The National tribune., 1884-10-30
our RqHRfL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
3li, +
HORSES TRAVELLING UNSHoD.

duced by careless Or improper shOelug, the fol-
lowing hints in regard to horses travelling I'M
shOd possess peculiar interest to those who have
charge of that mug h abused animal: Whether
shooting is necessary or not remains to be tested
to the satisfaction of the majority. Some be-
lieve that shoes cannot be dispensed with on
the cobbie-st0nes of the cities but are inclined
to the opinion that shoes are not altogether
necessary on soft, sandy or light gravelly
roads. In Chicago gentleman neglected to
shoe his horse and allowed it to work on the
cObble-stones. AT first the feet became some
what sore and the hoofs cracked and seemed
very brittle In time, however, the hoofs be-
gan to harden in texture, became calous to the
| hard usage, until now the owner declares he
would not use shoes again under any circum-
stances. Just here we desire to call attention
to the subject. If the feet, by direct contact
| with the earth, improve and the tenderness
and brittleness of the hoof is changed, it may
be possible that those who have attempted to
| work their horses unshod have become alarmed
at what they supposed lameness, when little
| patience would have demonstrated the method
as feasible. Any one who is accustomed to
wearing shoes finds it very inc0nvenient to
walk barcfooted for few days, but after short
time the feet become insensible to substances
with which they come in contact and one then
easily manages to walk on the stones, gravel,
in the sand, water, or even upon sharp sub
stances, without the least difficulty. Thus it
may be with horses when the shoes re-
moved. They will find walking awkward and
the feet may become Sore but after lapse of
time they will be able to pull over the worst
kind of roads. So far as our own opinions are
concerned, we have not given the matter a test
but the experience of those who have tried
| working horses without shoes cannot he ignored
1t will be hard to convince most persons that
shoeleSs horses are able to endure the hard cob
BILE stones, but that horses may work upon good
country roads is within the limit of possibility.
1t would not be a troublesome experiment if
farmers should put the matter to test by leav
ing the shoes Off one or two for comparison. If
we could work our horses anywhere without
shoes it would be great saving in the course
of year, not only financially but from the in
conveniences so often experienced when horses
are to be shod during busy ime."-Field and
Fireside.
FENCING STRAW STACKS.
The season has been so unfavOrable that it
will be necessary for farmers to husband their
| provender of every description with great care
| and the following suggestions from the n. Y.
| Examiner we regard as very pertinent: I'm
Inc OlucT Setteu ldrlUlllS SeCtiOuS, StTdN pays
a most important part ia wintering stock
| Many farmers say that they consider three
tons of clean, bright barley or oat straw equal
| to two tons of hay, while not few consider
| them of equal value, pound for pound One
| thing at any rate is certain, cattle and horses
| are very fond Of eoat land barley straw, and
| farmers who have never done so should give it
a trial. Straw stacks should always be fenced
| in, especially when located in yard in which
| stock is to be kept. One of the very best for
the purpose is log fence 1t is made by set
| ting at each corner of the stack Ia square one)
block of wood 20 inches in diameter and two
feet in length. Upon, these rest the logs, the
ends of which should be fiattened to prevent
rolling They should be about one foot in
diameter, two being placed upon each side. If
the stack is a large ope or more than 20 feet
square. an extra block should be placed upon
each side. pts-
u have seen both horses and cattle severely
injured by running against the projecting ends
| of stakes and rails, SO often used as fence for
straw stacks. Alany'use a post and-bOard fence,
but that is fral and dangerous structure.
Boards, like the rails, are easily broken and
knocked off, trampled in the manure, etc, while
by the use of log fence nothing of the kind
| can take place. The stock cannot be injured,
and if made of durable timber the fence need
| not be taken down for many years / will add
| that in sections where such a fence has been
once used, farmers are SO well pleased with it
as to adopt it as soon as possible"
THE FENCE OF THE FUTURE
Perhaps some of our readers can answer the
query of the Prairie Farmer, which asks:
what shall the permanent fence of the future
beP In the eastern and southern portions of
the country where timber was plentiful, the
old Virginia rail fence is yet to be seen; but
| these, with the old log cabin, will soon disap-
pear. No fences or very lew, are made OF this
material now. The Usage orange has largely
| taken its place. The country can show numer
GUS weil-kept hedge fences, and when well
kept they present a beautiful appearance. But
there are serious objections to them. They
are expensive to keep in repair. and if not kept
| neatly trimmed they are nuisance to their
| owners and to all travellers. Another serious
objection to them is, they make such safe har-
b0rs for rabbits. Barbed-wire is being extern
sively introduced and may become the fence
| OF the future. But many do not like it because
it is dangerous to stock. Cannot some invent
i've genius give fence cheaper and better
still than any of these or devise means by
which we may do without fences altogether"
SMUT IN WHEAT.
The dryness of the Fall weather this season,
which will prevent farmers from putting in
the usual acreage of wheat, renders any hint
for the preservation of that crop from smut of
double Importance this year. To accomplish
that end make a saturated solution of blue
stone, and to half barrel of water add
enough of the bluestone solution so that when
the wheat has been in the water four or five
minutes the broken grain will blacken. 1t is
best to drop the wheat in the water inclosed in
| sacks, leaving the sacks in the water from five
to 10 minutes, as few hours will damage
the grain, but it may be left in the sacks with
out damage after dipping. About 10 pounds of
bluestOne is sufficient for one ton of wheat.
FARMERS, CARE FOR YOURSELVES
In these days when so much advice is given
to farmers as to the care of their stock, farm
ing implements, land and buildings, the fol-
lowing suggestions from the New York Herald
in regard to caring for themselves is quite re-
freshng: =" often think it strange that, a
rule, farmer is kinder to his horse than he is
to himself If he takes out his roadster, how
careful he Is on returning to groom the animal
till perfectly clean, to see that water is not
given till the animal has cooled yet he will
go straight to the well land drink, often with
out sense or reason and, without needing the
perspiration that streams from the pores, which
are clogged by dust he sits down to dinner,
satisfied if hands and fice are clean. change
of underwear would not occupy five minutes,
and any wife who thinks about these things
will place the garments where they can be
easily reached, for man is an impatient being,
and must have what he wants there before his
eyes. Leather slippers do not absorb moisture,
and are therefore BEST and nothing refreshes
the feet moro than regular washing in tepid
water and clean socks"
NoTEtETs.
To keep butter sweet for an indefinite