The National tribune., 1885-12-31
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
CARE OF CHICKENS

able, it would be well for every farmer to see
that his poultry receive a large measure of his
attention.
In the first place, the chicken house should
be made warm and comfortable. 1t is unrea-
sonable to suppose that eggs in any profitable
amount can be secured from hens which perch
under roof from which the leakage drips in
on them the whole night long, and in many
instances pours into the nests, making them
anything but pleasant place for the hen to
deposit her eggs The rain and wind should
both be scrupulously excluded from the house,
the perches frequently scraped and the nests
be kept dry and snug.
Another and an almost constant source of
annoyance to the hen is the large amount of
vermn which too often infest the nest. Not
only does this make the hen dread her nest as
place of torment, and drive her to some out
of-theway place to lay, (and this frequently
results in the loss of eggs,) but in the Spring,
when she brings out her young brood, they,
too, become prey to the lice. This not in
frequently leads to the death of the chicks and
always retards their growth. 1t enfeebles them
to such degree that they soon fall prey to
the many diseases which lie in wait for young
poultry.
There is no excuse for the existence of this
state of affairs, for very small amount OF care
Will entirely prevent it. The perches should
be frequently and thoroughly scraped and
washed with diluted carbolic acid or kerosene,
and some of the mixture should be sprinkled
on the walls and floor. small amou9t of in
sect powder may also be used with advantage
The nests should be frequently changed, clean
hay being supplied at short intervals. A little
tJ,n oIc ho
found of great value as an insecticide, particu-
larly in nests occupied by sitting hens as they
from the length OF their sittings particularly
liable to be annoyed and injured by vermin.
If the three conditions named-filth, damp
ness and vermin-are avoided there will be
little trouble in keeping the poultry in good
health, and the increased income from this
branch of farm economy will pay handsomely
for any trouble this may entail.
The great mistake the average farmer makes
is in considering the chickens creatures not
worthy of any Notwithstanding outside
the ordinary routine of the farm, that should
be left to take care of themselves; whereas, If
given little attention they might be made to
yield very considerable income.
KEEP THE HARNESS PLIABLE.
AS good set of harness entails an outlay Of
quite sum of money! 1T is certainly worth
while to pay some attention to its preservation; !;
and yet probably nothing about the farm re-
ceiyes less care. 1t happens not infreqHently
that from the day on which the harness comes,
new and shiny, from the shop until it is thrown
away cut up to use on break-blockS 1T does
not receive any attention, except probably to
mend a break. Now, about an hour spent, say
once a month, in thoroughly overhauiing the
harness, would make it last at least as long
again. And this is not the only advantage to
be derived from such care, for it contributes in
no small degree to the comfort of the animals
wearing it, consideration which should appeal
| more strong y than any other to every humane
man. r.-.-
In the first place, the leather should be kept
soft, and in the second every broken stitch
should. be Immediately repaired. The former
| can be done with very small expenditure of
| time, all that is necessary being to thoroughly
| wash the harness in warm soapSuds, and after
doing so, and while still damp. thoroughly
| saturate with fish oil. If you wish to improve
| the appearance Of the harness land every farmer
| should have enough pride to wish to see every
| thing look nice), little ampblack may be mixed
| with the oil. This will blacken the leather
| and make it look equal to new. In addition TO
| these advantages, keeping the leather soft and
| pliable will prevent the harness from chating
| the horses and causing those unsightly blOtches
and sores commonly called harness gals. If
| there is one thing more disgraceful to a horse
| owner than another, it is to see their animals
and lumpy, cutting into the skin of the help pess
animals or rubbing off the hair at every point
| on which it presses.
Every farmer should also keep on hand a
ball of waxed thread and an awl, and these
| should be used the moment the slightest start
or break reveals itself The practice of repair
ing with copper rivets issoveny Y and ineffective,
and should always give way to the needle and
thread.
RAP1D-wALKING HORSES.
Without question, the most valuable horse
! for farmwork is one that combines rapid walk
! with strength and endurance, and far too little
| attention is given by farmers to training their
animals to a good working gait. The amount
of work that can be got from pair of fast
stepping horses in the plow, as compared with a
! slow, stepping team, can only be real
lied by those who have tested the matter. A
little labor in training colts to fast walk s all
| that is necessary to secure a team which will
| do one fourth more labor in day than one to
| which no attention in this regard has been
| given.
CARE IN FEEDING COWS.
An exchange very pertinently remarks that
! the fact is not sufficiently apprehended that
! the cow, of all animals, should have good and
| pure food The favors and germs taken in the
feed pass off, to great extent, in the milk
| Often has it been known of a COW eating poi
| sonous substances without injury to herself
but her milk was impregnated with the poison
or disease germs, and the human consumers
| were injured. Milk is much more sensitive in
| receiving and tenacious in holding impurities
than water, and it seems that the impurities of
the animals system are unloaded into the lac
teal ducts and pass Off into the milk pail to
| impregnate the system of the consumer,
! whether they were in the first place imbibed
in the drink devoured in the food or brcathed
| into the system from impure air, Odors sur
| roundingS. For these reasons great care should
always be taken to insure that the mich cow ia
not subjected to surroundings, food or drink
which will ell her system with impurities.
NoTELETs
In eight Western States there are 1,62e
butter factories and creameries. OF these Iowa
has $50, Illinois 497, Wisconsin 130. Kansas and
| Minnesota 100 EACH, Missouri 81, Indiana so
and Nebraska 40. Last year Iowa produced
One-tenth of the dairy products of the United
States, $500, O,OOO, 900 being the sum of the cOun-
trys production.
Horses to the number of 1,0O0, 900 per year
are required to supply the business necessities
of the country. The whole number of horses
| in the United States ia about 100000, in
Guiding breeding stock.
To cure horse of stumbling which is
caused by dragging the fore feet too low and
catching the toe, the toe should be shortened
and no tOe-calks used. a bracelet of wooden
balls strung upon strap should be worn
around the leg above the lowest joint. This
causes the horse to throw, the feet out little
and SO lift them up more. A stumbling horse
oh h..H Hrtt Asr.I.f