The National tribune., 1883-02-22
RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.

lrdCIlnR all the aNai.lblG moisture WHICH IL
contains.
Every kind of soil has its relative degree of
porosity or power for retaining moisture
Peaty or messy soils which are mainly COM
posed of organic matter in different stages of
decomposition, are very porous, and in conse-
quence absorb water readily and in great
quantities Clay soils, on the other hand, be-
ing close and compact, absorb water slowly and
TO limited degree. Draining a peaty soil
will not deprive il of porosity; it may be
Gkened 10 sponge, which Will retain all the
water that may be poured on il until its pores
become filed; afterwards the water will drop
from il as fast as il is poured On. SO 1t is with
draining a soil: no water Will escape by the
drains until the soil is saturated aud cannot
contain any more: then the supertiuous water
passes Off by The drains, leaving the land al
ways in a condition for healthy plant growth,
which is completely reversed when the super
fuous water is only removed by the slow pro-
cess of surface evaporation.
Clay soils canEot be cropped to their best
advantage until they are drained. The Ordi-
nary operation of plowing has a tendency 10
form hard surface at the bottom of the fur
rows which in time becomes cOmpacted and acts
as basin in holding water. Soils of this kind
arc well designated as cold. The heat of the
sun cannot warm the soil until the water is
first removed by evaporation. process which
produces cold; so that, in addition to the i'm
practIcability of putting in early crops, every
heavy summer rain cools the earth, and the
plants growing in it receive a series of checks
in their progress towards maturity. Draining
removes all these evils.
Brify, it may be stated that some of the ad-
vanta2cs of draining are the removal of super
fuous water from the soil, and thus the tenn
peTature of the earth near the surface is kept
nearly TO its normal state. This makes early
planting possible. and hastens the growth of
crops; il equalzes the temperature of the land
it equaliZes the moisture of the soil, and grow
ing plants are thus to great degree exempted
from the evils which follow either deficiency or
excess of rainfall; the roots of plants are more
generously supplied with soluble food carried
down by rains: the formation Of plant food is
increased by the admission of air TO the soil:
the land is more economically worked. and
cultivation suffers less interruption at all seas
Ons, and as a consequence crops are increased
to their maximum production, at least SO far as
they are dependent upon the physical cOndi-
tion of the soil, factor of equal imp Drtance
with that of its chemical constitution, and one
which is greatly underestimated.
COMPARATIVE VALUE OF DRIED CoRNsTALKs
AND ENsILAGE.
The Agricultural Experimental Station of New
Jersey has been making tests with reference to
the value of green cornstalks which have been
preserved in siloS and stalks of the same ma
turity which have been harvested dried, and
preserved in the usual manner for fodder. 1t
has been claimed that in the case of ensilage
cattle will eat the whole of the stems, whereas
with fodder only the leaves are eaten. and the
stems are rejected. II having been suggested
that this might partly be owing to the finely
cut condition of the ensilage, it was concluded
10 cut the dry cornstalks IN a similar Manner.
and by an addlji3fiaI arrangement on the cut
ting box spikes were SO fixed as to tear the cut
dry cSln stems into sbreds. When thus pre-
pared it was found that the animals consumed
She whole as clean as with the more succulent
&ensiiage: and, furthermore, after a series of
Ftests with milch COWS it was found that their
flow of milk. both in quantity and quality, was
alike, whether fed upon cut enslage or cut corn
fodder. These experiments have led to the
conclusion that ton of good corn fodder after
being subjected TO the shredding process, is
shout equal in feeding value TO a ton of good
clover hay. This discovery is of very great value
and if acted upon is worth more to the coun-
try than the cost OF all the experimental sta
tions throughout the States up to the present
time. We trust that the time will soon arrive
when every State in the country viii establish
an agricultural experiment station and give
II liberal support.
MAKING AND KEEPING WALKS.
Very much of personal comfort and pleasure
Of rural residence depends upon good walks
or pathways. A smooth, firm, dry walk is one
Of the greatest cOnyeniences; while a rough,
tsft, muddy walk is one Of the worst annoy
&nces Of country life. Water is the one great
trouble in preventing good walks; clay soil
makes good path when it is dry, but it be-
comes all but impossible when it is wet. The
Ieading principle, therefore in having a good
walk is TO keep it dry. A porous, gravelly or
sandy soil viii make a good walk if the surface
Is rounded so as TO throw the rains rapidly to
the sides. II should be flied up so that the
whole of the pathway will be above the neigh
boring surface; this will cause the water to
run off the walk and prevent its accumulation
and liability TO wash. Instead of excavating
for path, il viii serve a better purpose TO add
material to the surface, rounding it well, so
that in walk four feet in width the centre
will be FIVE or six inches higher than the sides.
This conyexity is too great for rOadways, but
not for foot paths. Coal ashes form a good
surface and become compact with use When
gravel is used, ii should be such as contains
small portion Of reddish clay. Gravel which
consists merely Of sand and rounded pebbles
makes a disagrecable material TO walk upon as
il does not become firm. Roads for vehicles
are constructed on the same principles, but
they have TO resist great pressure on small
surfaces, and, therefore, require stronger
foundation than mere foot path.
OSTRICH FARMING.
About twelve months ago THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE suggested the propriety of trying
ostrich farming in Texas aud in others of the
Southwestern States. The subject has recently
received attention so far as TO lead to small
importati0ns Of the birds for the purpose of
testing their acclimation in this country
Doubts have been expressed as 10 the profits of
ostrich culture. bat on this point we have no
very definite information. AS to their profit
able culture in Africa, we extract the follow
ing from the Tropical AgrjcuituFist: Mr.
Eoyce Of Natal, having failed in sheep farm
ing on account Of drouths came TO the con-
elusion TO try Ostrches, which have turned out
well On ten pairs of birds he has been able to
make profit Of about 10000 during the past
two years. He has not kept more than ten
pains Of breeding birds, and he thinks this
number i quite sufficient for one man TO man
age. The best birds for beginner TO buy are,
in his opinion, those from three to four years
old. They should have three meals day and
the greatest care should be taken 70 feed them
at regular intervals. They will also have to
be supplied with salt When there is a scarcity
Aof grass food, thistles, lucerne, cabbage green
BARLEY, or rye, and garden produce must be
xrovided. The birds must also have crushed
kbnes Of about an inch in length, and also wood
sshes in which 10 roll themselves to prevent
rermin. They are seldom sick. The food for
young birds i somewhat similar 10 that for the
old ones, only it should be cut up very short
The birds generally lay from ten to sixteen
eggs and the period of sitting is generally
forty-two days. They should not be disturbed
when sitting The older they get the more
reeonciled they become and sometimes they
I'm, ID