The Old Time Farm Magazines: Match Holders, Healthy Lawns, and Staining Wood.

Image Gallery Whether you need a match holder or are looking for a neat crafts project, these old-time farm magazines have a little bit for everyone. ILLUSTRATION: MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF

This page contains excerpts from issues of The American Agriculturist dated 1880. 

A Handy, Hanging Match Holder.

Our little match-holder that hangs below the oil chamber of the student lamp, is one of the appreciated conveniences of the household. In fact, we have one for each large lamp, and wherever the lamp goes, the matches are there ready to be used in lighting it. The latest comer, the neatest, and "the one for the parlor" — we use it for the sitting-room — is made with an egg-shell for the cup and is covered with worsted, and decorated as shown in the accompanying engraving.(Click on the "Image Gallery" to view any accompanying images.) A wide range for the exercise of taste is allowed in the construction of this little convenience. The cup may be of tin or china, and the covering of Bristol board with initials, or the word MATCHES worked on — but, to our notion, this latter is not called for; in this age and country matches are known by all.

Healthy Lawn

For keeping up the freshness and vigor of the lawn, a spring dressing should be given, either of ashes, guano, fine bone, Nitrate of Soda, or a rich and thoroughly flue compost. Sow grass seed on any bare spots. In planting ornamental trees, grouping, rather than formal planting or setting in rows, is to be encouraged, so far as the nature and size of the grounds wilt permit it to be done.

New Lawns  — Let the soil be in a fine state of tillage by thorough working and manuring, after which, for heavy clay soils, Kentucky Blue-Grass is to be sown. Red Top is best for light and sandy soils, with a little mixture of White Clover in both cases. The seed should be applied liberally, as a fine turf can only be had when the plants are crowded. All the way from two to six bushels to the acre are advised. If what we buy were all seed, no doubt the smaller quantity would be enough, but in the uncertain relations between chaff and seed, one can not be sure of properly thick-seeding with less than four bushels. Sow half the seed in one direction, and cross-sow with the other half. The seeding should be done as soon as the land can be put in proper condition.

Walks and Drives. —A solid foundation is the only surety for a good walk or drive; and to secure this, use large stones for the bottom, begin below the reach of frost, and smaller ones nearer the surface. A walk or drive that is cheap in the beginning will always be unsatisfactory and dear in the end.