The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-03-27

ELECT OF any OF the Fertilizers tried Hen 1
manure made fine and scattered freely close
to the rows, gave excellent results-about the
same as wood ashes"
AGRfcULTURE AND MANUFACTURES
The statistician of the IT, S. Agricultural De-
partment has lately been showing some stFik-
ing facts in regard 10 the increased value OF
lands where manufacturing interests are abGn-
dant In late report it is graphically pre-
scented, as follows: " Agriculture has been
called q foundation interest This character
ization assumes an Incompetence to &c sup
pemented by other interests. A house that Is
ali foundation would only be basement The
farmer feeds all bat when all are farmers be
can only feed himself, which is a necessary Oper-
alton but not a lucrative business. This would
seem TO be seif-eyidens truth, but extensive
districts fail TO appreciate 1T, and cherish the
pernlciouS fancy that markets are unnecessary,
or that distant markets, thousands of miles
away, are as good as near ones. The truth is,
with bad roads, carriage of five miles may reu-
der timber yaiueless, and twenty miles con-
sumo the value OF many kinds of farm produce.
With improved roads. railroad facilities or
water transportation, the equivalent Of value
may be ! greatly extended distance.
Commerce, mining. manufactures, anything
bringing population TO be fed, aid agriculture
Miners, mechanics and especially artisans and
operatives engaged III productive occupations,
they augment the numbers to be fed and IN
crease agricultural values, and also make some
thing themselves which farmers need, and
reduce the prices OF commodities hitherto
brought from distance at unnecessary cost.
That agriculture prospers in proportion to
the increase of manufactures has long been
acknowledged by political economists vet the
fact is not fully appreciated by people eener-
ally. The expense of the transportation of
wheat from the field upon which it was grown
until 1t reaches the consumer is mostly paid by
the farmer. Not unfrequcntly has tine cotton
planter been taxed 100 per cent. for TRANSPORTS
ton and traders profit. 1t is the inevitable
penalty for dependence on the manufactures of
one continent for the daily consumption in the
heart of another.
Figures show conclnsiyely that increase of
manufactures enhances prices Of lands and
farm products. In every State, without ex-
ception, higher average value of farm land is
found In that portion of each State which
makes the largest value Of the products of
manufacturing industry.
"a careful consideration Of the census tables
shows that where only Is per cent. of the
workers are engaged in agriculture their aver
age income Is p457 per annum and where the
agricultural workers are II per cent. of all
workers, then their average income Is only SLIGO.
Adam Smith, in his WelHk Of Nations, says:
Whatever besides tends to diminish in aay
turers tends to diminish the home market, the
most important of all markets for the rude
products of land, and thereby still further
to discourage agriculture Another political
economist says: When we seek the causes of
the prosperity of agriculture we find the most
important to be manufacturing industry
|PULvERIzING HARRows.
Every faFmer knows the trouble in working
seed bed on recently plowed down sod. Plow-
| ing it over again only brings the grass roots
nearer the surface, where they will grow lead
of rotting. Even the common harrow viii tear
| up the sod and make q rough finish. We have
| seen both the Acme and disk harrows at work
on such ground, leaving fine loose surface for
seeding with oats or for corn planting. These
implements pass over the ground, pressing the
sod down, but turning over, cutting, and pull
Verizing the surface, leaving it in the very best
condition. Ii the crop is to be corn, the soil
can be worked over several times, and such
seeds of weeds as may terminate are completely
| destroyed. This will also produce deep sur
face layer Of fresh, mellow soil, which viii
insure vigorous growth.
NoTELETs.
Mr. Barry says that no matter how badly
other varieties may fall ne always gets good
crops from the Maiden's Blush and the Duchess
OF Oldenburg apples.
| Nc SOIL btctO8o It's Ilc065t TcfF1fas OltF
in response TO generous food and intelligent
culture. Every reader should remember this
and profit by it. IL IS costly economy TO starve
the soil.
/ Chicken runs require plenty Of shade,
| dense shrubs and treeS-either ornamental or
| fruit trees. These form a cool retreat during
hot days, and hidisg places and protection
| from hawks.
The scarcity and high price of black wal
nut timber should induce farmers to plant this
tree. Young men especially should set OUT an
acre or two, and care properly for the planta-
ton. They would find profit from it In the
end.
in planting apple trees be sure to include a
| few of the Red Astraehan. II is one vi the
most useful of all apples for the household.
For culinary purposes it is not exeelled it IS
also an early and abundant bearer, and seldom
| misses a crop
| Young pigs should have an opportunity TO
| get to grass some sort of green food, as it
helps them wonderfully. They like to root in
the ground, and this, too. is natural condition
They will eat more and thrive better when
they can have these benefits.
1t is stated the club-root in cabbage and tur-
nips does not occur when these plants are set out
ON ground where onions have grown the year
before. This question as to the best method of
rotating crops-that is. the kinds that are
specially benefited by the preceding crops
important, and requires TO be carefully noted.
One fertile source of injury must never be
overlooked in the care of plants which have
been slightly frozen when in tender eondi-
ton, and that is sudden exposure to sunlight
and a sudden thaw. A frost that might effect
no serious injury to q shaded plant may be
fatal if the sun strikes it fOrebly before it has
had time to thaw gradually.
e. A, Popenhoe, of the Kansas Agrieal-
tural College, says that the Russian mulberry is
considered to be one of the many varieties of
Morus alba. In Tapidity of growth it nearly
equals cottonwood. 1t is, no doubt, of frst-rate
quality as food for silkworms, and is not e.
sentially different from the mulberries planted
for this purpose i'll Europe.
The striped bug is the universal enemy of
the melon family. The following remedy has
been found the most practically successful ::
when the seeds are planted, at once shingle
| is placed on each HILL and when the bug is
driven under cover by the cool nights, early in
| the morning go over every shingle, turn them
up, kill the bugs, and replace the shingles"
Sorghum IS superior 10 corn fodder
plant, it contains larger percentage of
sugar, does not dry and crumbe as easily. and
plant, not only as q source of sugar and strip,
but also for its seed, the product of which is
usually large, and which makes excellent food
for poultry, or it may he ground into meal and
used with cut feed for other stock.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
| I have heard Of fodder-plant which Is much
used In Europe, called gorse. have made efforts
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