the trees should be given preference
over rapid growth.
One advantage of well-drained land
Is that the fruit conies to maturity
earlier than on undiained land.
Generally the plum tree will need jar
ring to prevent the work of the euruulio,
no matter what variety has been
planted.
There ought to be plenty of room for
all kinds of fruit on every farm. Grow
a good supply of small fruits as well as
of tree fruits.
By stirring the soli after every rain
the weeds will be more evenly destroyed
than in any other way, besides securing
a better growth of plants.
While the best land is none too good
for strawberries, any land that will
grow good crops of corn or potatoes
will grow a good crop of strawberries.
Mulching prevents the early flow of
sap by preventing the ground from
warming too early, and in this way
often prevents injury by late frosts.
St. Louis llepublic.
Floor for 1'oultry Ilo.iHtM,
You may think that any kind of a
floor will do for poultry houses, if so,
look at the benefits and non-benefits de
rived from poor or good lloors. Have
I Have you not noticed the numerous ver-
' m harbors many floors have? The
fowls stand during' the day on the floor,
their feet are in direct contact with H
and their entire body being close to the
floor it must surely be of sonic const-
quence as to the condition of the floor.
.
artneis' Voice.
sw&- Wpfln-M
THE GRASSY FLAVOR.
Why Change In rood Should Always Vo
Mmlo with Caution.
It is one thing to have a plr.sant
grass flavor and quite another to have
a rank grassy odor to the milk, traces
of which will be found in the butter.
The cause for the rank flavor can be
found in intestinal derangement due to
the change of feed. A radical change
in feed should always be made with
caution and be made gradually. To
change suddenly from dry feed to green
feed will derange the digestive appar
atus as surely as a sudden change from
green feed to dry feed. And the change
should always be made when the stom
ach Is full. That is, do not give an ani
mal food to which it is unaccustomed
when its stomach is empty. Give It first
a feed of that to which it is accustomed,
and then add a little of the new feed,
increasing the proportion of the new
kind of feed with each meal until a full
feed of the new kind is given, the old
kind being gradually diminished mean
while. In changing to grass the way
to apply this method Is to turn the cows
for an hour or so into the pasture, first
giving them their usual dry feed, then
take them off the pasture for the re
mainder of the day. The time they
are allowed to run In pasture can be
lengthened each day until they are left
there all day. This will ordinarily re
quire but three or four days for the
change, but It Is well to turn Into a
pasture of flush grass but an hour or so
at a time when it is wet with dew, un
less the stock had become accustomed ta
full grass previously. That Is, chang
ing from :i poor pasture to a Hush pas
ture is itself liable to make trouble if
done inconsiderately. The cow will be
apt to fill herself with rich grills beyond
what she is accustomed to, and it will
generate gases in the stomach and cause
bloat at the worst, and when the worst
does not occur there is still danger oi
inllanimation of the intestinal canal,
which will cause looseness and give the
milk a rank odor and flavor. Stock
should therefore be left in the new pas
ture but part of the day at first, if the
feed is much better thnn in the old
pasture. Agricultural Hpitomist.
FOR BREECHY ANIMALS.
A More llumaiio Dovleo Thau Illlnd
llourdrt or lloppli-4.
It is inhuman to put blind-boards,
hopples and other constructions upon
cattle that are given to jumping fences,
These heavy affairs fret the animal and
impair growth and production. They
often also endanger the animal's life,
A simple and human device is shown
in the illustration, which may be used
for both cattle and horses. It is simply
a light piece of rope arranged upon the
animals head as a halter, then passed
between the forelegs and around the
body, when it is fastened securely. It
should be arranged so that the animal
can just raise its head to a natural po
sition, but no further. To jump over o
fence an animal must always raise its
head above the normal position. If
there appears danger that the animal
when feeding may get a forefoot over
the roje it can be held up close to the
breast by a light cord passing around
the neck. The rope will stretch some
what with use, but can be shortened
up as required. X. Y. Tribune.
Tho Hoail of the Dairy llonl.
Daniel Munroe says: The most im
portant of all selections is the head of
the herd. Tho bull Ave breed from
should combine as much concentration
of the very best family records as we
can positively buy or breed. The value
of a good bull was finely illustrated
last summer, when one of the largest
dairies in the province was disposed oi
at public salt. 95 head of young things,
three generations, bred from the herd
and sired by a choice thoroughbred bull,
were offered, and brought prices that
must have been gratifying to t lie owner
in return for his investment, while the
purchasers were equally well pleased
with their end of it. But that was not
the end; the influence of that, bull will
live on for many years scattered over
the province to the great benefit of the
dairy Interest. Moral: Don't look at
the dollars too long when you need a
good bull.
llatlon for Dairy Cow.
Sudden changes of the ration do not
prove of advantage with dairy cows.
A change of food should be gradual.
