The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-04
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
LINE As A FERrILIzER.


sequently it was the universal custom among
the farmers of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and
Maryland to use lime, freshly burned and
slaked, as an application to land. Some years
later the practice materially decreased. The
idea seemed to prevail that burned limestone
was not a genuine fertilizer, though it could
not be denied its effects upon clay lands in
filming the soil were very beneficial. OF late,
however, the old notions in regard to lining
the land are generally obtaining. Many expe-
rienced farmers claim that the crop has sensibly
diminished since spreading lime" literally
has become questionable. Cultivators say
that, as an element and promoter of rank clover
growth, lime on the fields or in the soil is a
necessity. All experienced farmers know that
clover roots are the most potent agency in COM
mon use for enriching the soil. 1t absorbs and
stores up nitrogen in the soil for succeeding
crops. Large quantities of nitrogen in the
earth and air are absorbed and fixed by clover
more than by any other plant There can be
no doubt that lime assists the growth of clover,
"and when n man can grow clover successfully
he can grow any crop he wants to-" However,
every close observer knows that clover can be
successfully grown on soils which arc nearly
devoid of lime as q constituent element, and
wherever clover can be cultivated well so can
every species Of tame grass, including that
standard old cereal, wheat.
TAKE CARE OF THE YOUNG STOCK.
During the Winter months much time may
be saved by keeping the young stock in good
condition, as they will start of in the Spring
with an advantage which will more than eOm-
pensate for whatever extra care may be given.
AS bn Wiutar il mt w hon the carly lambs
are dropped, a place must be provided in adj
vance for the ewes To have the lambs dropped
in the fields, with the temperature below freez-
! ing, is very severe on them, and those that do
not perish seldom recover entirely. Give the
lambs a warm, dry place for the first few days
of their existence, and one-half the trouble
! with them will be over. Young pigs are very
tender, aud if farrowed in Midwinter seldom
prove satisfactory afterward unless an attend
ant gives them close attention for the first
/ week as they easily become so chilled rs TO be
unable TO derive nOurishment, and as there are
usually few strong pigs in every litter, the
weaker ones are crowded back becoming sub
ject TO the severity of the cold on account OF an
! insufficient supply of nourishment, and as all
young animals are subject TO competition when
| together, they should never be crowded at any
1 time.
! NoTELETs.
| 1t is estimated by those who have made the
| subject study, that the losses occasioned by
/ insects injurious to agriculture in the United
4 States, reach the enormous sum of Si00O0O,OOO
/ every year.
Last Spring New Jersey organization sent
| out a large quantity of pumpkin seed, Offering
ut the same time prizes for the largest and
| smallest pumpkins raised from the seed. The
/ largest pumpkin Was sent in recently to the
/ headquarters of the organization. 1t weighs
nearly $50 pounds and is a monster. When il
was half grown the grower cut on the outside OF
| it, =" Grover Cleveland, 1856" The letters show
l 10 advantage.
How can a gate-post be set so that 10 will
never rot? The Farm Journal recommends
the plan of filling the hole with gravel and
small stones and then run in thin cement
| mortar. The RaTdl Nep Yorker don't care
much whether the hole is filed with gravel
sand, or soil. Pack it firmly and fill in at the
top with lime, heaping it somewhat above the
post.
-Large hogs are neither fashionable mol
profitable. But few hogs are now bred that
when fully developed, weigh over 200 pounds
The small-boncd, early developed hog that
weighs from 275 to 300 pounds at twelve
| months meets the popular demand as tho mos
profitable, while those large hogs most Away:
develop later, aud have to be kept too long
While it is desirable to have the horsS
stable as warm as can conveniently be in Win.
ter, it must be borne in mind that no farm AMI
NAL requires pure air to greater extent than
the horse; and SO while kindness would prompt
TO making the stable as warm as possible, il
should not be done at the expense Of ventila
ton. The ventilation should be as perfect a:
possible, SO that all the odors and gases thai
generate will have an opportunity to escape
This is necessary TO the health of the horse.
The buster which the artificial butter
trade has been making in the last few weeks il
beginning to spend itself, aud dairymen can nov
feel their bones, shake themselves, and awak,
to the fact that they have been more scared
than hart. The injury to their business vii
not come from this bluff any more than TIT
damage inflicted by the dog is in his bark
although the bark is the most terror-inspirin;
part of the performance In the face of every
thing the butter market is advancing, and tn
winter outlook is good.
Loose stones are scattered about in all sort
Of unsightly piles, and in most inconvenien
places around many farm. Let such of them a
will DO be utilized in making walks, not onl
: about the house, but along the roadside to tn
! fields. Let others be broken up to macadamiz
the barnyard aud the various drives about til
. place in which the teams stick fast every Win
ter. These are things which can be done a
, odd times. and every stone can be made to adj
i to the value of the premises which it now en-
cumbers.