The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-11-11
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
BARN STABLES.


there is no more unsound idea in the building
of combined barn and stable than in allowing
the breath and other efluvia to pass into the
fodder and other food of the stock. In other
words, the ventilation of the stables should not
pass through the NOW or the barn. In the
building and arrangement of the stable warmth
is the essential integer; and, the ventilation
being correct the stable cannot be made too
tight.
Probably, says the writer, nine stables out of
ten are built with the floors raised above the
earth, and so the wind has full sweep beneath
the floor The effect is, the animals are con-
stantly being chilled as to their feet and limbs
reacting on the whole body. All stables should
be laid on solid walls, and the stable floor, in
stead of being laid upon bearings should be let
into the sills of the structure, upon bearings
laid directly upon the ground. The scantlings
thus laid will last as long as the floor, and, as
rule fully as long as when let into the sills.
Upon the question of drainage it is held, if
drainage underneath is intended, this must be
done before the floor is laid, and the pipes for
the drainage should not be less than six inches
in diameter. 1t is worse than useless to lay
such drains unless there is considerable fall and
ample means for flushing when necessary. In
fact, rs rule, stables in the country are better
without drains, except along the floors. 1t is
preferable that the liquid manure be absorbed
with dry clay, or other similar material, for
thus the most valuable portion Of the manure
is saved.
FITTING POTATOES.
If many potatoes are to be kept over Winter
pitting them is much preferable to putting into
4 o h, 81. 4.
house for use during severe cold weather when
the pits cannot be got at Much sickness in
farmers families in Winter is due to keeping
large quantities of potatoes and other vege-
tables stored under sleeping rooms. Besides,
in the pit potatoes can be kept at n uniform
low temperature without freezing. Most cell
lars are too warm the greater part of the time,
and yet are liable to freeze in sudden cold
| spells. In pits the temperature varies only
| slightly. Potatoes for pitting should be dry
and covered, first, with six or eight inches of
straw. Then cover with four 10 six inches of
dirt, leaving a hollow around the heap with an
outlet on one side to carry off water that may
settle there. Just before cold weather add
second light covering of straw and heavy
coating of dirt. If the ground is frozen so that
dirt cannot be got, use manure from the horse
stables. At the first covering wisp of straw
should be left sticking up through the center
for ventilation. At the second this may be
covered with soil or manure. Potatoes thus
kept will not freeze and will come out in Spring
hard and sound, with only trifling loss of
weight. In warm cellars there is often loss
of one-sixth or more by evaporation, shrinking
and rotting.
SALT FOR THE COWS.
Your cows will soon be in the stable Don't
forget to salt them regularly. 1t would be bet
ter TO keep lump of rock salt lying by them
all the while so they can lick it at will. Do
not be led astray by the periodical crank who
| comes out in the stupid newspapers against the
use of salt by man or beast While some indi-
viduals and some people in particular localities
may not need it, or may get along very we'll
without it, they are exceptions to the rule, for
| 10 the great mass salt is a necessity. A gen.
tleman in Maine says that last Winter he sailed
| his cows only occasionally. In the Spring,
when they had been MIXED 6 TO 10 months, he
4 tried the experiment Of giving each cow small
handful Of salt regularly every morning. The
| next week after he began this experiment the
| weeks yield of milk was 1913 pounds more from
| II cows than il was the previous one, although
no other change was made in the keep and care
of the cows Any amount of theorizing can
| not nullify one such fact as this
WHEN TO PICK PEARS.
It would seem that people who grow pears
should by this time have learned when to pick
| them, but such is not the case with many.
Every season, and already this season, we have
seen illustrations of the error-pears are al
| lowed TO ripen on the tree. When pears have
reached their growth and will separate from
the twig without breaking the stem, they are
ready to pick. Picked thus and allowed to
| ripen in the house, shut out from the light
| when possible, they will be at their best. Ii
| allowed TO ripen on the tree they are sure to
be greatly deficient in flavor and often rot at
the center, while the exterior is still fair.
Watch your pears and pick them in time.
NoTELETs.
- White fowls when dressed for market do
not show pin-feather marks as do the black
breeds. This is point in their favor which is
worth considering
| - Onion seed sown now, and protected with
litter during the Winter, will give early onions
| next Spring.
= As soon as the ears have been taken from
the sweet corn the stalks should be cut up and
fed TO the cows in as green condition as posi-
| ble
| feed green grass or green corn fodder in the
stable night and morning as soon as the pasture
begins to fail.
| - Have you set out any small-fruits this
| season? If not, set some out at once. Hill up
the soil around the plants just before the
| ground freezes, so the frost will not heaye out
| the plants.
| Dou iSL TIC NCcu 81 W oSSu yOuI
| stubblefelds. 1t ruins the taste of the milk
and taints butter. Besides that, it looks like
distress. Down with it!
| - The Prairie Farmer says: IL farmers have
safe storage for wheat aud corn. and do not
need the money for it, we judge, from all We
can gather, that they will do quite as well to
hold on for a while.
| - In storing away garden seeds place them
| in wooden bags, with piece of gum camphor in
each bag, and also dust the seeds with insect
powder. These methods will protect the seeds
| against insects which destroy many kinds, such
as peas, beans, etc. All seeds should be kept in
| a dry place, and an examination of them should
be made several times during the Winter.
- The first thing 10 do before storing corn
in the crib is to have the crib rat-proof and well
protected against beating rains. Rats will de-
stroy more grain than the most liberal estimate
| allows of loss, and the crib should be pro-
tected as TO prevent them from getting in
through any source.
"A fruit grower who desired TO clear off his
raspberries without destroying the new plants
cut them all down close to the ground. A
larger number of young plants came up than
had before occupied the ground, which made
the clearing away of the whole lot profitable
one, the object being to save as many young
plants as possible.
- Frozen poultry Is often sent to market
Such fowls should be dry picked. The method
is to pack layer of poultry In a case and allow
IL TO freeze before putting in the next layer and
so continue until the case is full. Then nail on
the lid and keep the case where the poultry
will not thaw until market is reached, as alter