The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-01-22
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
HOW To BUY A HORSE.

| Don Z buy morse IN harness.. Unhltcn MIN
and take everything off but his halter, and
lead him around. If he has corn or is stiff,
or has any other failing, you can see it. Let
him go by himself Always, and if he slaves
| right into anything, you know he is blind. No
matter how clear and bright his eyes are, he
can't see any more than a bat. Back him, too.
| Some horses show their weakness or tricks in
| that when they don't in any other. But, be as
smart as you can, you'll get caught sometimes.
Even an expert gets stuck. A horse may look
ever so nice and 60 q great pace, and yet have
fits. There isn't man could tell it until some
thing happens. Or he may have a weak back.
Give him the whip and off he goes for mile
or two, then all of a sudden he stops in the
road. After rest he starts again, but he soon
stops for good, and nothing but a derrick can
move him.
The weak points of a horse can be better dis
covered while standing than by moving. If he
is sound he will stand firmly and squarely on
his limbs without moving them, feet fatty
| upon the ground, with legs plump and natur-
ally poised; or if the foot is lifted from the
| ground and the weight taken from it, disease
may be suspected, or, at least, tenderness,
which is precursor of disease. If the horse
| stands with his feet spread apart, or straddles
| with his hind legs, there is weakness in the
| loins, and kidneys are disordered Heavy pull
| ing bends the knees. Blush, milky cast eyes
in horses indicates moon blindness or some
| thing else. A bad tempered one keeps his ears
thrown back; kicking horse is apt to have
| SCARED legs; stumbling horse has blemlshed
knees. When the skin is rough and harsh, and
does not move easily to the touch, the horse is
| heavy eater, and digestion is bad. Never
| buy horse whose breathing organs are at all
impaired. Place your ear at the heart, and if
a Wheeling sound is heard, it is an indication
| of trouble.
| COMPARATIVE VALUE OF CATTLE FOOD.
The Scientific american gives the result of ex-
periments in England to determine the COM
| parative value of different kinds OF food. Hay
| is taken as the basis and reckoned as 100; but
what the hay was is not stated. In this coun-
! try the feeding value of our different kinds of
hay for food varies considerably, so that the
| results obtained are not susceptible of as close
| calculation as though the actual feeding value
| of the basis was known. By the comparison
made, other kinds of food were comparatively
as follows: Green Indian corn, 275 pounds;
green clover, 400 pounds; rye straw, 442 pounds;
| wheat straw, $50 pounds; oat straw, 100 pounds;
| barley straw, $50 pounds; pea straw, 1873
| pounds buckwheat straw 200 pounds; dried
cornstalks, 400 pounds; raw potatoes, IT'S
pounds; turnips, 50i pounds; carrots, 800
pounds; rye, 81 pounds; wheat 46 pounds;
oats, SO pounds; peas and BEANS mixed, 45
pounds; buckwheat, Ga pounds; Indian corn,
81 pounds; acorns, 6S pounds; wheat bran, los
pounds; wheat. pea, and oat chat, 167 pounds;
| mixed rye and barley, 10 pounds; linseed, SO
pounds; mangel-wurzel $50 pounds
This table affords an interesting study, and
if correct conflicts considerably with old estab-
lished belief Thus, dried cornstalks are placed
or lyr nrfh fba Inc of how hill
has always been believed that well-cured corn
stever or fodder corn possessed an especial value
as supplemental feed, and eXceled as q food
for mich COWS, and even with the table at
hand it will be extremely difficult to convince
| farmers that corn stever is not possessed of
one-haif the value of oat straw for feeding pur-
poses, and is only one-half as valuable as buck
wheat straw. Neither will the average farmer
be ready to exchange green Indian corn, dry
| corn fodder or hay for acOrnS, and yet by the
table they are represented to be more valuable
as food. Intelligent farmers of some expe-
rience can form an idea of the comparative
value of different kinds of food consumed by
animals by the effects produced although they
cannot give the full measure of that value.
They know that certain kinds of food act more
beneficaliy upon their animals than other
kinds; some will put on more flesh, and in case
of mich cows one kind will produce more
milk than another kind, and it is by means of
this inaccurate mode of experimenting that
the farmer comes toa greater part of his knowl-
edge.
MANURE.
There are differences in opinion as to which
is the better way to make manure, in the yard
or under shelter. There can DO but little doubt
but that with proper treatment the best manure
can be made under shelter, but that it always
is may not in all cases be true. 1t is not con-
venient for all farmers to make manure under
shelter, but it can be made with less waste than
is often done. The barnyard for economy in
making manure should be 70 more than suffi-
GENTLY large to accommodate the stock. Keep
the manure in as small a compass as possible.
The site of the yard has much to do with
waste a side-hil barnyard is usually waste
full. With level and compact barnyard very
little waste need attend making manure. Some
dishing spots in the yard are, in my opinion
desirable. The drippings from the heaps when
piled for rottingl will settle into such places
and can be profitably applied to the fermenting
heaps. / often find it necessary to apply water
as well, in dry seasons, to prevent the heaps
from drying or being fire fanged. Some con-
slider manure in that condition entirely de-
stroyed. j do not, but at the same time avoid
it if can, for if there was no loss of fertilizer
it is always disagreeable to load and spread in
that condition.-G6r. Germantown Telegraph.
WATER FOR STOCK IN WINTER
Every farmyard should be supplied with an
abundance of water for winter use. 1t is
great waste to compel allow animals to
travel long distance to some stream or creek
to obtain water to answer the demands of ma
ture. Animals should be allowed to drink
what they want which they will not do in un-
pleasant weather if compelled to travel away
for it. In order TO secure the best results ami
mails should be sheltered in inclement weather,
but if they are compelled to go for water they
become SO thoroughly chilled as to require the
entire day to restore the normal heat of the
body. Again, as a matter of economy, in the
saving of manure that will be dropped in pass
ing to and from the distant watering places
and while the cattle are lingering by the way,
it is much better to keep them confined, as
then the manure will be accumulated where it
will be called into use Wells or cisterns can
easily be provided, and which will furnish all
the water required Germantown Telegraph.
NOTELETs.
"A Maine farmer says his experience has
convinced him that 10 good grade Merino sheep
can be kept on the same feed that would keep
one cow-snd are more profitable.
If you feel Disguised with tho present
outlook for wool, remember that sheep grow
quickly, mature early, cost little to raise, keep
up the fertility of the farm and pay dividends
oftener than any other live stock.
The largest prune orchard in the world is
situated in Saratoga Cal, and contains 5000
trees.
In Germany and Austria, for upward of
half century, the number of trees planted has
borne good proportion to those annually cut