The National tribune., 1882-02-25

peatedly stated that great fertilizing properties
are wasted by hauling out barn-yard manure
and spreading it on the ground without immedi-
ately blowing it under, that many farmers are
deferred from removing it solely on this account,
when otherwise it would be advantageous for
them to economic time by taking leisure OPP
portunities as they occur for this work. 1t has
been well proven that the losses sustained by
eyaporation from manures thus exposed are COM
paratively unimportant 1t loses water by evap-
Grafton, and but little if anything more; decom-
position proceeds so slowly that its products are
mainly absorbed by the soil, or rendered soluble
and washed down by rains and deWs Fields
which have been MANFRED by hauling out the
accommodations of the barn-yard from time to
time as occasion offered have been found to yield
the best crops on those portions which were first
covered. To account for this fact it has been
suggested that some advantage is derived from
the mere shading-or the mechanical effect, as 1t
might be Misunderstanding from the influence
of the covering, without regard to the manurlal
ingredients or plant food contained in the man.
ure At all events, the loss by exposure is so
small as to be unworthy of consideration when
a question of convenience arises in the admins
tration of farm labor.
Swine-Some of the diseases of these animals
are attributed to their frequent filthy surround
ings it is proper that they should at all times
have access to pure water to drink when they so
DESIRE and sheltered, dry place, with plenty OF
straw to sleep on during cold weather. When
the weather becomes warmer good bed of dry
earth is healthier than straw Dry earth is one
:; oo@o, {c
be provided, and is at once the simplest most
convenient and harmless of all remedies for or
preventves of vermin. The value Of dry earth
in stables is not sufficiently appreciated.
TREATMENT OF SEEDS BEFORE SOWING
Prof Thomas Taylor, microscopic of the United
States Department Of Agriculture, In paper
published in the proceedings of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science,
shows that the termination of seeds which have
a hard, bony covering, may be greatly facilitated
by stepping them in sulphuric-acid for a brief
period before planting. In making some inves
LEGATIONS with view to the removal of fbers
from the cotton seed, Prof Taylor found that
two ounces of sulphuric-acid poured over sixteen
ounces Of cotton seed, completely dissolved the
lint on its surface. changing it into gummy
substance soluble in water. On washing the
seeds thus treated with plenty of water, the
gummy substance is removed, and the seeds
appear clean and smooth resembling in color a
ripe apple-seed.
When the seed is thus cleaned there is no
mechanical obstacle to the of machinery in
planting it. 1t can be drilled, like corn-seed, at
regular intervals apart method not possible
by any machine while the seed is coated with
lint for the lint holds the seeds in mass so that
the individual grains cannot be separated by any
of the seed-drills now in use.
Prof Taylor further found that seeds so treated
terminated more quickly than did seeds which
were sown with the lint attached. From a series
of experiments it was shown that the seeds
treated with the acid terminated in about one
half the number of hours which where necessary
for the termination of unwashed seeds.
These experiments were not confined to cotton
seeds variety of seeds having hard coverings
were washed with the acid and in every case
great advantage was gained as to the time re-
quired for termination Even some old palm
seeds which had been in the soil for some time
were removed and stepped in sulphuric acid
diluted with fifty per cent. of water, for period
of twenty-four hours, after which they were
washed and again planted and they terminated
in about three weeks afterwards, while those not
treated had not terminated three months after
wards
These experiments and results are of great
value, and seem to point to the fact that all kinds
of hard shelled seeds may have their terminating
period fastened by first sleeping them in sui
phuric-acid more or less diluted with water.
GRAZING WHEAT IN WINTER.-This practice,
which is as old as the days of Virgil is objected
to by many. Liebig, however has shown that
wheat sown in the fall partakes of the nature of
our biennial roots, such as the turnip and carrot
During the early stages of its growth, the root
developes most rapidly, and is engaged in laying
up stores of nutritive matter in its own tissues
sufficient for all the demands Of the plant when
This development is favored by fall cold enough
to keep the temperature Of the air few degrees
lower than that of the superficial layers of the
soil. This checks the unreasonable growth of
the stalk and foliage, while it promotes that of
the roots. A mild fall, ON the other hand Undue
ing luxuriant growth Of the leaves, has a tend
ency to lessen nutritive deposits in the roots
When this premature growth is destroyed by
freezing weather the whole plant is left en-
feebled In such a season the advantages of
grazing are obvious: it will arrest the ton growth
and advance root development But if is certain