The National tribune., 1886-07-08
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
po 80 YoUE NEIanBoR, &c.

pertinent paragraph; al All men were aetu-
a.ed by the principlesof morality and justice to
their neighbors there would be less concealed
ill-feeling among farmers to those who live
across the road. 1t Is quite common to see
farm on one side OF a road infested with injuri-
Gus insects ard weeds, not TO speak Of maraud-
ing animals permitted 20 roam on the highways
and tTcspa5s on neighborsi lawns and gardens,
and even on the crops. On the other side is
farmer who patiently gives half his time and
much wearisome labor to fighting the swarns
Of tent caterpillars, apple worms, currant
worms, potato beetles tree borers, and other
pcrnicious insects which swarm from their
breeding grounds across the road or fence, or in
rcplantng gardens, shrubs, and trees which
have been wrecked by the cattle escaped
through open gates or bad fences. Readers
whom these remarks fit may see their justice
when their attention is called TO them, for 1t IS
"Reminiscences and not intention which is the
cause Of the wrong done But the wrong and
injury are Just as irritating and hurtfol
although they are not done with design"
Humps IL cows TEATs.
The way to prevent Jumps forming in cows
teats is TO milk them clean and then thoroughly
squeeze in order to dislCdge every particle Of
casein or butter fat which may have adhered
70 the passage. If left in the Udder teats 1t VIII
be likely 70 cause cailOus to form around IL and
stop up the passage 70 the tcat. Careless drying
up OF cows is the chief cause of Jumps and stop
pages in the milk ducts. Sometimes bruise
or inflammation viii start lump. and as il
iFritatos the lining membrane q sore is started
aud the membrane is thickened and grows
around it and so forms callOus bunch. There
is no cure OF which we are aware, but the in
sertion OF a milking tube will do much TO
mitigate the trouble.
TIE VALUE or GYPSUM.
The rule in using gypsum should be little
at time aud often. il is best applied on the
leaves and before rain, but in Midsummer
or after it viii increase the size Of ears of corn
when a second application is made, gs compared
with that only plastered early in the season.
Its extraordinary effect on vegetation under
some circumstances suggests the idea that IL
has often some power to decOnpcse air aud
make its nitrogen available as plant food. II
this theory is correct, one Can well afford 20
apply gypsum frequently in the hope Of Occa-
siOnally hitting the right time and condition
for receiving the most benefit.
Potato CULTURE.
For several years past q series OF experiments
have been conducted in England on several
methods Of planting and cutiy1ting the potato.
The result is that billing or eaIthing up
produced the best qualify.Of tnbeTs, but deep,
level culture gave the larger yield. The ex-
pertinent OF planting whole or cut tubers gives
a decided testimony IN favor Of the former.
| Thinning the plants 20 four or five diminishes
the amount Of small tubers and increases the
weight Of the aggregate crop. Potatoes hilled
or earthel up are less liAllo 20 rot than those
produced by level calfura
APPLYING IAEUEE PROPERLY.
| Most farmers draw what manure they have
4 land thin the hest ia
enough to tie prof.abls cropped without it
4 The result is a fairly god crop from q large
i acreage, but with low pfites little il aay more
1 than the necessary expense Of growing il. Tine
reform here needed "a getting the poorest land
I IN grass where it win be less expense, aud vii
Y be, however slowly, craving more fertile
/ Then apply what manure can be got on the bes
land, grow large crops, and use the profits OF
-these in improving tire remainder Of the farm
DAIRY EorEs.
l. OLD pasture makes the best OF butter.
+ Good pasture makes plenty Of butter.
TIE milk must be clean to get good butter,
Use ono ounce Of salt % the pound OF butter
Chnrn often II You w0uld have sweet butter
Sell as fast as made 70 get the most for th'
butter.
wash out tie buttorniIl if you want goOt
butter.
sl:immiag at the right time prevents raneit
butter.
Pack it as soon as salted if you want to keel
the butter.
Stirring the cream frequently viii make NOR
butter
churn at G. degrees to get the cream quiczes
into butter.
E0TELETs.
A mess Of feed given TO q cow while she j
being MIXED draws hel attention, and she wiz
not hold up the milk o. ccws are apt 70 do whei
the calf is taken from them. The milking cal
be done more thoroughly, IS well as quicker
when the cow is quietly eating. And If fe'
tGrnips OF cabbage at this time the Odor vii
not affect the milk.
kerosene oil will take rust off from iron
time enough r. given; but for quick work a FEY
drops Of sulphuric acid rubbed on the rust i
preferable But the iron must be we'll secure,
and little oil poured On Is soon as the rust
removed. The acid viii eat into the iron an,
form more rust unless this precagtiOn isattende
TO.
While not believing much in dosing an
farm animals, or even human beings, there cal
be no doubt that occasionally doses of tuFpen
tine, sulphur and charcoal, mixed with thei
feed, help to keep pigs in good condition.
these are given once week, the hog choler
will not appear
The root Of a tree that is to be transplante
should be pruned. A bruised root does nc
throw ont rootlets like a clean-cut one.
49, A farmer ought 90 nave yaseline about Ia
barn. For wounds, sores, inflammatiOns. etc
there is no saiyc 50 healing aud autiseptic O
80 agreeable 10 handle ~ this. 10 is not a my
terious mixture, sold as a great animal specif
yet il has many virtues. aud farmers would q
well to use it often In cases where one hesitate
as to what can be best used. 1t il perfect
harmless.
- The following general rules viii apply j
the selection Of calves 10 DO raised for dair
COWS: The head should not be over large, tn
neck thin rather than thick. and the skin Do
sessing a soft feel that can only be judged b
an expert Look 70 the escutcheon aud mil
veins These are as good indications Of chal
acter as the pedigree.
~ good horse, over nine years Old, on Oh
! 70 have 10 years OF work in him, and in fac.
often "a be- ter purchase than young horse. II
has been tested, and ~ weak spots had bee
found the horse would have been lame, blen
ished or dead. -
- litter OF pigs farroNhd in Spring or Sun
mer grow rapidly Il At iasture, because Ia
green foods keeps the pigs digestion good an
enables il 70 get fug benefit from any otht
food that may be eaten lH
- IL young pig should happen to die Will
the litter is with the SOW. Jemove promptly an
bury, that the SOW cannot get at it to eat
and thus give her amappetite for the live one
- Many farmers eaatinue 10 keep shoes O
/; their horses during the Moving and corn Gu
tiyating season. IL VII 81 relief to the nor
aud benefit his feet u DO relieved of shoes (,
/ the blowing season. p -
- The best remedyto cure warts on a COW
| bag is fresh butter siuBmered in strong yinega