The National tribune., 1885-02-19
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
'ts
ADAPTING THE FARM TO soTcK.

ST .a--
ADAPTING THE FARM TO soTCK.
The soil varies on all farms to q certain ex-
tent, and no analysis chn indicate the fertility
of large area by determination of only a
part The texture also influences the condi-
tions, TO say nothing of, the subsoil. humidity
and mineral composition While a certain
soil may be capable Of producing a crop of
wheat, corn or oats, yet it may be more suitable
for some other crop not before grown upon it.
Leaving aside the matter of growing the staple
crops, even stock raising is affected by the
character of the soil. Poor pastures make poor
stock, no matter how careful the farmer may
be- The inferior animals are the result of in
sufficient managementan and scanty supply, the
animal changing its form and habits in order
to adapt itself to the conditions under which
it must exist. Knowing this, it will not be
profitable to Introduce improved stock upon
the farm until the farmer determines upon a
higher system of cultivation, for although man
has adapted different animals to particular
purposes, they are still subject TO natural laws.
As man has been the agent in changing the
character of our domestic animals, he must
render that assistance essential to their we'll
being. The pasture, shelter and care must be
suitable to progress, for no neglect can be al
lowed.
Better stock means better farming, larger
crops and greencr and more laxuriant pastures.
With each succeeding year the products be-
come larger, as the result of an improved sys-
tenn. Inferior stock OH farm indicates infer
iority in all departments, and the profits
usually realized are in proportion to the degree
of attention given both the stock and the farm.
In endcavoring to improve the stock begin
| with fhncn hrnnns that SIljf1blc TO the
character of the farm. If the farmer finds the
breed which he has selected to be improbable
he should try another The Southdown and
Merino sheep will pay fair profit on farms
that would not support a flock of COtswolds, as
the latter are less active and require better
pasture. The Devon and Ayrshire cattle may
be used with success where certain failure
would overtake the introduction of Shorthorlls,
and the hardy Chester white hogs have been
known to thrive we'll where the fine-bred
Suf0lks could not exist. ,aE
Every farmer should aim to improve but he
should improve in the right direction. I'M
provemcat does not mean that violent crosses
should be made or that all farms will support
any kind of breed. The farm must not be
made to do that to which it is not adapted !;
but the first step should be to consider the
conditions existing III favor of Improvement,
and by careful management at first the farm
may be enabled TO do more, until finally it will
be capable of fulfilling the fondest expectations
of the farmer A larger number of mistakes
have been made by attempting to improve
stock under uniavOrabe conditions than from
any other cause; but there is nothing however,
to hinder any farmer in the matter of improve
ment if he thoroug hly understands the capacity
Of his farm and is satisfied to begin at the
bottom and steadily Progress upward.-PhH1.
Record
INTENSIVE FARHING.
Some years ago d writer created sensation
by alleging that :" ten! Acres was enough" This
small farming was thought to be deluson of n
too enthusiastic man. and his idea has been
severely ridicuied. But there is truth at the
bottom of it. 1t is I'M the man and not the
quantity OF the laiiti. 2 Intensive farming does
not require much laIsl. A market gardener
who realizes $500 TO 500 per acre, and grows
two or three crops i'll IL year, cannot make use
of more than 10 acre, land there are notable
instances of men who Chave worked less than
half as much land, paying yearly rent of 500
Fer acre, and who have not only supported
| their families. utllaye enough in q few years
to purchase their little farms. And now n
woman in Orange Co. \. Y, keeps cow and
Il horse ana makes S1Q0ra year from six acres,
which shows what may be done small
tract of land by an industrious and skllful
person with atgood nearby market.-N. y.
Times.
BREEDING HOGS
One Of the dangers in breeding pigs is in get
ting too many in proportion to the amount OF
available feed. 4 SOW bred twice a year, as she
should be, will probably furnish ID or 20 pork
ers. 1t don't take long to stock up at this rate,
and unless farmer calculates closely there will
be overstocking before he his aware. The ma
jority of farmers too slow in selling surplus
stock. and more especially of pigs. 1 never
knew = time when young pigs did not sell for
more than they were worth. When pigs five
to seven weeks old sell ut II 10 % ShllingS
each, the buyer is obliged to do some feeding to
bring the pigs up to the price he has paid A
SOW kept at breeding and her pigs sold as they
are ready to wcan will pay herway more surely
! than any other stock kept Oh the farm. Hold
ing the pigs until old enough to iattcn for the
/ butcher is more risky business Whether it
will pay must depend upon the prices of grain
and pork.
NoTELETs.
- Do not waste the corn -cobs Use them as
! fuel and save the asIcs as corn-cob5 contain a
| very large proportion of potash and are valu-
! able for that substance alone. In addition,
| they also make economical fuel. burning freely
and easily, and can be collected with but little
! labor.
"A yearliug colt as usually wintcred is a
! sorry looking animal i'll the Spring, and its
! owner is likely to he quite us sorry when the
| daily TO young colt the first Winter is if the
colt is what me should be, selling the oats at 70
! cents per buShcl.
| 1t is Il mistake to set fence posts until
/ they are thoroughly seasoned. Even oak posts
! which as durable as any, will rot out in
| few years if put in green. The sap in tho wood
cannot escape. and it is more injurious to the
! wood than Idln water. Seasoned oak posts
with the outside charrcd as far they so into
! the ground are the most durable.
"A Minnesota farmer states that he can
! keep one stove going six months with the sun
! flower stalks produced on an acre of land. The
seed produced aud fed to fowls pays for the
work of cultivation.
- Coarse and unpaatabe feed, such as straw
and fodder, may be advantagcOusly used by
| passing it through cutter, mOistening and
sprnkling it with bran and meal.
ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS reward for any
case of Opium or Morphine eating that l can
| not cure. Address, Box 1141, La Porte, Ind.