The National tribune., 1883-12-13
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
EXCHANGE NOTICE.

The Practical Farmer, Philadelphia paper, |
is famous for two things. One is It's astounding |
notices, of which the following is a specimen:
" Last week we saw some specimens of Keitfer /
pears, raised ON the farm of - New Jersey, /
which were among the handsomest ones we /
ever saw. Mr.. -- was the introducer of this /
variety, and he has kept his stock in its origi-
nal purity, maintaining all the good qualities
for which it is so Justly noted" It is evident |
that the Practical Farmer considers that pear
trees will mix in the hill, and that some
great effort is required to keep them pure. If
Mr.. , of New Jersey, propagates the
Keier pear his increase viii be of that variety;
but we presume if he were to send out a crab
apple to his customers with a pear label on it,
the Practical Farnrer would consider it evidence
of impurity in the pear The second thing is
the frequency with which the Practical Farmer
uses the matter of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
in getting up editorials and forgetting to give
any credit to the source from which it copies
so freely. We can readily spare all the prdcti-
cal matter you need; but please give US credit
for it.
THE NATIONAL GRANGE OF THE PATRONS OF
HUsBANDRY.
The National Grange finished its annual ses-
sion in this city on the first of this month.
The meeting was harmonious aud profitable to
the order. The organization is reported as be-
ing in a healthy and prosperous condition,
about one hundred new Oranges having been
added during the last fiscal year Many
Oranges which have been dormant have been
revived, and most of them have considerably
increased their membership during the past
twelve months The unprecedented increase
of the organization during the first eight years
of its existence was followed by reaction
which was felt to be very depressing; but the
worst crisis has been passed and the Oranges
are in better condition and their future pros
poets more encouraging than ever.
APPLYING MANURE TO GRASS LANDS
We take the following from an article in the
Massachusetts PongbmGR The number of
farmers who believe in applying manure to
grass lands IN the autumn Is every year in
creasing. Observation and experience have
Taught that the loss by evaporation Of manure
that is applied in the autumn IS more than
made up by the protection which it affords to
the roots of the grass. Another advantage IS,
that the frequent freezing and thawing of the
manure breaks up the Jumps and makes it so
fine that it settles down among the roots of the
grass TO q position where it is out of the reach
of the knives of the mower, and where it can
best benefit the grass In spring mannring the
humps dry hard and do not deeOmpose; and are
in the way of the mower. One of the most
wasteful methods of applying manure is to get
1t out IN the autumn and leave Ib over winter
in small heaps, spreading it in the spring, after
the grass begins TO grow. The number who do
this is comparatively small; bHt every year we
see here aud there one who does, doing it prob
ably under the impression that the loss is much
less than If spread at once after carried TO
the field III the autumn. By this practice all
Of the outside of the heaps dry so hard that
when spread in the spring the Jumps do net
soften, but remain to obstruct the mower, and
to be raked up with the hay.
GRAVEL WALKS
An exchange states that It IS most iniuri-
| Gus practice to tramp on gravel walks if they
/ become soft in fall and winter Boards should
| be laid on them. These boards may be laid
| away under cover to be used each successive
| year" A spot of ground which becomes soft
/ in the fall or winter cannot be good place for
walking upon, and if gravel walk is not fit to
/ be walked upon, what use has it The first
| principle in Matchmaking Is to keep it dry, SO
/ that it will never become soft and useless for
the purpose for which it is made. Another
| thing is, that no amount of gravel alone will
make proper walk. Sandy gravel will not
bind, and is not FIT TO walk upon; and clayey
gravel, which becomes hard I dry weather, be-
comes soft when wet. Gravel should only be
used as a mere surface to walk. The walk
/ foundation should be of some lasting porous
material, such IS broken stones, brickbats, oys-
ter shells, etc. A depth of eight inches of this
I Will DC SutlICleuts GtQ 1t
/ ranged so that the center of the walk IsSeyeral
I inches higher than the sides. and the sides
should be filed up level with the ground.
| This viii throw all the water TO the sides
| Then, after rolling or otherwise pressing this
foundation, gravel is used on the surface to I'll
up all inequalities, so as to make a smooth sur
flee. More than this Injuries the walk. Clayey
gravel is best.
APPLES.
IF apples are not already gathered, they
should be neglected no longer. # we fortu
| nately have our usual inst2llment OF Indian
summer in this month, we should be carefu
that our winter apples are not exposed TO th'
influence OF its warm, sunny rays. Apples
when fully matured, should be put into a cool
dark place, and these be prevented from be
coming mellow. Some thick-Skinned varie
ties Of apples viii keep for months after the!
become mellow; but most apples rot directl.
after coming to this condition. The warm, sof
light of an Indian summer day affords the hes
possible means for placing wiater apples in
favorable condition for speedy rotting. See tha
your apples are not exposed to It, The tenn
perature of the cellar or fruit-house should no
fall below the freezing point; but it should b
kept as near to the point as practicable, ant
the light should be meaSurably excluded.-Aa
diana FarmT.
FEEDING HOGS.
It is a well established fact that bushel o
corn viii make ten pounds OF pork, while
viii make but little over one-half that amour
OF beef It is also an indisputable fact that m
acre of clover will make two pounds of pork t
one of beef when grazed without other feed
The great value of grass In producing pork
not as well understood by farmers as it shoult
be- Grass is as much natures food for hogs a
for cattle, and the former viii utilize it int
greater profits than the latter can possibly dc
We urge it upon the swine breeder to give hi
hogs abundance of grass. 1t will develop bon
| and muscle, with proper flesh to sustain heav
weights of future fat. A hog that has bee
grown principally on grass has a sure founda
ton for future greatne neSs.-EschaBge.
INDIAN CORN BOTANY.
DR.. E. Z. Sturtevant is constantly doing 5
| many good things that he can well be pan
doned il his enthusiasm occasionally runs int
extremes, as it appears to have done in hi
proposed classification of varieties of corr
J The classification Is proper enough, but he
not content with the common names {
popcorn, flint, dent, sweet soft, and hus
corns; bat the first he would have known &
@ea ererta; the others respectively as sea iRdl
rata, zea indesltata, zea saechGratG, Gmylaccc
| and yea gaqinata. There can be no earthly Us
!. in these names, unless to breed confusion
. They cannot be said to prevent confusion
, where none exists but it may have goo
sou,l3 when vou ask for flint corn To ask fC