The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-02-23
AGRICULTURE.

was called 10 tine growing ana IeeulnR
of sorghum to milch COWS last season,
and the results were highly satisfactory
The ground was light, sandy soil. and
in every respect prepared the same as
for corn, with the except on that ferhl-
izers were scattered in the rows that
mad been laid off for the seed. The
seed was sown somewhat tlickly and
came up uniformly, growing well until
lust about to head, when it was cut,
cured and carried to the barn. AS soon
as the crop was cut off second growth
sprang up, which, though injured by the
drought, produced nearly as well MS the
first crop.
Growing sorghum for strip and for
feeding is two different objects, and the
methods Of cultivation are not alike.
The object In sowing it thickly in the
rows is to make the plants as numerous
as the condition OF the soil will allow,
as the finer the stalks the more accept
able to the stock but it is best, how
ever, to allow the crop to approach ma
turity, even sending out the shoots for
the seed heads, but the crop should he
cut before the seeds leave the milky |
state, Thus grown and harvested there
can be no part of it refused or rejected. |
AS to its value as feed it was given
entire and also when cut. The cattle
in both casss seemed to prefer 1t to fod-
der corn when fed in connection with
it. The saccharine matter in sorghum
being proportionally greater than in
fodder corn II was consequently more
nutritious, and must necessarily there
fore, be more productive of fat. No
test was made as to the proportion OF
the milk given by the cows as compared
with fodder corn, but the flow was in
creased.
AS this crop seems specially adapted
to light soils, and is easily grown, there
is no reason why 1t should not be ex-
tensively cultivated and made an annual
crop on all farms. 1t can certainly be
produced at low cost, considering its
many advantages. Next season more
experiments will be made, which we
have no doubt will be IN favor of the
sorghum, as a valuable crop.
AYRSHIRE Cows.-The Ayrshire COW,
more than any other breed of dairy
cattle, is an inheritance from the past.
This COW has always been a choice dali
ny animal. IT was made for this pur-
pose. The Jersey has been made with
in the recollection of the majority of
living persons, There is not one man
living who remembers the Ayrshire as
much different from what she is now
prolific mixer hardy, thrifty beast /;
an excellent feeder; but, perhaps,
smoother, tiner-boned, and handsomer
than she was forty or fifty years ago.
She is business COW. Every part Of
her is worth full price. For beef she
cannot be excelled, except for size by
a Short-horn, and ], 900 pounds of Ayr
shire beef can be made more cheaply
and easily than 1000 of Short horn.
Ayrshire steers make the best oxen,
equally as good as the Devons in every
way and quite as active, The whole
race is gentle and free from vice. 1t is
long lived, ana viii keep up its yield OF
milk to past 20 years if the COW is well
cared for. A 20 year-old COW has pro-
duced 10 calves, and with her last cali
has yielded 80 quarts of milk day,
The Ayrshire, too, crosses well with
every other good race. With the Jer'
sey the produce is the hest of all family
, cows, the cross enhancing the richness
of milk, when it is not naturally so rich
rs that OF the Jersey. But there is &
large proportion OF Ayrshire cows thai
are above the average as producers o.
butter, than there is Of Jerseys; al
t though some Jerseys certainly surpasI
: all others in their butter product. Th'
. cost, too, is in favor of the Ayrshires
A good herd OF Ay rshire can be procured
, Tor less money than many Jersey tina
:, would be beaten as butter produce
by several of them because they ar
< not fashionable and the pets Of wealth
= amateur breeders
J.. CARE OF PASTURES. The pasture
k almost always the most neglected pal
d of the farm, and, partly for the reaso
4 that, however much is done to it, tn
land will still not be so productive as
:. some other crop. Ii manure be apple
d it makes weeds grow, with little chanc
: for getting them out. II there is il
?. creased growth OF grass one-half tn
II grain is wasted by the tramping of ca
tie and horses. Still it will often pa
to top-dress pasture, especially a yes
e or more before it is to be plowed, 8
a that the manure can be well worke
IS through the soil,
!, TIE value OF an aplary depends o
d the strength of the colonies, and NJ
If the number of them. This is so we
o understood by practical aplarists thi
" they count onlyon those colonies whic
~ can be made good and strong by hoi
- ey harvest, and when not sufficient
ID so at that me are doubled up two
'e three in one. From the surplus hone
le comes the profit, ana colonies that wi
" not produce a surplus are dead capita
e. The practice of testing COWS for bu
in ter production is new one, but it
+. one Of the best systems ever devised,
as it compels the COWS to be valued on
"A for merit, no matter what the pedigr
may be but the best COWS have got
III pedlgrees and come from the sele
ey families. During the last two yea
Is, the number of COWS scoring fourte
he pounds Of bntter per week reach
k. about 600.
Ike AN Indiana farmer who raises ma
a turnips harvests them late and stol
,h- in trenches. The trenches are two fl
-, deep, about a foot and half wide a
~, , of any desired length. He puts
nc turnlps in, filling the trench about h
an way to the top, then puts on hg
W. covering of soil. AS the weather
we comes more severe he adds move C,
,or ering until the trench is full.
-, PARsEIPs, satisfy and horse rad
i'u are nor injured by hard freezing.
ter others must be stored for the wint
ria and sufficient supply of the han
ing kinds should also be taken up. If
do. cellar is not too warm supply for p
he, sent use may be kept In boxes or b
W wells and covered with earth 10 nreY