ON THE LAND.
UTILISING OLD POTATOES. Towards the end _of the season there are always a certain number of badlyshrivelled potatoes. Many of theses are almost useless from the cooking standpoint, but they may he turned to valu- » able account in the following manner. In most houses it is possible to discover some dry corner that is perfectly dark. i This might be in a cupboard or a cellar. On » shelf or the floor spread a. layer of dry mould an inch or so in depth, and into this press the old tubers so that tiiay are covered to about half their extent. See that each potato is quite distinct, as it is rather important that they should not touch one another. Hero the tubers may be left, and they -will require no further attention save a very occasional «'.i>iht sprinkling of water. The soil should never be really damp or mould will be likely to appear. Some time during the summer little white spots will becin to appear on the potatoes, and '„>«> .vi!' finally develop into small potatoo.«- hea these are about the size of wall,' they may be gathered and cocked : they will be found to be altogether deliiious. Strange although it may appear '■■< He, the old potatoes will go on producing the new crop for many months until there is nothing left of them save a little :-kin. The on'y essential feature of the l! ttrrent is that the old tubers be kept ..; total darkness. If any light can reach thorn continuously they will tend to send .it shoots rather than the tubers that are desired. * '• FAIRY RINGS." In an article en " Fairy Rings," Mr. 2.. 11. Cockayne, Government Biologist, gives a little advice to lawn owners. He • says:—"Sulphate of iron solution will in most cases kill our ' fairy rings,' provided the whole of the ground through which the mycelium of the fungus is present i* thoroughly permeated. In m-my c;u-es. however, the fungus so tho-n-.ighly waterproofs the ground that the solution does not penetrate and is of no ■ use. Good results have been eecured by ♦' oroughly forking over the ground before applying th<: sulphate of iron, but in the case of lawns where the surface is vary hard this is vew dirri.-ult. In certain cases excellc.it results have followed dt'.-trini; tip ltitrni—without any soil removal—and givinj: several applications of iron sulphate whip the ground is soft and permeahle to th i solution. After such treatment seeding follow*. The treat objection to this practice is that the while of the lawn having to be treated. both cost and labour are great. When treating the sod in th's manner the strength of the Milphate should be Lb to 2 gallons of fl.it->r. In certain cases good resu'ts ha\e followed the diggingin of crushed iron sulphate at the rate of scwt per acre, hut in general better re:-t;itf follow the dissolving of the material 111 water.'' i . i PURIFYING .WATER FOR STOCK.! Water containing mud in suspension is I easily clarified by dtopping hot wood J asnes into i;. or by the application of 1 lime or i\lum These two substances mr.ike I the water hard. Chloride of iron raa\ I be also used . it it- quite harmless and a : valuable reconstitui nt and torric for all \ animals. One pound of* chloride of iron I will clarify 1000 to 2500 gallons of water and muqh reduce the bacteria! content. A simple method of iv.ir'fying watar without boiling has been d< vised by Dv Naismith and Dr. Graham. The method consists in adding a level te<spoonful of chloride of lime (containing one-third available chlor.nc) to a cupful o : «fltvater. Dissolve, dilute with three more cupfuls of water, allow to stand for a few seconds ; this ftoek solution, kept in a tightly-stoppered bottle, may be used for five days. Add a ter.spoonfu! to 2 linns of water to be p': tried; stir well to bring the weak; chorine solution in contact with all the feria, and allow to stand for 10] minutes. This will destroy aLktvnhoid I and colon bacilli, or other dystenterv-pro- I do. mg bacilli in the water. The water I will be without taste or odour, and the ! trace of free chlorine added rapidly disappears. FIRST .4SD TO HORSES. The following remarks are intended to . give the reader an idea how to treat a norse that has met with an accident. If the injury is eerious it is advisable to obtain expert assistance as speedily as possible, but while waiting much can off- nbe done to alleviate pain. etc. It is always well to remember that presence of mind, gentle handling, and a sympathetic voice will go a long way to soothe and tranquilise an animal that has met with' an accident.' Obviously little can be ; dine to it when in a etate of intense ex- j cicement. With wounds little can be done ] i.'.v an amateur, except to try to stop the I bleeding and remove foreign matter. s Dirt'' and grit should be got away by gently j bathing the part w.th water. 'It is a j difficult matter for the unpractised to bring ' the 'dges of a wound together by means j of - .is or stitches, so if it cannot be done \ tilt place should be covered up, in the clearest possible way, to protect the exposed flesh from flies, and exclude the air. Th sewing up trust be done as soon as expert assistance nan be obtained. A horse hadly staked, when the intest.ina has been torn, is generally in a hopeless case. if, however, the bowel only protrudes. and if, otherwise uninjured, it should be freed from dirt and returned gently to its place. To prevent it falling out again, the wound must he covered with a pad of some kind, which can generally be kept in place by means of straps passed over the hack. This will afford temporary relief until expert advice can be obtained and the wound sewn up. With regard to bleeding, if slight, cold water, pressure by 1 the fingers or bandaging will generally che-k it. Should the bleeding be copious, firm and continuous pressure must be applied, if possible. This is very difficult i" the case of a body wound, but more simple when the injury is on a limb, where an improvised tourniquet will often prove successful. The tourniquet can be made by placing a tightly roHed-up hand- | kerchief or smooth stone immediately j a v jve the wound, tying a bandage loosely ! over it and round the leg. then inserting j a st ok in bandage and twisting until the tightness causes the flow of blood to cease. A tourniquet should not be left on for long as it m;y d' mage the circulation of th,- lex:, so it will be necessary to get ■ ho i of somebody quickly with the necess; ii'. appliances and knowledge to tie up the severed vein or artery. PAINT FOR THE FARM.'' Iron oxide paints on farm buildings have hern known to last for twenty years, ""'n-'n.-iliie oxide of iron (either New Zealand o,- British) will last much longer than .".;d pVir.ts. It gives the ideal servire. and makes a good standing job ■»hi'!i lesists all weathers and sets as a perl ret preservative, suitable for wood, ipj- , ,ne, or plaster. Any amateur ■-i.'i mix haematite paint. Procure ante (British or New Zealandthe lap : for preference), either in dry pow-d'-i ur ground in oil. If dry powder. in x to 1 stiff paste with boiled linseed ii! and ,1 little mineral turpentine. The fir-: 1.1 priming coat should be rather t: '■ and lie hi ushed well into the pores '>! tie mo. d .-plits. nail holes, etc.; the -> 'i.d coal should be rather thicker. It ' I.e hiMiialitc is procured in paste 1 . i nod pi oil it only requires the ad.i 1. :, of a . ttle good dryers and then) t'i:;:n!..: (! r.\ 1 similarly to the dryI"". n e mixtiiie Let the first co.it be tl ._-h!v ill'. before applying the sf, ; New '/.■■■■ ,1 nd haematite can be I -p.. ..'■'•.! ii. luo colours —rhocolateL.i , : and t-i.a i ..Ma.
INFLUENZA A.MONC SHEEP, 1 .ii i.-iini .-1.-, is n.: iiiimune against iiiri-,.-n;'..i. In Westmoreland, England, a \''. • i.ary ii..«j.r lias diairnosed an ill»e;h aj',.ing i-l i/oji in that county as i. ii i. • \\ in-.i attacked the she.'p be- <•■■■■».>' (I;..I and listless with slight cough a i.d hiijh t'fruperatui'P. Later the cough £i .«--. «•..;■«('. and breathing becomes Eay re "il'tif ■■
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