Business First, Then Pleasure— Of all the things 

 ■which must be done, do those which are most distaste- 

 ful first. Then you will have the others to look for- 

 ward to with pleasure. — Rural A'czl'- Yorker. 



Improved Early Ohio Potatoes.— J. M. Smith tells 

 the Ohio Farmer that he is somewhat proud of his Early 

 Ohio potatoes. He procured the seed fifteen or more 

 years ago, and has been selecting the large, smooth and 

 finest potatoes for seed from that time till this. They 

 have not been allowed to mix with samples from any 

 other source. The result is that they have improved, and 

 for some years have been large, smooth and beautiful 

 potatoes of excellent quality. — Rural Kew-Yorker. 



The Freeman Potato. — The plants set more potatoes 

 than they can grow to a good size, and the result is that 

 there are more small ones among them than I like to see. 

 They are so much scattered in the ground, that it costs 

 more to dig them than it does Early Ohio, or any other 

 of the close growers. Still, after allowing fully and 

 fairly for all the defects of this potato, after two years of 

 experimenting with it, I cannot but believe that it is a 

 valuable acquisition to our list of desirable potatoes. — 

 y. A/. Smith, in Practical Farmer. 



Storing Sweet-Potatoes. — In Virginia and further 

 south sweet-potatoes are generally kept through the 

 winter in pits covered with earth. In states further 

 north better protection is required, and, therefore, 

 cellars and sweet-potato houses are used for the purpose. 

 We illustrate a style of sweet-potato house common in 

 New Jersey. A dry, well-drained spot is selected, a 

 cellar about 3 feet deep excavated, and a wall of rough 

 stone about 6 feet 

 high built. On 

 this a roof is 

 placed and the 

 earth banked up 

 to the top of the 

 wall. The roof 

 Storing SwEET-PoTATOE.s. ' and ends should 



be double, to keep out the cold. It is better also to have 

 double doors, as indicated in cut. The house should face 

 the south-east, and the chimney be placed at the cold end. 

 The size of the house will, of course, depend on the 

 crop to be stored. Bins are made to hold 20, 50, or 100 

 barrels. Rough boards and a layer of straw are gener- 

 ally placed in the bottom and against the wall before 



putting potatoes in the bins. A small cast-iron cylinder 

 coal-burning stove is the kind in common use for heat- 

 ing. The fire should be started a few days in advance 

 of storing, to dry out the house, and a little be kept 

 burning for a week afterward to dry off the potatoes, as 

 they invariably go through a sweating process. During 

 this time ventilation should be freely given. Afterward 

 just enough fire should be maintained to keep the tem- 

 perature between 60° and 70°. Sweet-potatoes, to keep 

 well, must be stored before heavy frosts kill the vines. — 

 Samtiel C. Moon, in Far?n Journal. 



Liquid Manure for Plants. — I have seen some very 

 striking examples of the happy effect of liquid manure 

 on plants. In one instance droppings from the fowl- 

 house were used with water. Such geraniums, begonias, 

 gloxinias, epiphyllums, phyllocactuses, stapelias, bryo- 

 phyllums and other exotics I have not seen elsewhere. 

 Such quantities of strong liquid manure as were used 

 here would frighten the ordinary grower, but the effect 

 proved conclusively the wisdom of the procedure. — 

 Florida Agriculturist . 



A Convenient and Durable Label. — The accom- 

 panying engraving represents a label now adopted in the 

 botanic garden at Washington for the rockery and herba- 

 ceous plants. It is made of zinc, sK^xi^ inches, the 

 legs which keep it firm being soldered on the back of the 

 label. The label is first painted white, using the best 

 white lead and linseed oil, and allowed 

 fO get thoroughly dry. Then it is 

 painted with ivory or drop-black, mix- 

 ing it with a small quantity of coach" 

 varnish. While this coat is still fresh, 

 with the back of a broad-pointed steel 

 pen write the name on the label. This 

 makes a very distinct white lettering, 

 looks well, hasn't the glare of the 

 white painted one, and is therefore not 

 so conspicuous ; but attracts attention, 

 and lasts longer than the white painted 

 labels. They cost $2 per 100 ready 

 for painting, and can be made by any 

 tinner. With the proper material at 

 hand they could be made by any one who can use a sol- 

 dering-iron. The legs are made of galvanized wire in 

 one piece turned on the back of the label and soldered 

 firmly in place. — C. L. Reynolds, in American Florist. 



A Convenient 

 Label. 



