The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-03
AGRICULTURE.

AGRICULTURE.
SMALL HoRsEs.-Perhaps it would be
better expressed and moro to the point
to say heavier horses are the need of
the times. Trotting horses, PAGERS,
runners, or any other gait, are ali
right In their places, but the majority
of horses are for labor and not for show !;
they are on duty as producers, and are
valuable In proportion as they cah do
| work; they are the motive power on the
farm, the highway, and the large towns
and citlcs-as indispensable rs bread aud
butter. Prices of large horses of all
| breeds that arc compactly built and
constructed on good rules ofproportion
rule high and pay tor the handling.
plugs and scrub stock are cheap,
aid will be even less in price than
heretofore, as all who employ teams
are fast learning that a heavy strong
team costs no more to keep than Il light,
poor one, but even less. A farmer
should have, anyway, one heavy,
strong team. He may own small light
span, put for plowins and general use
the heavy team, that seldom Is urged
beyond fast walk on the road, and
Will take q fourteen or sixteen inch
plow and 60 all day without evidence
of weariness, is tho one to depend Oh.
The markets is full Of semi-fast stock.
They do not command staple price,
but depend wholly on circumstances
for the margin OF profit, If any that
they yield. Pure-blooded Norman or
Clydesuales may not be the best ia their
exclusive nature, but by crossing them
with good native w estcrn stock can be
produced superior grade of horses
that Will command good prices and be
In demand ut all times. Farmers
should not be Indifferent to. this fact,
and when they propose TO raise Il colt,
select from that stock which will in
sure heavy horse; it may cost more
in the beginntng but will bring larger
returns in the end. Good horses, good
cattle, good sheep and hogs, arc Il good
deal the cheapest.
SOWING RYE IN URILLs.-Persons
who have only small farms or garden
plots, and wish to grow little rye, for
the sake OF the straw or for other Dur-
poses, can do 1t very successfully in
drills, which should be at such dis
tance apart as will admit of horse cul-
turc. In this way, with a little COM
post In the burrows, | have grown it,
c:'c:. Oil iatsiUr tii,tl suii, III the rate OF
straw from live and half to six feet in
height. Such yield | think is much
better then the average broadcast eul-
ture. The culture Is a small item, and
the harvesting, without impirmrnts
adapted to 1t, Is little more /. bic
some; but for small plots Of ground it
Is very satisfactory way, particularly
where the land Is not rich. The cul-
ture is especially beneficial. Ifany one
doubts 1t, let him try two pieces side by
side on the same quality OF land, and he
will cease doubling. The effect may
not he quite as marked us in the case Of
foddcr-corn, sown broadcast or grown
in drills, but the difference will be
clear. And 1t is natural that this
should be the case. Almost any vcsc-
tation let to take care Of itself after
seeding or planting, with no soil-stirr-
ing to mitigate the severity Of droughts,
cannot make the growth it would with
good cultivation. Rye is no exception.
1t might not pay SO well on large
scale; but even that is not certain, IN
case we had implements adapted to this
mode of culture.
BREEDING FROM UNsoUND MAREs.-
IL Is too often the case that mares, cs-
pecially, after having broken down
through some Inherent defect in the
feet or legs, SO that they can no lon
ger be prOtltably used, are relcgated
to the breeding stud to transmit again
the malformation that made them
worthless, to th cir progeny. Like does
not always beget like in every feature
and detail; but in general terms the
saying Is true one, and defeats are
just as likely to be transmitted as good
qualities. Mares or stations crlp-
pied by accident, and not from consti-
tutional tendency, or weakness in any
particular, play be safely used for
breeding purposes; butthosc who have
given way through weakness of defect
In any part of the animal machinery
should always be rejected.
ONE Of the best things to protect
cellar from cold Is n good banking of
snow. When this Is not upon the
ground in sufficient quantity Leaves
form an excellent material, and It Is
best to provide them in season. Drive
down stakes and set boards upon edge
at distance Of six inchos from the un-
der pinning, and fill in with the leaves
closely packed, and they furnish a
good protection.
SHEEp should have better care in
early winter Than farmers arc In the
habit oil bestowing. If sheep 90 into
winter quarters in declining state,
tho result Is a demand for extra feed
and care during the winter, and a
light clip of wool In the spring.
Hoes relish hay when it is cut as
short as oats, and mixed with their
other feed. 1t ls said that while 1t
saves bran, shorts. and other food In
wintcr, 1t puts on flesh rs rapidly as
anything that can be given them.
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The Blue Of the ,Sky.-lIelmholtz, the
German scientist, offers an explanation
which depends on the reflection of So
lar light by the air particles in the at
mosphere. These PARTICLES being very
minute would reflect preferably the
shortest waves of light. c., blue
waves, corresponding 10 green and red
lt,.I~ -. 4