The National tribune., 1885-03-05
OUR RtR!4L TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
FoRrefs AID TIMER.

agricultural matters ~,
There is one subject of grea. importance-of
growing importancA-vsh the larger portion
of the rural population seem not fully to sppre-
ciate, and that is tTse growing. 1t is safe to
say and is apparent to all intelligent and
thinking Observers, that no other one operation
is now SO important to- the farmers of our coun-
try as is the increasing of our timber forests.
There is no other one thing so necessary for
the health and comfort of the whole people as
large increase Of the area of timber growth.
In the first place, rs simple matter of specu-
lation, the planting aud outivatiug of timber
trees is more profitable than grain growing.
1t has been fully proved that in New York
and New England the growth of ut-besring
and other hard wood trees is more than 10 per
cent. annually, while in the Western and
prairie States the growth, annually, is still
greater; that is, the growth Of young timber
trees is equal TO money ct 10 TO 15 per cent.
interest annually, aud this Ia larger profit
than is realized on an average, from other farm
operations.
The various kinds of American woods used
| for numerous building aud manufacturing pur-
poses are becoming very scarce and costly in
price, while the new purposes for which wood
is constantly used is as constantly increasing !;
which makes it an important consideration to
all who occupy or cultivate land. Wood is now
used for more than ten times ss many purposes
of necessity, ornament and luxury was the
case IS years ago. and in the same time the cost
or value of most kinds OF timber has doubled
and quadrupled.
But the money value is not the greatest bene-
ft to be derived from increasing the amount Of
timber growth. Dronths will be less severe
and extensive; foods will be less frequent and
destructive, and consequently less ill-health
| and sickness will prevail; general good health
will be secured and enjoyed when the country
| is not so widely depleted of its forests and
groves; it will not be 80 destructivoly swept
by winds; il will not be so severely evaporated
and scorched into deathly drouths; the small
| streams springs and fountains will not be SO
terribly dried up by the sun-heat when there
ara moro shade trees to shelter the surface of
the earth; consequently, so many wells and
mill-ponds will not fail ia warm seasons.
The first and principal remedy is for farmers
to cultivate less land IN grain crops and plant
! more trees. For number of years grain and
meadow grass can be grown on the same land
| among the trees.
1t is much better to cultivate 10 acres Of land
| thoroughly so as to get 800 bushels OF wheat or
| 700 bushels Of corn from it, than to cultivate
| twice that much land to obtain the same guam
| tty of Weld The writer of this has frequently
more, when farming in several States before
being famed in the war; and he speaks from
| experimental knowledge on these subject
Now, your journal has large circulation
| among O great many Glasses of people, and you
can do much good IN attracting attention to-
and in inducing people to increase their efforts
! in, growing timber and 10 increase their yield
| Of grain per acre.
Then, also, more timber should be allowed to
| grow, less land be cleared, and better cultiva-
| ton on less surface. Only the land most favor
able to cultivation should be cleared, and timber
| be allowed TO grow on the hiiiy and rough
places. In many ways the forest areas can be
| Increased, and the whole country benefited
| D. s. c., Washington. d. G.
CURING PORK.
! A correspondent of the Ohio Farmer says:
"After the meat is we'll cooled ont / take the
| hams and shoulders, one at time, and rub
! them we'll with good salt. Never use Dover SALT
| as it has too mRck limo; river or ground rock
/ is best / then pulyerize some saltpeter and
rub little on the shaak and bone. First spread
salt on bottom OF harrel, pack hams aud shoul-
ders in with shanks up and rind next TO barrel
The pickle pork | cut in strips about six inches
! wide Salt bottom OF barrel one-half inch deep;
bend the strips Of pork around barrel with rind
| outward: pack as close as possible, even if you
have to cut chunk to fill the center, then salt
| over heavy; then another layer of pork, until
| all is packed.
I'm day or two I make pickle az follows:
As much water as needed; stir in salt enough
| TO float potato for each ham and shoulder
| land in proportion for the pickle pork J, one
ounce saltpeter; pat in n large kettle and boil
| and skim until clear. Then for each ham or
shoulder, and pork in proportion, one-fourth
| pound brown sugar stir until dissolved. then
pour on meat hot. Always weight meat down
! with small lid and 9 brace or stone. Never
cover the barrel tight unless you want to lose
! your pork Take hams ard shoulders ont in
time TO have them smoked before flies appear
in Spring. Never keep pickle pork in q cellar;
| better set in dry shed, even if the sun shines
in all Summer, and will guarantee 10 have
| good, swect pork. The hams aud shoulders do
| better to leave them in close, dark smoke
house, with few SNAIL holes with screen wire
| TO keep out the flies. When Spring sets in pour
off brine from pickle pork and boil and skim
| it, which removes all the blood drawn from the
meat; pour on the same brine warm, but mover
add any new brine"
| THE CARE OF SHEEP.
Fat In December. strong in March," is a
maxim that should be painted IN large letters
| over the door OF every sheep-honss The prsc-
tce is altogether too common of letting sheep
| run on the pastures without extra food till the
! snow gets so deep that they can no longer Sc
cure a scanty living. The first heavy freeze so
Injuries the grass that it has but little nutritive
| value, and unless additional ioC0 Is gwen the
sheep Will at once begin TO lose flesh, and if
compelled to live on what they pick, win get
quite thin before cold weather. This is about
the most foolish thing the farmer can do, for
when they are once in this condition it Is very
hard TO arrest the downward course. 1t is the
result of this unwise practice that causes the
great loss among the 1locks toward Spring par
| tIcularly among the younger sheep, which is so
often attributed to grub III the head" Every
| sheep-keeper should nave the facilities, ana on
| the approach OF hard fgeezes should commence
to feed daily little hay or grain. The neces-
sary outlay viii be money well invested
! Cle1elasd Leader.
| SoTELETs.
| - An old stockman gives rs his opinion that
cattle never become fat enough on grass to in
| iure their breeding qualities.
- II stable floors are not sound, do not neg
lect them. Repairs are, cheaper than losing
| horse by having his legs broken.
- Milking in the barnyard Ia IN unclean
method, and the cleaner the process the better
the quality of the products.
-Ten-pOund washed fieeces and 125-poInd
mutton carcasses should DO the average for
merino fOcks says the Sheep Breeder, and the
value Of such sheep should bs from 81 to So per
| head
- Give warm food TO fowls II the morning,
and see that they have plenty of water and
! that it is kept from freezing Put it into the
dish as warm as they can drink it twice day.
| Empty the dish at night. Ii you cannot give
| u sell