The Farm

It may appear early to WTlte ot spring preparation ere the breatli of Chris tmas is.cold; but there are so niany things to bo reniembered, and bee-keepers have so little spare time, that a reminder, it may be hoped, will not be considered out of place. Ahere thero will be a poor supply of early natural pollen, as froni crocuses, arabis, laurustinus, willows, almonds, box and the like, poa-tlour should be provided as a substituto, and vehicles pro vided in which to administer it to the bees. Those who propose to givc tlour-cake instead of simple pea-Öour should prepare a quantity at onee, and store it in a dry box, for, unlike barley sugar, it will keep without hermetically sealed, ïhoso who are no' supplied with hivcs,sectlons, honcy-jars, feeacre, and the various other desiderata to perfect readiness, should lose no time in arranging for their delivery. Last year a note of warning was given in this regard, but was little heeded, and great disappointment was the result, sections being at a premium. It is a matter worthy of consideration by bee-keepers, that many who cater for them have not unlimited capital or space at command, and can neither afford to parchase nor keep a large stock of goods on hand, and that it is really to the advantago oi the former to make their wants known early. Planting Grapc Vines. A correspondent in an agricultura paper gives the following suggestions concerning the planting and care o: grapo vines: Plow your ground amply then lay off the rows, and with a large plow throw four to six furrows together then excávate a furrow or cirele suflicientl3' wide to afford straightening out the entire root; make the excavation about six inehes deep at the outside of the cirele, and raising tho center o the inound so that it will be four inehes below the level of the ground. Thei set your vine in the center of the moum with the roots well spread out; fill il with surface soil, with which may bt mixed well-rotted compost, or lea mould; fill up round and mulch well with leaves or coarse manure. Keep vines in a wet cloth, and tako them ou one by one as you plant them; or make a puddle and dip the roots. While lilling up the holes it is a good plan to throw in oíd bones, a little lime or some leaclied ashes, as you havo them. ! 'm is for Farmers. Iowa proposes to "capture tho cake' on the largest hog brought to marke this season. The ohampion porcine woighed nine hundred and six pounds The cluster of eggs that may bc fouin on apple tree limbs should be picked of during opon weather in winter, anc thus prevent the hatching of tho ten caterpillar. The best lieat for the hot bed is fresh horso dung from a stable where some ten or more horses are kept, so that í load of it can be taken out hot an( fresh bofore it has liad time to burn by excessive heating. Vigorous preparations should now be mado to prepare for an abundant erop of vegetables and fruits on every farm. These two specialties are lnxuries that belong to tho farm; they are blessings of health and rural wealth that every farmer's honie should enjey. The effect of frost upon plants is to cause exudation of the water from the interior of the cells, and the formation of ice outside and between the cells. I: the thaw be effected gradually, the water is re-absorbed and tho life of the plant is unaffected. The placing of iamps in orchards foi the purpose of attracting and destroying insects is not favorod by horticulturists generally. Prefi Comstock saya lie caught great numbers but no codling moths. Paris green was the best remedy for thee insects. Experiments made at the New York Agricultural Experiment Station seem to indicate that the tip kernels of Flint com are superior to those upon othei portions of the ear when used for seed but witli Uent corn the experiments do not show tho same superiority. Late accounts from California notice the great increase in the size of vine yards there. A plantation of 200 acres used to be consideied a large Yineyard now vineyards of 500 and C00 acres are not uucommon, and one of 1,500 acrob was reeently planted near Los Angeles At the Kansas Agricultural College lifteen years old Scotch pines and other large overgroens have been taken up with a large quantity of frozen eartl about them, carted some distanee ani set out in holes previously prepared for thein. This is in consequencc of previous work of the same kind in whicl tho trees thrivo well in their new quar ters An experienced horseman says there is nothing better for a horse that has beeu driven hard on the roai'. inthe win tor than a bran mash fed as hot as tlu horse can eát t. The inhalation of tin steam from the mash, in connectioi with the eating of the latter, produces i warm glow throughout she system, an no sorious rosults follow from ihe over exertion. The agricultural editor of the Iowa Register says: "It has often been stat ed that 12 pounds of hay are requirei to make a pound of growth. Any at tempt to lix the amount of food requir ed to make a pound of growth, withou consideration of age and si.e is quack ery; likewise the statement that an animal will consume three per cent. o itslive weight daily is uo better." Much of tho potato stock held bj western farmers has been frosted, ani will prove of little value oxcept foi immediate use. A frosted potato, i only slightly touched, can be kept in good condition lili timo for planting; i is, in fact, of no value for seed. In sec tions where the thermometer has rui down 30 or 40 deg. below zero it is nex to impossible to save such perishablo property as potatoes.