354 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



drove three inches into the wood, and set four inches apart, 

 in diagonal rows round the roller. The outer ends are not 

 to be sharp but square. 



SPROUTS. Where woods are cut off which are apt to 

 sprout, the best way is to persevere in destroying the 

 sprouts as fast as they appear; because the longer they are 

 suffered to grow, the more difficult it becomes to extirpate 

 them, particularly in wet meadow-lands. In these, the dif- 

 ficulty is increased on account of their taste being less 

 palatable than those of uplands ; and therefore cattle are 

 less inclined to eat them. In such grounds, the best way is 

 to cut off the sprouts four or five times in the first season, 

 and this will pretty much destroy them. If a swamp can 

 be flooded two or three years, it will effectually destroy 

 sprouts and every other growth; or if it can be drained dry, 

 it so alters the nature of the soil, that its growth of wood 

 soon inclines to die, for want of its usual moisture. 



The best method of destroying sprouts, is to beat them 

 off from the stumps. This can be done with the pole of an 

 axe | and the more a stump is battered, and its bark beat 

 off round the roots, the more effectually will the further 

 growth of sprouts be prevented. 



Elder bushes may be completely destroyed, by cuting off 

 the sprouts five times in any one year. 

 See further, WEEDS. 



SPUR A disease in rye. The grains which are affected 

 with it are larger than the rest, mostly crooked, bitter to 

 the taste, projecting beyond their husks, dark-colored, rough, 

 and deeply furrowed from end to end. A 



This kind of diseased grain sometimes proves very de- 

 structive to those who eat it. 

 See RYE. 



STABLE AND STALLS. The stable should be so well 

 enclosed as to defend the beasts from the winds and storms; 

 and at the same time it should not be too warm, lest it 

 make them tender, when exposed to the weather. 



The stable should have a good floor, descending a little 

 backwards, so that the stale will run off behind. It should 

 be divided into separate apartments, or stalls, for each beast 

 to stand by itself There should be a good manger for 

 Horses, and the rack which holds their hay should be up- 

 right and not too high Some prefer puting the hay into a 

 very large maneer, or trough, made for the purpose; and 

 what is left by H >rses can be given to other cattle, as they 

 will eat it very readily. 



