The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-30
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
CARE OF SEED CORN.

trouble is not due much to immaturity as TO
the careless method of gathering and keeping
the corn. If the corn is thoroughly dry when
put in the crib, and afterwards kept dry,
the chances are that it will prove good. The
growers Of seed sweet corn. late varieties of
which are exceedingly difficult to cure properly,
build racks, on which the ears are spread out
for several days and weeks. There is general
impression that corn for seed should be left
growing till it is thoroughly matured. This is a
mistake. Practically, it is far safer to cut corn
for seed very early and let it ripen in the shock
than to run the risk Of having it nipped by an
early frost, or of having the curing delayed by
the shorter days and damp weather Of the late
season. The first point is TO get the corn thor
oughly dry before putting it in the crib. And
| then the crib should be very narrow and with
open Stats at bottom and sides aud good wide
roof TO keep off driving rains If all these con-
ditions cannot be secured, the only way we can
be sure OF good seed corn is to select the best
ears and leave the husks attached to the butts
and tie them up and hang them in an airy
room for the Winter.
PICKING AND STORING APPLEs
As it is now about the time that the Winter
apples are to DO gathered and stored, few
words of advice ON the subject may not be in
appropriate.
Hand picking should almost invariably be the
rule for Winter apples. as if gathered by any
other means they are apt to get bruised, and IN
that event every farmer knows how rapid the
decay will be, not only OF the affected fruit.
but of all with which il comes in contact. OF
course with varieties which ripen irregularly
hand picking is an absolute necessity, AS il
would be absurd to gather the ripe and unripe
fruit at the same time.
Before picking begins il is well to have q
| suitable place prepared i'll the orchard or near
by for the temporary storing of the frnit, un-
Jess there arc two sets of hands for sorting and
packing as fast as the fruit is gatherd Apples
are said to keep longest if kept free from at
mospheric moisture when taken from the trees
The fruit is very apt to get bruised by being
dropped into bags, and we would suggest that
small baskets holding, say, half bushel each.
and suspended from hook on the ladder will
be found convenient, and far less liable to ill.,
| jure the fruit.
Once gathered, the apples should be securely
| protected from sun and storms until they are
sorted Many farmers who have fruit houses
delay sorting and packing until the approach
of cold weather. The best method is to sort
the fruit Immediately and lay all that is sound
carefully in tight barrels, shaking the barrels
gently two or three times during the process of
filling 10 insure the apples packing closely they
may then be tightly headed, with the head suf-
| fciently pressed and secured TO avoid all move
ment of the apples inside the barrel. The bar
rels should then be placed on their sides and
carefully stored away.
THE CAUSE OF HOG CHOLERA
The ravages of hog cholera in the central
| part of Indiana are a matter of serious study
by those concerned. An important discovery
| in connection with the disease is alleged to
| have been made by farmer named Sheppard
in Henry County. lie had long believed that
the disease is nothing more or less than paras-
ties or trichinR in the stomach of the hog and to
| vindicate his judgment, had post morton ex-
animation upon a hog that died this week. His
| opinion was substantiated by the finding with
the naked eye of many of those parasites in the
| second lining OF the stomach. He COMMUNE
| Gated the fact OF his discovery to the Secretary
Of the State Board of Agriculture. and he has
referred the subject TO microscopes for exam
ination and report. Mr. Sheppard thinks he
has also discovered preventive of these para
sites. and expects to be able soon TO give his
remedy TO the public.
A remarkable story comes from Muncie, Del
aware Co, TO the effect that Geo. Wilson. we'll
TODD farmer living eight miles south of Muncie,
died recently with disease contracted while
administering medicine TO cholera hogs At
| tending physicians claim that the disease is
| similar To hog cholera, and that it may become
4 epidemic Wilson was only sick four hours,
and died in the most agonizing pain. The en-
| tire southern portion of the County is horror
stricken. and many farmers are anxious to sell
| their farms and 20 West. IL is reported that
many farmers have left their homes and will
not return until the question Of epidemic is
decided in this case.
EoTELETs.
Many farmers in places where their land il
swept by fierce winds find it profitable to plant
| apple trees in masses large enough to make q
| windbreak on the side of the farm most ex-
posed. The apple tree branches low down. and
| If bounded by a fence four or five feet high on
the windward side the ground will be covered
with snow almost as perfectly as it would be in
| the original forest
Poultry Of all kinds will fatten sufficiently
with three weeks feeding. The whitest flesh
| and fat are made by feeding milk warmed and
mixed 10 thick paste with oatmeal, boiled
potatoes aud cornmeal. This feed should be
given four times day as plentiful it will
be eaten. IL is best given in feed boxes OF
tronghs which should be taken away as soon as
the fowls have eaten. The fowls should be
confined in coops, which should be kept clean
and deeply sanded.
Pure, wholesome milk in clean cellar OF
milk house. where the temperature is not ovel
20 degrees. will keep sweet for SO hours, and
| will not become thick under 4S hours. Other
wise, something is wrong with the cows.
|
having impure water TO drink, cannot be in
healthy condition. and the first appearance o.
trouble will be the premature souriug Of the
milk.
The new breed of fowls, Wyandottes, for
merly known as American Sebrights, is rapid
growing in favor. They have heavy, compact
bodies, and make good layers. The stronges
points in their favor are that they have legs o
n deeper yellow than the Plymouth Rock, auC
the combs being small prevents frosting in Win
ter. They equal the Dorking in compactnes
of body, grow rapidly and are very hardy. Thj
demand for this breed has been very heavy thi
season, which is due to their being only 70
Gently introduced.
a cold, damp soil, with a hard, impcrviou
subsoil, Is not suitable for garden, and befor,
il can be properly utilized should he we'll drain
ed. For garden purposes If tile drain ha
been laid, the trenchmg system is The best fol
such soils. Any method that permits it to ril
itself of surplus moisture, aud allows the al
and heat to enter. viii be beneficial.
When the tree is planted the branche
should DO cut back TO form regular-shapeC
head, and If they arelpinched back so as to keel
the tree symmetrical and only such branche
arc allowed to grow as are needed, there will
be no necessity OF numbering the tree in afte
years with the saw o. o.
Farmers who grow only few tomatoes Il
rich gardens do not generally know that thi
vegetable Is more successfully grown in field
with moderate fertility. There is less exuber
ance of vine, but earlier and higher havore,
} fruit. with less tendency To rot.
Prof Cook of the Michigan Agriculture
College, says that most of the failures to dc
60 hfsUa ~ r.