AROUND THE FARM. 



7» 



Blasting Stamps. — The following is the modus operarvli of blasting 

 .tamps with dynamite: Make a hole an inch in diameter near the stamp. 

 Inclining at an angle of about forty-five degrees, so as to reach underneath 

 the body of the stump. This hole may be made with a crowbar through the 

 soil, but if there be a large deep tap-root it wiU be necessary to continue the 

 hole into the body of the tap-root by means of a long auger. A cartridga 

 containing three or four ounces of dynamite is then inserted to the bottom ol 

 the hole, and a slow match haTing a peculiar percussion cap on the end is 

 inserted in the cartridge. The hole is then tampered with earth, and when 

 all is ready the outer end of the match is lighted, and the operator retires to 

 a safe distance. The explosion usually not only extracts the stump from 

 the ground, but tears it into pieces small enough to handle easily. The 

 dynamite costs about forty cents per pound, so that a three or four ounce 

 charge, with its fuse, would cost about ten cents — making the cost of blow- 

 ing up a stump about ten cents, besides the labor. 



How^ to Thatrh Roofii_B7e straw threshed with a flail and kept 

 straight, with the short yA ^ 



or broken straws raked >9' Jy 



out, is the best material. ^^ <.■ <r^ _ 



The roof is made ready 

 for thatching by nailing 

 strips of boards, say one 

 by two inches, across the 

 rafters, putting them a 

 foot apart. The pitch 

 should be steep, to in- 

 sure a waterproof and 

 durable roof. The straw 

 should be cut to a uni- 

 form length, and care 

 taken to have it straight 

 and all right. The 

 sketch shows how the 

 roof is prepared for the straw, and the manner the conraee are laid. "He 

 the straw in bundles that will average six inches in thickness. The band 

 should be close to the upper end, the one which is fastened to the cross 

 strip. The courses should overlap, so as to make the roof the thickness of 

 three bandies. 



Fiiili Cultaret for tlie Farm. — Xo farm shotild bo without a fish pond, 

 well stocked, any more than it should be without poultry. This may be a 

 startling announcement to farmers who have to go one hundred feet to 

 water, but it is none the less practical, as mach as to keep stock on such a 

 farm. Water must be produced in either instance. On most farms the 

 drainage is favorable to ponds by throwing a dam across some sag or ravine 

 and retaining the water that would naturally run off. The pond would 

 serve the purpose of both stock and fish. VThere tins plan is not practicable, 

 a pump worked by a wind-mill will answer as well if kepi running; the sur- 

 plus water drained into an artificial pond would supply the water. The 

 pond should be at least eight feet deep in the center. This would give the 

 fish an opportunity to place themselves beyond the reach of ice. A pond of 

 fifty feet in diameter would accommodate a reasonable supply of fish for as 



HOW TO THATCH BOOFS. 



