The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-05
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
THE PROFITS Or FISH CULTURE.

| anxious to turn ain honest penny When wool
is only % cents and wheat at 50 or 80 we must
| look sharp to make the ends meet and a free
exchange of thought often does much to assist
us. | feel that all l have is due to ideas as
CLEANED from the different papers. l bought a
| farm near the city i'll 1881. Then it was
thought that everything was at its lowest, and
times must brighten up But expecting good
times did not make my payments. l could not
raise grain, sheep or hogs with any profit, so
| was driven to look for something new struck
Oh raising fish. will say, to start on, that the
United States Government will give, free of
| charge, to anyone desiring to start in the bust
ness from II to 20 German carp to breed
from. Our Government is doing all in its power
| to advance fish culture, as it is valuable field,
and almost entirely unoccuped. 1t requires
| no capital, and brings in a large revenue and
| there is always a market for the fish. / have
| no DOUBT there is more money to be made in
| fish culture than in raising grain, cattle or
sheep. One-eighth of an acre devoted to Ger
man carp will make clear profit of $500 at
the very lowest estimate. I think l hear
| host of farmers say, just as did az should
| like the $500. Where can l get information
regarding the fish business?" Write to the
United States Fish Commission, Washington,
| ~. ", iuClOoiHS q addressed envelope,
and you will receive, free, the information you
require.
! "Will they tell ME how to get the IL to 20 fish
which the Government offers to begnners?"
| Yes, they will send you blanks to be filled out,
by which you can get the fish without cost
| us there any doubt of my making money in
| the fish business?" There is no doubt. Do you
| think the Government would 60 to the expense
of raising fish and shipping them to different
| parts of the United States, then giving them
without any pay to her citizens, unless she was
| positive it profitable trade for those citi-
| zens to engage in?
| How large pond must have for start and
| what will it cost?" A pond 10 or 20 feet across
Will do for start, and the cost will be nothing
| except a little digging.
II have no stream on my lot. What will /
! do for water?" Carp do not require running
| water; they do better in still water, even in
| swamps they delight in mud
What sections of the United States are best
| and most profitable for raising fish ?" ANY part
Carp are such excellent fish that they command
ready market and good price North, South,
last or West. Kansas Is as good State as New
YORK, and Mississippi Is as good as Michigan.
Will 1t not take long time to get start
| from the 20 fish that the Government gives to
begiuners?" No, indeed Each female carp lays
from 10000 to $4,000 eggs per year. They in
crease amazing y fast, and will increase your
dollars just as iast,&i attended to.
What season is best to make fish pond ?"
Right away. The, Government will send you
fish between Nov4d aud March l.
"Doyou have to feed the fish in Winter?" No
they eat nothing during the cold months, but
lie in dormant state, while cattle and sheep
are eating their headsof. If the Government
| offered to send tine pair of pigs to anyone who
wrote for them, every farmer i'll the land would
send in his name Then why not get some fish,
when they cost You nothing, care for them
selves, and bring you more money than any
kind OF farm stock? I wish all the papers in
the land would urge this matter on their read
ers, as l know they would be comforting last
| ing beneht.-W. BAIRD, Plttsburg, Pa.
PLANTING BLACK wALNUTs.
To THE EDITOR: A comrade wishing to learn
through The NATIONAL TRIBUNE the best
way to plant black walnuts, beg leave to sub
nit the following: believe the best way is
to prepare the ground thoroughly, then mark
both ways at d uniform distance apart. Take
fresh nuts and place one at each cross with or
without the "shuck;" press it down with the
heel, and then put little dirt over it and the
job is done. 1t is best done i'll the Fall.-A. Il.
WHITE, Co. X, 9th Iowa Cav.
CARE OF SWINE
The Rural New Yorker publishes the following
pertinent truths IN regard to the management
of hogs: "A man who succeeds with pigs must
look them over frequently. They are SO much
like the human family that they are liable to
all sorts of ailments. l say LIABLE hut like
the human species. with ordinary care and
lack of abuse, they will live out their allotted
time. l like To look at my pigs. l enjoy see
ing them fill their little stomachs at natures
fountains, and then stack themselves in a pile
regardless of form, and take refreshing snOoze
l have almost envied them their solid comfort
10 make the picture perfect, it must be noticed
that they have u clean bed and clean pen
f. is al yyav
easier to cure any trouble when it first starts,
aud looking at them frequently is the way to
detect anything wrong.
"Thumps may usually be arrested when the
first symptoms are apparent by compelling the
pig to take great deal of exercise. Piles q
common disorder with pigs, can be stopped on
the first signs of protrusiOn, by giving more
laxative food; or, if the food has been too sour,
SO as to produce irritation and inflammation, it
should be changed. After the protrusion has
lasted several days the parts will have to slough
oil before there will be cure. The food must
also be changed.
g A poor appetite, common among hogs is
caused by overloadiDg the stomach and cold or
unsuitable food Less food, different food, or
warm food. for a mess or two may prove q
remedy, or it may be well to intermit a mess or
two. Observation will tell all about it. Neglect
will let them suffer and die.
"a disordered stomach is quite common among
pigs sometimes vomiting follows Charcoal
will help to regulate the stomach. little salt
will aid, and so will su phur These are simple
remedies, which will correct the Digestion or,
rather, set it at work in a natural way; but if
the trouble is neglected, and the causes of it
continue Gas will be likely without observation),
fever and inflammation will follow.
Stiffness, either from too long confinement
or from too much solid and heating food, cspe-
cially corn, may be overcome by change of
condition and food, when the first symptoms
noticed. The stiffness is of the things
the hog breeder must always be looking for,
and avoid if possible. 1t will run his profits
down at a rapid rate. Looking for causes and
effects is the pig mans safety, and in the look
ing he may also find food for study and even
pleasure" i-,,.-
STORING POTATOES.
The N. Y. Herald says that potatoes which
are dug i'll clear weather and thoroughly dried
in the sun, will keep in much better condition
in the cellar than thosu put into bins without
being sundried. Some,recommend spreading
upon barn floor after drying them in the sun.
This may improve their keeping qualities, and
they may be just AS good for seed but are not
generally considered equal for table purposes to
field. IL
NorE1Ers.
Mr.. John W,McKpwn informs the Win
chester Times that lie had calf suffering with
black leg. He openedith leg and rubbed salt
into it. The animal was soon well again.
Willows nav Mttcr than cotton accord inc