The National tribune., 1886-10-07
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
EXPERIMENTS WITH GRASSES.

Win OIGHdtu grass lnulCdlcS lHdI
of pasturage and hay are obtained from given
area of ground when it is allowed to have its
own way, unchecked by crowding; and that it
is mistaken practice TO SOW very thickly in
order to counteract the tendency to grow in tus-
socks About bushel and a half of seed are
therefore enough for an acre. He has obtained
excellent results by adding to this quantity of
seed three quarts of red clover seed, both grow
ing well together. He finds no amount of
tramping or close grazing at any season to in
jure a well-rooted orchard-grass sod. 1t is one
of the earliest grasses to start in the Spring and
the latest to succumb to frost in Autumn. He
remarks that lucern should not be pastured or
mown during the first season. as it makes
feeble growth at first; but it is good practice
to run the mower occasionally over the surface
high enough TO miss the young lucern and cut
off the tops of the weeds. After this it will
take care of itself and of all the weeds within
its reach. Prof s. thinks it the most valuable
forage grass for Kansas. Irrigation makes it
invaluable. Very close grazing late in Autumn
is apt to be fatal to it. In answer to the in
qury as TO the relative merits of red clover and
lucern, he remarks that while clover yields
scarcely more than one half the hay or pastur-
age afforded by lucern, yet in point of quality
lucern is greatly inferior. The stalks are
nearly solid and quite woody, and there is
much waste in feeding the hay. Speaking of
| the Texas blue grass, Prof Shelton remarks
that it is of much coarser habit than the COM
mon blue grass, that it will Withstand the eli
| mate Of Kansas, but he does not know that ii
can be propagated from seed at ALL" We have
now plants of this grass, raised from seed, Of
two years growth; the upper leaves were rem
dered brown by the last severe Winter. It
| forms a dense sod, but has shown no tendency
to throw up seed stalks. Our Winters at the
North are probably rather severe for its best
| success. Prof. S. strongly recommends sowing
grass seed alone, after a generous preparation
| of the soil, holding that when sown with grain
| the grass operates as a weed on the grain, and
the grain is a weed TO the grass, and that after
| the young grass has been retarded and dwarfed
by the grain il suffers more from Midsummer
| heat when the grain Is cut than with strong
| early growth, with no other plants to rob the
soil Of moisture
PROFIT IN BEES.
A writer in Bee Culture says: Zone is apt to
| conclude, from a superficial observation without
| experience, that all the honey that can be Sc
| cured from a number of hives is clear profit
| If there were no work attached, and no invest
ment necessary, this conclusion might be cor
rect. While taking these into consideration We
| find that some years we are able to secure a
| much larger profit than others, while OCCASION
ally the bees prove an actual loss. In making
up the amount of profit and loss we must keep
an account first, of the money invested in hives,
bees, and such other necessary appliances as we
| find necessary. We must allow per cent for
| interest on the money invested, as well "a q
| sinking fund for the wear and tear. Then our
| time must be worth something. True, we may
1 he able To do the Of the xvnrlr or
odd times, so that some often conclude that this
should not be counted but this time is certainly
worth something. If we were not ATTENDING
TO the bees we could be doing something else,
so that the only correct way is to charge the
| proft-and-loss account with whatever the time
required is worth. If you are required to feed
| them at any time. this also should be charged
for what IL is actually worth In this way we
know what the honey we secure costs US. If q
patch of buckwheat, clover, or other plant, is
| sown for the express purpose Of feed, this also
| should be charged.
| Whatever honey is taken, whether used in
the family or sold in market, should be credited
at whatever it is worth. If some Of the bees
are sold, this also should be credited. Any ex-
pense incurred should be charged; and what
ever is received for anything should be credited
AID the difference between the two will show
| the amount Of profit secured or loss sustained.
with good management, bees, of course,
can be made profitable; but little experience
| will soon convince any one that il is not all
profit; while if properly managed, with any
thing like n fair season, bees may be made to
yield very large profit on the money invested
BLNDFoLDINs BULL.
A correspondent of the Country Gentleman
| says: In answer 10 squery under this head i
would say that had bull two years old, which
showed signs Of being ugly and drove men out
of the pasture field. As the animal was valu-
able, and so young, i did not wish to shut him
up; and a friend suggested and / at once
adopted the following plan: had leather
halter made, with a sheet OF heavy harness
leather sewed on the sides, so that when the
halter was on this sheet would cover from be-
hind his eyes around his face and from his
horns 10 his nose, or nearly SO. Thus far it has
worked admirably. Any person can 90 into
the field where he is with safety. While the
bull will soon discover their presence, yet it /:
easy to keep away from him. The stiff leather
keeps of his eyes, does not hurt him, is better
and not so unsightly as u board indeed you
must get pretty near him before he notices il
yet he can see the ground, walk around, etc.
with apparent comfort.
NEW BRAZILIAN FLOUR CORN.
To THE EDITOR: / would like TO tell tn,
readers Of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE about thi:
corn. Last Winter i bought one quart of thu
corn from the Farmers Seed Co., Springfield o.
which planted, about half an acre. planted
May IN rows of 3lxi feet, with three grains il
hill. When up cultivated it same as field
corn. This corn, as far as / can learn was
originated in Brazil, South America where il
is grown largely and is the principal article o.
food for the inhabitants. twas exhibited at til,
State Fair. Phladelp hia, where it attracted thou
sands OF people. Judging from its dark greer
leaf, tasse and stooling properties, beautiful il
appearance while growing, 1t might be som,
kind of wheat or millet. 1t grows from eight Il
10 feet high, and four to six ears to stalk
ears seven 10 nine inches long, cob small, vel
filled with beautiful snow-white grains abou
half the size of ordinary field corn, which
when ground and boted, is claimed to be
grade of flour in every respect equal to tho very
best wheat flour for baking 1read pies, cakes
biscuits, etc.-W. l.. FROss, DOnnelsyille, o.
, NoTELETs.
! - BY teaching young horses good, fast wall
, you may add good many dollars to their valu
, in a lifetime.
, - Kansas shepherd has flock of II head
of Cotsw0ld sheep that clipped an average O
III pounds TO the head
f - Encourage the poultry to forage in grair
and hay fields after harvest. Give q ligA
breakfast and nothing TIL evening.
- Did you use that whitewash brush las
} month"; If not, do so now and your fowls viii
, not be SO fond of roosting out at nights
- A corn crib may be readily made rat proc
: by supporting il on cedar or locust posts 81
inches high and capped with stone or broad
[ board.
- Hubbard squashes are more profitable (,