The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-11
AGRICULTURAL.

remind them, That the consequence Will /
not be over with the first rain. 1t is well |
known now that the vitality of plants is af-
fscted by untoward circumstances pretty |
much the same as animals are. A half |
starved man, or one affected with long,
enervating summers heat, will have his |
constitution SO weakened that he falls an |
easy prey to the first enemy. So a plant |
which grows on poor soil has not the pow
er of storing up latent heat, as it has moth |
ing to store from, and is easily killed by q |
slight frost, while under other circum-
stances it would endure very hard weather. !
Again, a plant in very wet ground is inca
nable of properly organizing its food in
summer, and it also gives way under o
slight cold.
The effect of the great summer heat is
inst the same. The great evaporation takes
all the moisture, and none is left for the
elaboration of food. A plant which suf-
lers for want of water in summer easily
dies in the winter time.
These points are not merely theoretical,
hit are explanations of facts which have
actually occurred. 1t will, therefore, be
we'll for those who have rare plants or trees
which they prize to look ahead at these
probabilities.
One of the best things to be done, as
revolutionary measure, is to top-dress
with little manure any tree likely to suf-
fer. Manure not only feeds roots, but en-
courages their production and this will in
crease the opportunities of the plant to lay
I'D the necessary heat-giving material, be-
fore the growing principle ceases its active
work. Beyond this little protection from
cold winds, where the valuable specimens
are in exposed places, will be very useful.
It may not be out of place to notice that
with the discovery of these facts about the
causes of winter destruction comes new
view of the value of thermometrical obser-
yatons. At one time it was supposed that
the marking of thermometer would indi-
cate exactly the degree of cold plant
would stand. 1t was so with animals.
But we now know that we often suffer
more from heat when the thermometer is
at eighty-fve degrees, than when at ninety
five degrees and some will suffer more at
one temperature than others will. This IS
owing to the varying nature of other ele-
ments as well as mere heat, aud the vary
ing degrees of vitality in inivduals. The
thermometer, therefore, is of little value in
determining what plant will stand, and
the long tables of plants and degrees peo-
ple used to take so much trouble to make
1lp are now of little more use than waste
paper.
Here is the axiom to remember: the
hardness of plants is dependent on their
vitality, and this again is dependent on their
ability to maintain heat under favorable
circumstances.--G9 Gardener Monthly.
WINTER FEEDING FOR BUTTER
W. II. White, in the Country Gentleman,
says:
at requires a certain amount of food to
sustain the system in health, etc.; any sur
plus goes either to increase the flow and
richness of the milk, or is appropriated into
the system. In cold weather much food
goes to sustain animal heat, unless kept in
some other way. Heat radiates from a
warm body when exposed to free, cold
atmosphere, faster than if the atmosphere
be more confined--not subject TO violent
agitation, etc. This would indicate that
the cow which was kept i'll comfortable
warm quarters would give more satisfac-
tory products, on the same keep, than
the same COW in less warm quarters.
Could we give our dry hay and fodder
an approximate proportion of its succulence
ofsummcr and keep the cows as comfortably
warm, or their surroundings, we could OBJ
tain as good winter products from them as
at any season. Can We do this, OF
even approximate it? think it is pos
siDle to come much nearer to 1t thar
is the general practice, but it viii
involve some labor and slight extra
expense to make the change; but onc'
made the economy of the thing becomes
apparent, and overbalances any extra eflor
and expense. First, we should provid
warm, well Ventilated stables, comfortable
and clean, for the cows; keep them clean
well curried and tidy; give them all they
will eat of good food, prepared as below
with plenty of good water to drink. Thei
stables ought to be on the sunny side
the barn. with windows to admit the light
etc.; and their yards for exercise, Shout
be sunny and protected. So much for com
fort externally. Most cows in milk ar
very sensitive, and should receive the kind
est of care and treatment in every respect
Their feeding, watering, milking, etc,
should be done at regular hours, in tn
same order, and so far as possible by tn
same individual, especially the milking
and all to the least annoyance OF the cows
From observation, experience and tn
testimony of others, | believe feeding cool
ed fodder to be the most economical, an
to give the best results in all respects.
Nearly as good results may be had wlthol
the actual steaming or cooking, and tn
will come within the reach of all, and ;
the same time effect quite. saving of feet
First, the fodder should be cut tine-it ma
be mixed of different qualities, or all alik
but there should be a proportion OF goo
hay--it should then be packed in DO,
which may be a bin in one corner OF tt
barn floor, mixing in two quarts Of col
meal and bran or shorts, mixed in equ
quantities, to feed to each COW for eac
mess scatter it evenly through and W
down with boiling water; pack and pre-
tight, giving water, all the feed will absor
and then cover tight to steam; in abo
twenty-four hours the whole mass will
equalized and in the best condition to fee
almost equal to green fodder"
How A FARM MAY LOSE MONEY
BY keeping no account of home operation
Paying no attention to the maxim, :"
stitch in time saves nine," in regard to t
sowing of grain and planting of seed at t
proper season.
Leaving the reapers, ploughs, guilty
tors, etc., uncovered from the rain al
heat of the sun. More money is lost
this way than most people are willing
believe.
Permitting broken implements to
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