The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-07-15
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
FRUIT on THE Farm.

FRUIT on THE FARM.
The farmer whose table at this time Of the
year is not plentifully provided with fresh, ripe
fruit is indeed foolish man, aud yet scores
who with a very slight outlay of money and
time would at all times have abundance of this
health giving diet. seem to prefer constant
diet OF bread, bacon and potatoes. The head
of the household who does not constantly keep
his family supplied with fruit is certainly very
derelict. A man may keep tolerably healthy
in the country without such health-giving
diet but be must bear i'm mind he has the health
Of the children to consider, and he cannot ex-
pect the little ones TO develop into healthy men
and women without fruit. This ripe, whole
some food has not appropriately been termed
condensed sunshine If the farmer has not
already plentiful supply of fruit trees on his
place, he should not fail to rectify his mistake
without delay, and as some time viii elapso be-
fore the larger fruit trees will bear, raspberries
and other rapidly maturing varieties should be
at once planted.
FEED THE COWS WELL.
When a farmer has plenty Of moving land
and is short of PASTURE or the feed in the pas
ture for any reason becomes short, basketiul
of grass night and morning TO each COW may
be fed to advantage, and il helps wonderfully
| TO keep up the flow of milk and if the moving
field is near the barn II is but little labor to cut
grass enough to feed a half dozen cows, in fact
no more work than it is cut rye or barley If the
/ land be rich enough 10 produce a good crop.
I The nearer a farmer lives 10 city or large
town the more important il is for him 10 keep
his mich cows up in high condition, by feeding
them during the Summer, at the barn, nights
and mornings; for in such localities he has, as
rule, a set Of customers who depend on him
for a certain quantity of milk or butter,
whether the weather be wet or dry; 50, to keep
his customers, the farmer must guard against
short feed, which is sure 10 reduce the flow of
milk and 20 give full satisfaction it is neces-
sary TO feed cows sufficient To keep the milk up
to high standard Of richness, which it is i'm
possible 70 do if the cows are given nothing
except what they can get in the pasture during
the drought.
REMEDY FOR GAPEs.
writer in the Poultry Keeper recommends
as a remedy for gapcs and roup treating the
fowls with caTboic acid. His plan is as fol-
lows: Get a shoe box, or a light box, two feet
long, one foot wide and one foot deep. Divide
OF a space az one end with lath or wire parti-
ton about 10 inches; use bag or cloth for a
cover. Put a brick or suitable piece Of iron
Z .
chicks, which are 10 be placed in the larger
end. Now place a brick or stone in the small
division 10 rest the hot iron or brick on. Pour
on the hot brick about one tablespoonful Of
carbolc acid. Dense fumes will Immediately
rise up and Gil the box. Keep the box tightly
closed. The chicks must be stirred up, else
1 they viii get their heads under one another
aud not get the full benefit Of the gas, which al
every inspiration reaches the exact spot where
! the gapes has hold. Let the chicks remain in
the gas from two TO ten minutes, according 20
the density, and the operator can Judge OF this
| by looking in and lifting out any one too much
overcome by the gas and laying it in the sun.
Wet the head if very much exhausted. 4 few
may need second dosing, but this rarely oc-
ours. Catch the chicks with gauze bag kept
open with light wire hoop on the end Of a
/ light rod eight feet long.
NoTELETs
Much time On every farm is spent in doing
small jobs, and If proper cOnyeniences for these
/ are not furnished the time wasted is 50 much
I clear loss A good farmer will try TO have
stock, grain, hay and roots, with water, all
under one roof. This enables him 10 do the
work with the least needless labor, and gives
more time for necessary improvements.
The oftcner the grass is cut the greater the
/ injury done the weeds which are thus prevented
/ from seeding. il the grass is frequently cut
however fertilizers should be applied or the
grass will exhaust the soil.
Permanent pasture lands are the main
anchor Of agriculture, and the iarmegs Of this
I country will find this out after while as they
already have in England, and will commence
| seeding their land with permanent grasses.
1t Is OF no advantage TO breed from young
OF immature stock for while the injury may
not be noticed at present, the effect will be 10
gradually reduce the vigor aud size. The re-
suit j. early breaking down Of the usefulness Of
the sires, dwarfed females and weak progeny.
III young females are used, however they should
be bred to males that are fully in their prime
IN order TO avoid the injurious consequences
1 mentioned as much as possible
keep carbOlic acid always convenient for
use IL is one Of the best disinfectants. insect
destroyers and vermin eradicatos that can be
used a small quantity need only be applied
! at q time.
The cherry is about the only fruit tree
which can be RECOMMENDED for shade in pastures
or along rOadsides, the hardy varieties Of cher
Ties are not affected by the tramping Of stock or
Z passing Of vehicles, which would prove ipiuri-
GUS 10 most other fruit trees.
III man or horse Is worked extra hard.
as they often are at this time Of year, rest
should be the restorative; not more food than
can be digested, especially when the system IS
weakened by oyerwork. Excess Of food weak
Gus working animal or man rest Fecuperates
and strengthens
- IN Europe dairy schools are being estab-
lished, at which boys and girls are given both
a theoretical aud practical knowledge Of milk
ing and manufacturing butter aud cheese as
well as iamiliarized with a knowledge Of the
breeds of stock aud their characteristics. The
schools are imparting great benefit wherever
established.
Among the new and less known points on
insecticides are the following: Mix pyreihrum
with four or five parts Of four Gas-lime water
for the cabbage worm is made By rubbing the
inside OF a cask with spoonful Of gas lime aud
hlllng the cask with water. Burning straw
over the strawberry plants for the tarnish plant
bug has proved qHite successful The elective
ness OF pyrethrum is Increased by the addition
Of alcohol.
"A well-lgnown horticulturist, in relation 10
trapping certain moths advises as follows
Take shallow pans or saHccrs and place some
STRONG apple vinegar in them and fasten among
the branches Of the trees. The odor Of the
VINEGAR attracts the moth and they are caught
aud drowned at the same time.
apple trees are often starved IN other WAYS
than iy neglect 10 manure The apple borgF
leads 10 starvation oftener than POOR soil The
supply Of food is cut OF by every move the
borer makes, &c; the bOrer on. somehow. even
u by wire and jack knife II not soon done
they viii quickly get themselves out aud after
they have left be sure 10 keep them out. Paner
pat Oh IN May, and then tarrcd over with "a,
tag OF printers lax, will keep them out. One
paper VIII last three years.
Where sheep arc kept IN filthy places thew
will become infested with maggots
- The Georgia Department Of Agriculture