105 



Liming. 



Lime is one of the most useful agencies in rendering heavy day 

 land more fertile. Lime is itself a necessary element of the food of 

 plants, but often soils contain a sufficient quantity to supply this 

 need. It acts more by bringing other substances into a proper condi- 

 tion for being absorbed by the roots of plants than by affording nou- 

 rishment of itself. 



The addition of lime to clay soil produces certain chemical effects, 

 and the texture of the soil is greatly improved In applying lime to 

 the soil it should be used as a top-dressing, or forked in so as to mix 

 it well with the soil. Try it round the roots of coffee when the bashes 

 are suffering from " cacoon" or black " rotten" and the plants will soon 

 be restored to a he ilthy condition. In all cases remember that lime 

 will not supply the place of food-material, it merely renders this availa- 

 ble for the nourishment of plants. 



Care of Animals. 



The Horse and Mule. — The most remarkable thing about a horse is 

 his memory. Other animals may be stronger, able to run faster, 

 jump higher, or do many things belter than the horse, but few ani- 

 mals have better memories. A horse driven over a strange road in 

 the dark will remember it ten years after, although he may have only 

 seen it once. Rem-mber this when you are tempted to strike a horse 

 for nothing or to throw stones at him. All horses and mules require to 

 be cleaned and ticked carefully every morning, this is quite as necessary 

 as food if they are to be kept in good condition Horses i^equire dif- 

 ferent kinds of food. A little corn regularly, with " Spanish needle," 

 " breadnut," " ramoon," " cane chop," guinefi grass, para grass, and any 

 other kind of food to make a variety is better than all corn and guinea 

 grass. Be sure and give the horse water regularly, but not soon after 

 they have had their corn. Horses in hot weather will drink water two 

 or three times in an hour and be all the better for it. Always give 

 them a little rock salt to 1 ck, 



Be careful with harness, keep collar pads, saddlecloths, and all parts 

 of harness clean and soft If a horse or mule gets a b uise rub on it 

 very gently, a little Healing Oil. Do lot rub a sore in the rough man- 

 ner that is so usual. This does the sore no good, but hurts the poor 

 animal. 



Never let a horse or mule work without shoes ; many animals get 

 "gravel" and consequently lockjaw and die through being w rked 

 without shoes. 



The Cow is an exceedingly nervous animal and sliould be treated 

 with the greatest kindness. 



If dogs hunt, and boys shout at a milking cow, she gets frightened 

 and does not give as much milk as if she is treated kindly. If the 

 cow is fattening, »-he takes longer to get fat if not treated kindly. 



Cows should b? carefully " ticked" every morning; a tick killed in 

 time may be the means of pn- venting the appearance of thousands. 

 Ticks suck the blood out of cows and make them poor; the cows scratch 

 themselves to get rid of the ticks, and get sores which give the owners 

 much trouble to dress and heal. Cows should he groomed the same 

 as a horse This not only keeps them id go jd health and makes them 



