The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-07-23
OUR RURkt TOPICS,
-4FhH. ~
Some Practical Suggestions for Our.
Agricultural Readers.
CLOVER AHA lHEnrIIrzEs.

had been removed fyom II contained largely
increased quantity Of nitrogen, amounting to
as much as would be RETIRED to supply severel
large crops of wheat, and as nitrogen is espe-
cially needed for the growth of wheat, this in
crease of it is of exceedingly great service to
the farmer And as a similar effect has been
noticed to follow crop of peas and beans, it
becomes of the greatest advantage to farmers to
bring these crops into their rotation as means
of improving the soil. A striking instance of
| the value of clover has been given by we'll
known farmer in the State of New York, who
for 40 years past has been able to produce large
crops of wheat every third year upon portion
| of his farm too far distant from the barnyard
to draw manure to it with profit by the aid of
clover alone. The clover was grown for two
years, once for hay and once pastured, and then
plowed under, being fertilized only by a dress
| ing of plaster in its first year. This part of
the farm was the most profitable part of it, and
showed in most conspicuous and practical
manner the great benefit which could be de-
rived from growing clover as means of main
tanning the fertility of the soil.-N Y. Times.
HOW TO TAN sHEEPsKINs.
To those who occasionally kill sheep we
| would say remember the following recipe for
| tanning shecpskin. They make the best kind
! OF mats for the house or carriage, and good
| cOtswold skin well tanned makes good cush-
| ion for the wagon seat. For mats take two
| l0ngwOo skins and make strong suds using
hot water; when it is cold wash the skins in
it, carefully squeezing them between the hands
to get the dirt out of the wool, then wash the
soap out with cold, clear water; then dissolve
alum and salt, each half pound, with a little
hot water. sufficient to cover the skins, and let
| them soak over night or for IL hours, then
hang over a pail to drain. When they are well
drained spread or stretch carefully over board
to dry. When a little damp, have one ounce of
salpeter and alum pulverized and sprinkle on
the flesh side of each skin, rubbing in well
then lay the flesh sides together and hang in
the shade for two or three days, turning the
under skin uppermost every day until perfectly
dry: then scrape the flesh side witt. blunt
kai1e to remove any remaining scraps of flesh
trim off projecting points; rub the flesh side
with the hands. They will be very white and
handsome, suitable for door or carriage mat
They also make good mittens. Lambskns, or
even sheepskins, if the wool BIO trimmed off
evenly to a half or three-fourths of an inch
long, make beautiful and warm mittens and
the girls with little practice, can make them.
-Er.
SUMMER SEEDING TO GRASS.
The most successful seeding to grass may be
done in July and August, after the grain crops
are taken of: The present season has been a
Winter destroyed the, timothy, and the late
Spring has interfered, greatly with the seeding
of the clover. AS g. ypls, it may be said that
Summer seeding is hlore successful than Fall
and Spring seeding: bnt the ground must be
thoroughly well prepared. The whole secret
lies in this preparation.A The following plan
\ n nOtn mo inch
Immediately narrowed. in, thorough manner
There are several new Implements which do
this work in the best manner, pulverizing the
soil, leveling the surface Vand smoothing it, SO
as to get the land in shes gpst perfect condition
for the seed. After Al THIS has been done, and
the furrow marks dob liberated, the seed is
s0wn ana the riaeesinimediately rolled. If
this is done in July, nothing more is required.
If it is left later, + will be desirable to sow
turnip seed, at the rate of one pound to the acre.
with the grass seed. This affords protection
for the young grass andscloyer in the Fall and
Winter. We have found it a good plan to leave
the turnips on the ground and not gather them.
They will be killed by the frost, and the leaves
falling down, furnish protection to tho grass
during the Winter, and in the early Spring,
when SO much damage is usually done by the
alternate thaws and frosts. The grass will
usually furnish one cutting the same season,
but it should not be pastured, as the surface is
not yet firm enough, nor the plants sufficiently
well rooted to stand such a tax.-American
Agricaltarist
PLOwING IN MANURE
AS rule it is best to pillow in manure, but not
deep enough to bury it. 1t does the most good
when it is mixed with the soil, as it is absorb
ent of moisture and helps to keep the soil from
drying. 1t is also then in the best condition
for decomposing and helping to exert a favor
able effect upon the soil to q far greater extent
. -
by the wind and sun, and therefore inert in
every way. Besides, when it is well mixed
with the soil by blowing and narrowing, it fur
nishes food to the roots of plants in precisely
the place where they can find it, while when it
is ON the surface it is out Of their reach, as the
roots as rule do not try to go that way.
NoTELErs.
= The profits derived from soiIing mich
cows is at no time so great as during drought
in Midsummer; yet most farmers retain their
green fodder until just before Winter sets in,
a COW is allowed to dry up nearly in the milk
ing season she will not recover. In the Fall
grass is usually abundant, and there are pump
kins, vegetables and grain in plenty, the corn
fodder being but little needed
- In cultivating the potatoes the last time if
you hill them up at all make the hills broad
and fiat, that water will not run off but soak
in and wet them through and through. When
the hills are made high and sharp the water
runs oil and the potatoes are liable to suffer
from drought.
= To kill lice ON cattle, a mixture of one
bushel of dry sand and five pounds of sulphur
will clear so head. Get them into a huddle, if
you have large lot, then go to the windward
side, and throw it or sprinkle, rs best you can
to get it on. One good sprinkling will kill and
clean out everyone Sulphur, coal-oil and lard
Oil will clean fowls of lice and scaly legs. Rub
it on the feet and legs, and run your greasy
hands through the feathers.
- Kerosene oil is attracting much attention |
as an insecticide. 1t is deadly poison to
nearly all insects, while it is harmless to man.
AS 1T does not mix with water, an emulsion !
should be made with milk. An emulsion CON-
posed of one-third oil ,and twot thirds milk,
either sweet or sour,,is, found to be more SER
viceable. This emulsion may be applied in the |
same manner as Paris green.
- One of the greatest ppisances in farming |
is the way that weeds arr. encouraged and pro- |
tected in the crookS and ,dYicinity of fences, |
from which places tbeir sssd is scattered over
the surrounding LANDS The extent to which |
seed is scattered by high winds proves that one |
negligent farmer mag. annoy hundreds of farm
ers by failing to externin1te the foul heritage. |
- One OF the most ssecesSul of Illinois dairy !
men keeps 100 cows bpt never raises pound |
OF hay. He feeds hiSGattleson corn fodder, cut |
when in blossom bound and set up till cured, |
or till Winter, when it is removed to the barn.
He gets seven tons Qf. this, dry fodder to the |
acre, and claims it is WoTtf;as much as the best