It requires but very little to cause a
cow to fall off in milk, and the feeding
should be done judiciously. Oilmen!
should always be used by commencing
with a small quantity, half a pound a
day being sullleieut, increasing nn
ounce a day until a pound or more of
the meal is allowed. It should be mixed
with other food, ab it sometimes "gums"
hi the mouth and may be rejected.
WORTH A SMALL FORTUNE.
Tho l'araflol nf tho .Summer (Jlrl Is n
Wry lotly AiTalr.
The fashionable young womnn has
n whole cabinet of curiosities, to say
nothing of a small menagerie, on her
parasol handles this spring. Enough
quartz and crystal to form a geologist's
collection and enough birds and beasts
to start a zoological garden seem to be
a necessary feature of the well regulnt
td feminine wardrobe.
The new parasol handles easily sup
ply this required feature. Kvcn tho
gay flowered silk covers of the parasols
sink into Insignificance when com
pared with the handles. A realistic
load mounted on a green enamel stick
forms one of the most favored pnrasol
handles, while carved wood parrot
heads in a variety of colors are also
considered good form. These handles
belong to Imported parasols, which am
generally made of changeable Dresden
green silk. To own one it costs $12.
The grass linen sunshade, when lined
with green silk, also has a parrot or
toud perched on the top of the handle.
A special novelty this season is the
changeable taffeta silk parasol, with u
purse attached to the handle.
The handles nre. of carved wood, with
a kitten's or dog's head on the top.
The purse Is in dark or light leather,
and is fastened to the handle by clastic
bands. To the women who know not
tho privilege of a pocket this combina
tion of ii parasol and purse will bo
found most convenient, especially in
crowded cars, where to hold the pocket
book in the hand, cling to the strap
and carry one's bundles is well-nigh
en impossibility.
All the new parasol handles measuro
from seven to nine inches in length,
and many of them ore very costly.
Those of natural wood and bamboo are
used for ordinary wear. When the cover
of the parasol is Dresden or Persian
silk, these wood handles hnve n crystal
ball in the same color as the foundation
of the silk at the top. Sometimes the
crystal ball is half covered with a
tracery of gilded silver, which adds to
the effect, nnd incidentally to the price.
Kven iiarasol handles have succumbed
to the miniature craze. One of the
most beautiful handles seen this spring
was made of tortoise shell, ornnmented
with an exquisitely painted miniature
outlined with a decorative design in
gold.
The gold and silver hnndlcs with the
jeweled tops illustrate one of the ways
in which the society woman disposes
of her wealth. There are gold hnndlcs
with a ball top, studded with turquoise,
and other handles of gold or burnt
ivory, with a single large gem nt tho
top. An exquisite burnt ivory handle
with an irregular tracery of gold has
a gleaming topaz for the top. Another
of mother of pearl is capped with an
amethyst set in tiny pearls.
A magnificent parasol of yellow silk
and duehesse lace has a twisted gold
handle, with a bail at the top. This bail
is tho feature of the handle, though it
would not appear so to the casual ob
server. But if a certain hidd'en spring
is touched the ball opens and a bit of
a watch is found ticking away inside.
One of the most expensive of the new
parasols is of black chiffon mid duchesso
lace, with the entire handle of white
crystal. At the top the crystal is
formed into an elongated ball, inlaid
with bits of vari-colored enamel. The
parasol handles of wood, with the
cluster of fruit as the decoration, nro
both new and novel. For the young
woman devoted to golf there is a para
sol handle which represents her golf
stick. It is generally used with a grass
linen parasol. X. Y. Sun.
POURED IN WRONG.
That riacod tho Othor Half of tho Liquor
on Top.
A preacher with views on the tem
perance question was walking soberly
along a dusty road. A farmer with an
empty wagon, save that it contained a
gallon jug, overtook him and asked if he
did not wish to ride. Tho preacher, as
senting, climbed into the wagon, and
as they jogged along toward the next
village the two fell into conversation.
Now, the preacher had his suspicions
concerning tho jug and led the talk
around to the subject of temperance,
expounding his views at great length
nnd with appropriate emphasis. Much
to his surprise, his companion quite
agreed with him. Nevertheless the
pieuoher still continued to suspect tin
jug
"My friend," he said presently, "woulC
you mind telling me what you have io
the jug here'."'
"Hum," said the fnrmer.
"I feared so," continued the preacher
"Now, my dear friend, you have quit
agreed with all I have said on this great
question of temperance."
"Yes."
"Can you not give a proof that you
mean what you say and pour out this
fiucursftl liquor?"
"No."
"But I cannot understand "
"Wall," said the farmer, "ye see I'd
do it for ye, only half the liquor in that
jug belongs to my brother."
"Then empty your half, my friend.'1
"But I can't do that, nuther. Ye see,
his half's on top." Boston Budget.
Coffee ery slightly retards the
process of digestion. A weak infusion
of coffee seems rather to promote than
to retard. A 40 per cent, infusion de
lays digestion 2'. times tho norma!
period, and n 00 per cent, concoction
delays it five times the usuul period.
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