The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-06-22
Industrial Breyities.

Welskl and other investigators have
very recently published an account of
some experiments on sheep-feedino, in
stItuted with the main object of ascer-
tanning the difference III the assimila-
ton with increasing age of the various
mineral Cor ASH constituents of fodder.
Two lambs of about months old were
fed on meadow hay and split peas until
they We're years old. FL was found
that the lambs assimilated during the
first year fairly constant amount of
the constituents of common salt (chlor-
inc and sodium), but gradually in
creasing amount of bone-forming sub
stances-viz., phosphoric acid. lime,
and magnesia, while potash was assim-
lated in proportion TO the growth of
WOOL At the age of years an extreme
ly small amount of these substances was
required, of which potash still predomi-
mated. The absorption of phosphoric
acid and lime had almost ceased, whence
1t may be assumed that at years the
bones are fully developed.
4. Mitschki Coliandi, German agri-
culturist. has been writing on the sub
ject of the relation of the wool to the
body-weight in Merino sheep. Accord
ing to some breeders the larger varieties
of merino are to be preferred on account
of their Welding better return both in
flesh and wool for the fodder consumed.
Our authority, however, after twenty
five years experience, declares the re-
verse to be the case, as the build of the
sheep has a greater influence on the fat
tening properties than the absolute size,
and larger quantities of wool are obtain
ed from small sheep in relation to
given weight than i'll the larger kinds,
al<.4sx
20 to 30 per cent.
Many farmers throw away the old ]
brine in beef and pork barrels and fish
packages. Sometimes they throw it on
a grass patch, or under a tree, and kill
the vegetation. Ii they desire to kill
vegetation with it, they should pour it
on in patches of burdocks or tilistles. or
around trees that are worthless. 1t is
better, however, to use it for manure, in
which case it should be applied with
judgment. 1t may be appliedto aspara-
gus beds or ounce trees literally, but to
other things sparingly. Ordinarily the
best disposition to make of it is to pour
it on a manure or compost heap, and al
low it to be absorbed.
The cultivation of broom-corn is Being
tried with great success on many farms
in California, the crop being very pro-
ductive and commanding high market
price. as the following facts and figures
show: An acre of land will yield one
half ton of corn and ton of seed. The
former commands from $40 to $3.50 per
ton, and the seed sells at from $l5 TO
$25 per ton. When harvested and ready
for market the cost per acre rarely ex-
ceeds S25, and never goes above $50.
The area planted with tea in Assam
in 1S80-S1 was 153, 657 acres; the export
of tea to Bengal was 37,715. 600 pounds;
and the total number of estates is ,055.
The Assamese is said to be remarkable |
for total want of enterprise and ener-
CIV; he desires only sufficient to enable |
him to purchase his daily rice and modi- |
cum of opium.
A paragraph is going the round to the |
effect that a Venetian glass maEufac- |
turer is producing glass bonnets by the |
thousand, and selling them, too. 1t is
said that the glass cloth or thread of |
which they are made is SIMMER than silk,
has a finer color, and is none the worse /
for heavy shower of rain.
There is a good time coming for the
hong wool raisers, and the indications
are it is not far off. The decrease in the
number of the sheep in England, as
shown by the agricultural returns, is
enormous. Since 1868 the number has /
fallen off 5.548. 900, being more than
one-fot1rfh' of the whole.
A use has at last been found for the |
Canada thistle. n shepherd in south |
Australia declares that they furnish more
and better food for sheep during a
protracted drought than any plant that
grows. The flower buds are eaten by |
lambs in preference to any kind Of
grass.
A fsh-raiser OF experience recon-
mends digging ponds on the north side
of bluffs, so that the water will be cool
er and better shaded.