HINTS FOR THE FARM

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3811, 21 September 1936, Page 2

HINTS FOR THE FARM

THE CIRCULAR SAW. The feeding end of a circular saw table is usually smeared with oil or grease, but this soon wears off, especially if wet wood is being sawn. If, however, the top is well brushed with blacklead (or other grate polish), it will remain “ slick ” almost indefinitely, and wet wood will not scour it off. BETTER MANURE STORAGE. Dung should be stacked in the centre of a piece of hard, level ground and closely packed, each addition to tiie heap being buried in the center, and old dung well patted down ou top of it with a shovel. The sides of the heap should be made sloping, and should also be beaten and smoothed aown. If the weather is very dry a slight sprinkling with water will assist this operation. If fine soil or ashes are available, the top and sides of the dung-heap may be covered with this material, damped with water, and patted down. The value of the dung will be improved by this treatment, and flies and other pests discouraged from using the heap as a breeding ground. SAVE THE DANDY BRUSH. On entering some stables you will notice that the bristles of the dandy brush are badly worn in the centre, and the ends are still quite good. To avoid this, nail a strip of thin leather along each side of the brush-head; this prevents the thumb and fingers from wearing the bristles away; and the brush lasts longer. CATCHING SLUGS. A sure way to catch slugs is to cut oranges in half, scoop out the centres, and place the peel, halves inverted, here and there over the ground. Each morning you will find two or three slugs collected under the peel. Keep a pail of salt water to place the slugs in, and your garden will soon be rid of them. NON-SLIP LADDERS. Take two long wire nails, about 6 inches long, and drive them into the bottom of the ladder uprights, leaving about two or three inches sticking out. For picking apples, etc., this is a real help. The heads of the nails can be filed off, if desired. RAT-PROOF CORN STORE. Place disused milk churns upside down, with narrow ends to floor. On these lay a wooden platform of suitable size, and on this place your meal and corn in bags. No rats or mice