The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-09-15

Analysis shows this, and a COW given
her choice of the two, confirms the
verdict of chemical science. The
stalks improve until the ars r
fully formed and begin to harden.
OATS FOR FALL FEED.
Wherever scattering oats fall dur
ing harvest they will attain growth
of twelve to fifteen inches in height
and occasionally head out before
checked bv frost. The ground is
not titled, and the oats lie on the
ground a week or more before the
rains sprout them and give a foot
hold. When Fall feed is likely to
otherwise occupied will make growth
enough to pay the if only to lie on
the ground as a covering during the
Winter.
MILK FEVER.
T. S. Cooper, the well-known
breeder of dairy cattle, sayshe never
lost a COW with milk fever when
the following precautions were
taken before calving: "Do not feed
the COW with any grain, and give
her only timothy hay Ono clover)
and water; if feshy give her wheat
straw and meal instead of hay.
Three weeks before ~calving give her,
twice a week, one ounce Of saltpetre
dissolved in cold water, and when
you see she is quite near calving, say
within two or three hours, give her
II pounds Of EPSON salts with a
tablespoonful Of ginger and gentian."
OF POOR STOCK.
After harvest, while warm weather
continues, all stock past-its prime
should be fed extra, in order to fat
ten and sell before Winter. 1t will
fatten now much more rapidly than
later in the season. But fattening
old animals is always a difficult mat
ter, and to sell them as they are will
often pay we'll, provided it can be
done. Young animals ofevery kind
give the greatest gain in proportion
to feed, and no thrifty farmer will
keep animals long after they begin
to deteriorate. It is not worth while
to strike for high prices. Poorstock
will nearly always sell formore than
it is really worth.
IMPROVEMENT ON THE TOMATO.
Few garden vegetables have had
greater improvement wrought on
them than has been made in the to-
mato. When first introduced for
use, thirty-fve or forty years ago,
only one or two varieties were known.
These were rough shaped, watery
with abundant seeds, and scarcely
anything excepting seeds and skin.
Only in exceptionally good seasons
would the bulk Of the crop ripen.
Greater earliness was the first i'm
provement aimed at. But by care
full selection and growing from the
best, new varieties as smooth as an
apple and firm feshed have been
produced. The tomato is now used
for making excellent preserves, a
use that tomatoes as grown thirty
| five or forty years ago were wholly
unfit for.
DRAINS FROM BARNYARDs.
1t is difficult keeping a drain that
leads from the barnyard in good
running condition. The alteration
of manure water through the soil
in time s%aturates it SO that it's fertili-
zing properties escape into the drain.
This involves a serious loss, and
almost equally as bad, the manure
water coming in contact with air
in the drain induces the formation
of fungus growth on it's side. These
extend very rapidly when once
formed, and are exceedingly difficult
to get rid of. A tile, once affected,
if taken out and cleaned, soon fills
again, even if left in another place.
The soil through which the soakings
of the barnyard enter the drain
should be removed once a year and
fresh soil put in it's place. 1t will
pay to do this for it's manurial value
besides saving the drain. s"
COVERING SEED EVENLY.
Most seeds of grain, especially
those sown in the Fall are apt to be
covered too deeply. In a dry time
the drill wheels sink down into the
soil and this carries the tubes with
them. Grain seed is thus deposited