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AROUND THE FARM. 273 



Drl-ring IfalLs Into Hard 'Wood. — The editor of an agricultural peri- 

 odical ■witnessed an experiment of driving naUs into hard seasoned timber, 

 fairiy dried. He says that the first two nails, after passing through a pine 

 board, entered about one inch, and then doubled down under the hammer; 

 but on dipping the points of the other six or eight nails into lard, every one 

 was driven home without the least difficulty. Carpenters who are engaged 

 in repairing old buildings sometimes carry a small lump of lard or tallow for 

 thJH purpose on one of their boots or shoes. 



Good "Well Curbing. — The best timber for curbing a well is hemlock, 

 which is very durable when under water, and gives no flavor to the water. 

 Of the woods some mention, all would rot very quickly except pine and 

 tamarack, but pine is objectionable on account of its strong flavor. If hem- 

 lock cannot be procured, tamarack would be the best. The timber should 

 be cut in two or three inch planks, and put together by halving the timbers 

 at the end, and holding the halved parts dovetailed or cornered together, bo 

 that the sides cannot be forced in by the pressure of the earth, the upper 

 half of one piece fitting upon the lower haK of the other piece. 



To Repair Leaky Roofi. — One of the very best preparations for repair- 

 ing roofs that leak is to procure coal tar at the gas-works, and mix finely- 

 sifted coal ashes or road dust with it till about as thick as mortar. Plaster 

 with this carefully around leaky-roofed valleys or gtitters, or alxjut chimney 

 flushings. It will soon set as hard as stone, and apparently as indestructi- 

 ble. This preparation is very cheap, and would probably answer equally 

 well spread all over a roof previously laid with felt or roofing paper. Once 

 put on properly, it would seem to be there for all time. 



A Cheap Rain Gauge. — To make a rain gauge for farmers' use, just aa 

 good as if it cost three dollars, take a quart friiit can free from dents, hold 

 the top in the fire until the solder is melted, then knock it off; place the can 

 on a poet, with brackets nailed around to keep it in place. Make a rule six 

 inches long, divided into tenths of inches — one made out of a strip of slate is 

 best. Measure the rain every morning after falling. An inch of rain is a 

 good rainfall, if it comes gently. This in weight will be 226,875 pounds, or 

 113 tons 875 pounds to the acre. 



Bnming Stamps. — Tree stumps are said to be easily removed by boring 

 a two-inch hole eighteen inches deep into the stump. Do this in the fall, 

 and fiU with a concentrated solution of saltpetre, and plug up to keep out 

 water. By spring it will have permeated every part. Then fill the hole with 

 kerosene, set on fire, and the whole stump, it is said, will be consumed, 

 even to the roots. It would seem to be feasible, and it is certainly an 

 easy way to get rid of stumps. The ashes Avill remain to fertilize the soil. 



Hovr to Get Rid of Rats. — The English Stanflard says: " Several corre- 

 spondents write to announce the complete extirpation of rats and mice from 

 their cow-stalls and piggeries since the adoption of this simple plan: A mix- 

 ture of two parts well-bruised common squills and three parts finely-chopped 

 bacon is made into a stiff mass, with as much meal as may be required, and 

 then baked into small cakes, which are put down for the rata to eat." 



'fVhitewash Tliat %Vill Sticlt._To make whitewash that will not wash 

 off by the rain, one peck of lime should be slaked in five gallons of water, in 

 which one pound of rice has been boiled until it is all dissolved. The rice 



