The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-07-30
OUR RUR "A TOPICS.
Some Practical ssSukgestions for Our
i q
Agricultural Readers.
yiiiE IDS
TREATMENT OF GARDEN SOIL.


We have frequently alluded to the necessity
and Importance of causing thorough pulveri-
zation of the soil as a preparation for the
reception of the sesd of crops, and the more
minute the seed the greater the need of
thorough pulverizafion. But while this me-
cessity exists, it must be borne in mind that
many of the seeds Of vegetables are minute,
and hence do not require much depth of soil
over them at time of planting; because, should
they be deeply imbedded, and perhaps beyond
the influence Of heat and light, they would fail
of termination, or if termination occurred
would not possess sufficient force to push them
selves to the surface. In warm, dry weather
soil that is carefully pulverized soon becomes
dried upon its surface, and so seeds that are
planted very shallow in a loose soil are soon
deprived of moisture, and so we find that I'M
less the planting of small seeds can be planned
SO as to precede shower of rain it becomes
necessary to compact the soil at the surface
after planting the seed. This serves double
purpose Of not only assisting the termination
of the seed by packing the soil around it, in
which condition it will retain moisture for q
longer time, but such compact soil also serves
as support to the young plants when they are
| feeble and have but slight hold upon the
soil, which if loose would afford little or no
support As soon as the plants are of sufficient
size, or have a suitable hold of the soil, pull
verization should be renewed, because, except
under the conditions named there is nothing
better for growing crops than to keep the soil
in loose, pulverent state.-EG.
HOW TO REAR A CALF.
When the calf is weaned land the sooner this
is done the better and it is taught to drink
milk, it may be fed upon skinned milk warm
ed to the heat of the new milk, and fed in suf-
fcient quantity and no more. 1t is overlooking
which does most harm to calves The first
month three quarts of milk three times day
is enough; the second month four quarts may
be given at a meal, and the third month six
quarts twice day with drink of water at
noon. After two months the calf should be
taught to eat little mixed bran and cornmeal,
and this may be gradually increased until it gets
a pint q day when four months old. The milk
may be continued up to five or six months if it
is convenient, and it may be mixed with an
equal part of warm water. A small quantity
OF meal should be given every day.
THE KIND OF HORSE TO CHOOSE.
Mere weight in horse is no Indication of his
value. horse may be so heavy and yet so
weak that he cannot do more than carry his
own weight around, while lighter horse would
outdraw and Outwork him. The old Morgan
horse was small, but so wiry and strong in sinew
and muscle that no other horse, however large
and heavy he might be, could outdraw him.
The farm horse and the roadster, the army
horse, and the otheH horses which do active
| work should be of this kind The very heavy
horses have their uses, chiefly for drawing
heavy loads on paved streets in cities. Some of
| these heavy Percherons and Clydesdales have
singly, moved load Offseven tons upon the
ordinary paved streets ofeites where they are
kept. But this is not what farmer wants at all,
and he should not mistakemere size and weight
for general-purpOse usefulness, nor fat and
sickness for strength.
FEED THE cALvEssEPARATELY
One great reason why calves do poorly the
first season is because they not fed with suf-
fcient regularity and their rations often vary
SO much. Several calves will often run to-
gether, the milk Wi be poured into common
trough, and the larger or more greedy will get
more than their share, and the weaker will Sc
| cure less than their SHARE At one time they
will overeat, cloying their appetites, causing
| Indigestion and loss Of appetite; at another
they get less than enough to satisfy their wants.
Every calf should have his ration separate,
where he will not be annoyed by others, and
should receive at regular times just enough to
fully satisfy without surfeiting.
scAB IN SHEEP.
The parasitic disease known as scab in sheep
should be treated as soon as discovered. The
treatment is as follows: Steep one pound
of strong tobacco to the gallon of boiling hot
water, add four ounces of flowers of sulphur,
stir frequently until the liquor is cooled to 1902
pour this over the sheep along the back, and as
it runs down rub it into the scabby part with
the hand, breaking up all the scabs, if neces-
| sary, with a corn-cob do this thoroughly. The
same treatment will prevent healthy sheep
from being infected, as this disease spreads rap
idly through iock.-Farm, Stock aud Home.
GRAPEVINE MILDEw.
Grapevine mildew, says the Gardeners
Monthly, can be prevented by soaking stakes
on which the vines Irvine in solution of blue
vitriol. A recent experiment, where such
stakes were mixed with others not soaked
throughout the vineyard, showed that in every
case where not soaked all the leaves were en-
tirely ruined, while those on the soaked stakes
wero healthy. A weaker solution of the Wit
riol was not so effective. The effect of the
soaking gradually dies out, but will last from
four to six years.
DAIRY NOTES.
- Milk is Of a delicate quality and very sem
sitive to bad odors or unpleasant influences
Worrying or running a cow, or fretting her in
any way Injuries the milk and causes it to more
quickly decay.
= Incoming cows should have a limited diet
of dry hay, with little bran, for a few weeks
previous to calving
"A square, symmetrical cow is not always
the best dairy cow. The mixer is rather
wedge-shaped, as seen from before, and has
plenty of belly, with great hips and thighs.
Cows do better on mixed feed than when
| confined to single ration.
NoTELETs
"A writer in the Prairie Farmer saws: g.
have kept hogs for over 40 years, with never
sick one. though the so-called hog cholera has
often been prevalent all around me- I at
tribute this exemption to the regular sOapsuds
| which l have always given them. Every
washing day, except in extremely cold weather,
all the suds are emptied into the swill- barrel,
and the hogs drink it greedily. lido not think
the suds any better for the contact with dirty
clothes, but where only few hogs are kept the
weekly suds seem about the amount needed
Those who mako the suds specially for the pur-
pose should mix about three pints or two
| quarts of good soft soap with barrel of water,
stir to foam and give. it to the pigs one to
three times week and they will be all right"
An Indiana farmer states that by Danish
ing Stops from the pigfpen and giving the swine
clear, pure water, he secured frmer and more
solid meat than he had ever raised before.
Give the pigs eplenty of exercise The
run of clover fieldewil DO much for the ami
| mails. Do not try to fattfn them until they
have the frame work constructed. In other
| words, let the fat g0 and see to the growth.
"A pound of guan0, with two pounds of sui
plate of potash, dissolved in half barrel Of
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