The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-02
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
CARE OF ORCHARDS.

Many farmers TABOR under the ueluSiOn tnat
an orchard requires no fertilization, but that
all they have to do in order to secure their
fruit is simply to go into the orchard and
gather the fruit, when there is any. 1t is true
some little attention is given to pruning the
| trees, but in most instances none whatever Is
given TO feeding them. Why this delusion
should be indulged in we cannot see, as the
amount of matter carried from the trees ought
at once TO impress US with the idea that the
| ground must be fed in order to properly stand
the strain and keep up the supply of fruit, and
not only the supply but the quality. In great
number of cases the quality Of the fruit could
be vastly improved by liberal application of
manure, as it is just about rs reasonable to ex-
pect tree growing in worn-out land to bear
fine fruit as it would to expect liberal crop of
corn from land in like condition. Little,
knot!y and unsightly fruit is generally the
result Of poverty in the soil, and means should
at once be taken to remedy the defect.
A great many orchards throughout the coun-
try bear only every other year, and we arc not
aware of any reason for this except that the
trees have not strength to bear every year, and
take an Off year to recuperate. A liberal supply
of manure would cause the trees to bear every
year and thus double the income from that
source.
1t is urged by some of the best farmers that
il pays far better to pasture hogs and sheep IN
the orchard than to grow any kind of crop. In
the first place the crops impoyerish tho soil,
thus taking away from the trees their proper
| nourishment, and then the roots which spread
like q net work over the ground are greatly
| injured by the passage of the piow among
them But there is another and a most i'm
| ,x.hx hs har
tured by small stock-cattle and horses reach
up and tear down the limbs-and that is the
consumption of the fallen fruit. A great deal
Of the diseases Of the fruit can be traced 10 the
myriads Of insects which terminate in the de-
caying fruit and then crawl up the trees and
destroy both leaves and fruit. The wormy,
scabby fruit seen In many orchards Is, OF
course, the result of insect depredations and
owing in no small measure to the insects bred
in the fallen fruit. Now were sheep and swine
kept in the orchards the fruit would be eaten
as rapidly as ii falls and before decay would be
possible.
All dead limbs should be at once removed
and there should not be an hours delay IN al
once and thoroughly destroying every cater
pillars nest. The most effectual way to do this
is TO burn them, especial care being taken tha
none of the insects escape.
HOW TO FEED HORSE.
The National Stock Journal has the followin:
excellent article IN regard to the feeding o
horses, which our agricultural friends should
read with care: Oats are the natural grain foOt
of the horse. This is the popular verdict. Bul
does the horse not want or need something else
les, he wants reasonable allowance OF gOoC
hay, clover or timothy, or the two combined
DAT straw is good when the oats are cut befor
the stalk has lost all of it's green hue Whea
would be found nourishing food for the horse
and not SO dear as some would at first think
But it is very concentrated food, and all sncl
must be fed with care and in connection wit
coarser food of some kind.
a If oats are crushed, or just coarsely ground
they will prove more nourishing In England
they are passed between rollers. But if horse
teeth are good it will generally grind its oat
pretty well. There is a great difference il
horses, however, in this respect, just as there
in men. Some bolt their food much more raj
idly and less maSticated than others. Blu
whatever grain you feed, do not let the hors
l, drink Immediately after. If you do much
the grain will be washed out of the stomac
without being digcsted. See that the horse
properly wstered little while before eating it
grain.
= Corn is not the best food for the horse. 1t
too carbonAceous. or heating and fattening
Not everyone wants a fat horse Fat is not
sign Of the best of health in either man @
horse. 1t is better to sell the corn and buy oat
q with the money received for it. Corn is apt {
IT make horse stiff and loggy. IL is very cor
centrated food, as well as fattening. All DIR
lie feed is not the best for the horses health.
1t needs few roots, apples, carrots, potatoes, G
ID other succulent food. as q relish and regulate
= of the bowels. Nor is all grass good for tn
horse, if it is to do any work, as most peopl
know, we presume. A moderate ration
grass, followed with dry hay, aud always a
companied with oats, will do horse good. TIL
!, horse. like man and other animals, relishes
= little variety, and 1T does him good"
"a NoTELETs.
Movable pig pens are very desirable an
n used probably in many orchards. especial
when sows have young pigs which it is foun
he desirable 10 keep separate from others The
may be moved to fresh soil every few days On
lr almost any handy man can build pen wit
bolts and faStenings to hold it together.
Soap suds may DO advantageOusly use
around the pear and peach trees. 1t is quit
>, an undertaking to carry them to an orchar
but there are trees and grape vines usual
10 growing near the house and kitchen who
40 will be greatly benefited by the use of the sud
&c Poultry farming doesn't take a great de.
'e OF land, but with good management the ha
vest comes every day, and though it is SINAI
"a its multiplication by all the days of the yef
makes a sum that compares fayorably wit
az more pretentious ventures.
:! In buying pigs for breeding stock the be
NC is the cheapest, though it cost little mo-
Gu money. The reason why breeders Justify then
selves in saving runts, is because some men a
thoughtiess enough TO buy them at low pric
On many farms the pigs must be kept
mr. close pens all the Summer Such pigs shou
r. have green food delivered to them daily.
course, some grain is needed in addition to Il
green food. Milk Is also good.
~ - In order to guard against flies the stab
should he thoroughly cleaned often. sprin
ling of tho floors with mixture of a te,lspoo
on full of carbolc acid and two gallons of waite
will disinfect the stall, while the manure he;
may also receive an application with adva
tage.
n. ALI small apples and others defective
form or damaged by worms have their be
market on the farm as food for animals.
packed with sound fruit, even in small propC
ton, they reduce the price of all often to {
es- point Of loss.
'lo The largest barn in tho world is probab
that of the Union Cattle Co, of Cheyenne, ne
Omaha. 10 covers five acres cost $l25, 000 al
accommodates 3, $50 head of cattle.
, Sheep will eat nearly all kinds of weet
IS and may DO made to do good service in sor
IA fields. They should, however, always be Civ
sol feed of grain at night.
IN To kill moles an Illinois farmer pr
On strychnine in pieces of liver the size of
On hickorynut, placing the pieces at differe
is points in their runs.
no AS soon as the ears have been taken frc
eu' the sweet corn the stalks should be cut up a
fed TO the cows in Us green condition as possib
III To protect young fruit trees in unfenc
lots or along tho roadside, drive three stak
'Ni around the tree and wind barbed wire arou