Connecticut western news., 1886-07-07
FOR THE FARM AND HOME.
Save the Straw.

EVN LIE rANM AND uUMEs
 Save the Straw.
 While American and English agricul- tural writers have been for many years emphasizing the importance of keeping the straw of our grains upon tho farm, there has not yet been enough said to inn press upon many of our farmers it's manu- rial value, and they still look upon it as piece of good fortune if they are able to dispose of their straw for cash. The return is indisputably more speedy, but unless good round price is realized, whereby you can buy back tho elements ill the straw for less than you sold them, it is not the fortunate speculation it may appear. Better blow the straw into the field than sell it for any small or merely nominal sum; but the best use for it is as bedding for stock, where it acts partly as an absorbent. Grains are rapacious eaters, feeding on minerals of the soil and nitrogen. Analysis have shown the straw of Winter wheat to contain 11.5 per cent. of potash; of soda, 3. 9; magne- sia, 2.6; lime, 6.2, to say nothing of the phosphoric and. sulphuric acids. An alysis of Winter rye straw give 1877 per cent of potash; of soda, 3.3; magnesia, 3.1; lime, 7.7, besides phosphoric snd nitric acids. These are sufficient to con- clusively show that the straw of grains possesses elements of plant food that we can i'll afford to lose. - Cultioator.
 Useful Hints for Horse Owners.
 Horses are very delicate and liable to many ailments, and persons owning them, who are not very familiar with their na- ture and requirements, will find the fol- lowing suggestions, condensed from an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer, use- full:
 Never feed horse with hay from a rack located above his head, as draught beats down which is injurious, and the dust is liable to injure the eyes.
 A horse should not be overworked, for, like man, he gets tired, and to keep in good condition, he should have rest and good bedding.
 Sometimes horse will not eat his usual food. A mash of oatmeal, milk warm, is about the best food to give a horse under such circumstances. And then horse should have grass. It is
 
 of hay hardens the coating of his stomach. The food is not digested. Carbonic acid gas is generated, and the horse dies in agony, swelling up, suf- fering from what is commonly known as collie. Then, again, horses need we'll ven- silated stables, free from draught or damp. The floor should be smooth and ! nearly level It should be we'll drained and light, for sudden change from dark ness to light is trying to the eyes, and a damp, offensive odor is injurious. Then, again, the bedding and litter should be carefully separated from that which is foul. They should be we'll shaken up and dried, and the stall should be thor oughly cleansed, and when the stable is empty, let in plenty of fresh air. A horses stall should be large enough to allow him to lie down comfortably in any position. A tired horse will be glad to lie down with his legs stretched out if he has room; but if you cannot give him loose box, then a light halter l block should be used, and care taken tc arrange the halter so that it may trave | freely to allow the head to come easily to the litter, for rest and sleep are as necessary as food and water.
 | If horse comes to the stable wet, he should be rubbed dry before the blanket is put on. If he is standing about in the cold, it should be put on. The legs should be rubbed, and the hoofs always examined for stones. Tho Caro- of Young Pigs. l Rufus B. Martin says in his manual, ''Hog Raising and Pork Making" The future of the little pigs, their vigor and general value depends much on the care they and their mother receive during the first few weeks of their life. If they have been we'll cared for and properly fed at two months old they should be weaned. If there is a pasture at hand, turn the pigs into it and in addition feed them warm or cold slop of bran ol shorts.
 Pigs require no corn until they arc fully developed, and there is no economy in feeding it to them. Pigs from two te six months old need more muscle-f orm