The National tribune., 1885-04-02
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
GOOD AND BAD FARMING.

GOOD AND BAD FARMING.
Accepting the truth of the declaration con-
tanned in the above four words, it must be in
consequence of good and bad farmers. If all
the productions of the earth were the result of
spontaneous growth, there would be no occasion
to speak Of farming with any degree of COM
parison, nor would there be either good farm
ers or bad farmers, since there would be no Oc-
casion On the part of mankind for any effort
save the harvesting of the spontaneous produc-
ton. But it was decreed at first that as re-
CARDS man, by the sweat of his brow should he
eat bread. This implies the imposition of labor
upon mankind in all departments of industry,
and so far as it relates to the application
and direction determine the comparative posi-
tion of different individuals touching good and
bad farming. The same sun shines, the same
dews distil the same blasts threaten. the same
showers descend, the same breezes blow oyer
the domain of the good and bad farmer alike.
all farmers stand equal.
But there are other characteristics that mark
the difference between the good and bad farm
or. The former is dilgcnt, methodical, skillful
and enterprising, while the latter is wanting in
all these, and besides is slOthful The good
farmer attends carefully to the preservation,
accumulation and intelligent use of his manure.
sees to the proper cultivation Of all crops being
careful that they are planted in season; pre-
vents the growth of weeds and their seeding
whereby future annoyance would be occasiOned.
He studies the necessities of his situation; pro-
vides suitable shelter and an abundance of
forage for all his animals; attends to the har-
vesting of all crops in their season, and before
they receive injury from exposure; provides all
variety of grain and vegetables for the use of
animals and his family; furnishes the fruits in
their season and carefully watches the necessi-
ties of the household in every direction. Imag-
inc everything performed that is necessary to
be performed upon the farm, and III looking
upon the director of these movements you see q
good farmer. Now, imagine the reverse of all
this; neglect in all things, disregard for the
exercise of seasonable labor and you have q
deplOrable picture of poor farming, and in him
who is managing affairs is the embodiment of a
poor farmer. We make no reference to any in
dividuals, but if in looking upon the mirror
which we have presented any farmer sees the
reflection of himself it is his fault and not that
ofthe mirror
1t should be remembered that it is good farm
ing that pays Bad farming never pays, and SO
whatever is attempted in that line should be
well done. No farmer can afford to raise 20
bushels of corn, II bushels of oats and eight
bushels of rye per acre. when by proper exer
else of intelligence three times those quantities
can be grown. 1t is little wonder that bad
farming leads to an abandonment of the bust
ness because it does not pay. There are no more
independent people in the world than good
farmers, because they are successful. They are
a blessing i'll every community. 1t should be
the purpose Of every phlanthropic man, and
especially those who conduct the press, to mul-
tiply good farmers by diminishing the bad.
May the day of its verifcatiOn be speedily
hastened.- Germantown Telegraph.
CAKE OF. COLTS.
yearling colt is apt 10 be sorry looking
animal In fact, it is quite likely To be really
sorry and its owner, too, for that matter, that
it was ever born. Under poor keeping some of
the most valuable horses were as colts sold SO
cheaply that their price could not have more
than paid the service fec Of their sire. Yet in
these cases we usually find that the colts have
improved strains of blood in them which fully
explain their excellence in after life. There
is a lesson i'll this for farmers who often com
plain that other classes get much more for their
work than they can. The work that is poorly
done rarely pays expenses. What pay should
a farmer expect who keeps valuable animal
so poorly that it looks like scarecrow
NOTELETs.
- There is popular belief that potatoes are
more exhaustive of fertility than other crops.
especially corn, with which they are most fire.
qucntly compared. On soils that are deficient
in vegetable matter potatoes have the great dis
advantage of not returning any straw or other
feed to keep up fertility. As they exhaust the
soil of potash they are injurious to sandy soil,
which is generally deficient i'll that mineral.
But Oh heavy land potatoes are better crop to
fit the soil for subsequent seeding than any
other. The greater amount of cultivation
which this crop requires III growing and har-
vcSting breaks down the Jumps and prepares it
for anything that may follow it.
- BOnedust and wood ashes will supply all
that may be lacking for Strawberries IN auy
soil, and these can be obtained in nearly all
parts OF the country. OF all the commercial
fertilizers none is safer to buy than pure ground
bone. Ii must, however, be decomp posed before
the plants can use it, as they take up all of their
food III solution. For immediate effect, it is
sometimes advisable to use dissolved bone or
superphosphate OF lime, which will be washed
down TO tho roots by the first rain.
- DO not leave harness or saddles in close
Stables, or in barns where the OdOrs and fumes
which emanato from manure are present.
Leather greatly absorbs the ammonia in these
fumes, and is soon ruined.
-MeadOWsand pastures need refreshing with
new seed as well as with manure at intervals
The seed should be sown with each dressing of
compost. Repeated cutting and pasturng de
stroys some of it, and the thick, healthy sod is
only kept up by occasional resccdng.
- writer III Coim0H'S RgrM iForid SAYS that
there has not been a better time in many years
than this Is for going into the wool growing
business. 1t is n trnism scarcely necessary to
remind you Of that the time TO buy is when
everybody wants TO sell. No one need fear that
ooi-gr0wing will go out Of fashion in this
country permanently, for it never will.
- Horses contract habits good and bad, as
well rs human animals. They become irrita-
Bile, especially in cold weather. The bit should
be warmed, or mt least the frost taken out OF it,
before it is put iii the mouth. A horse may 10
cured of holding the head high when The bride
is to bo put on, 10y lump of sugar IN the hand.
Give him taste and he will hold down. Rub
it on the bit and he will soon become fixed in
the habit OF lowering his head for the bride.
- The potato lot should be of rich. mellow
soil, and heav lily ferti!izod on the surface, and,
if possible the furrOws should be partially filled
with well-rotted manure; and if the ground be
kept clean and mellow good crop may be usu-
ally depended upon.
- 1t has been discovered recently by medical
men that "lump-jaw,' as it is called, or Jumps
found on the Jaws Of cattle, are sometimes
caused by decayed tcoth. 1t is not known how
much they suffer from the toothache.
- Rice is one Of the best substances for fat
tcnins fowls quickly E4ied and mixed with
ground oats and corn meal it cannot be excclled
-tluinccs can be raised as readily as apples
or pears. But tho ground where they are
growing needs to nc kept Tnm grass and weeds
and ii IS an excellent practice TO spread ashes
of any sort and lime around the trees, and dig
such fertilizing material into the soil. Ounces