The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-05-27
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
RAISING COLLIE

be taken in. the handling Of colts. 1t is Of
course great deal of trouble for the driver or
workman to allow the colt to run with its
mother. This occasions great deal of incon-
venience both on the road and in the field, as
the little fellow is constantly getting into all
kinds of mischief, sometimes jumping into the
traces, and occasionally even exhibiting his
agility by endeavoring to jump over the plow
or harrow. On the road he is especially trou-
blesome running backwards and forwards
about his mother and other horses, and fire.
quently turning around and gnlloping after q
strange team but il is better and more profit
able to endure this inconvenience than to shut
the foal up in the stable during the day and
only allowing him access to his dam during the
night and at noon. This is inhumane to both
mother and offspring and frequently causes
considerable injury to the health of both. If
kept apart from her offspring, the udder of the
mother necessarily becomes distended during
the day and the milk consequently heated and
feverish. This, Of course, is not healthful for
the young foal to drink. If allowed to run
with his dam he becomes accustomed to the
surroundings of the field, and also to the road,
the passing wagons, ETC., and thus takes his
first lesson for usefulness.
HOW BEES WORK FOR THE FARMER.
An exchange publishes the following excel
lent paragraph in regard to an error which has
existed from time almost immemorial: "When
some stock-raiser sees a neighborihg bee
keeper have tons Of honey gathered from his
meadows, he thinks he has been robbed, and
his clover is less sweet for his cattle. He pom
ders over it until he concludes he is a much
abused individual, and must have redress in
some way. He does not see what no has gained;
forgetting that crops will flourish all the
more when flowers mats by rihed store Bees
have a big job on their hands fertilizing the
crops of the farmers. Clover would become ex-
tinct if il were not for their labors, and corn,
buckwheat, and other plants are benefited by
their presence. Many flowers have their own
fertilizing insects and cannot propagate with
out their agency. Dicentra spectabilis perfects
no seed in this country, because its fertilizing
moth has never been imported. Messrs. Far
mer, Gardener Horticulturist and Stock raiser,
the bee is your servant and appears TO have
been created especially for your benefit The
honey that is secreted in the hectares Of flow
ers is apparently for no other purpose than q
free lunch spread for the bees, inviting them to
come and dine; and as they partake and fill
their sacs with nectar, and pack their panniers
with bread, they act as messengers carrying the
FEEDISa THE HoRsE.
The constant feeding Of whole grain TO O
horse Is most wasteful and expensive way Of
keeping that animal, and, besides, the best re-
suits are not STAINED by that method. We
strongly recommend cut feed, or, as it is COM
monty called, chop" as the staple diet of the
horse although, of course, an occasional feed
of whole oats or corn Is very good. For old
horses this feed is especially good, being castor
of digestion and not requiring such keen teeth
TO prepare il for swallowing This method OF
preparing the food has another and powerful
reason to recommend il. 1t obviates the dam
ger arising from the constant use Of dry hay
namely, lung and throat trouble from inhaling
the dust which is always present in larger or
smaller quantities Wetting the hay, of course,
does away with this trouble. Then, again,
when the ground feed and hay are mixed il
makes a balance or proper constituents, which
are all taken into the stomach at the same time,
and the combination Of fine and coarse material
greatly aids digestion.
A HOMEMADE ROLLER
The Chicago Journal gives the following ex-
cellent aud cheap method Of making service
able roller: "A farmer has no excuse for going
without farm roller when he can construct
one that will last generation by utilizing the
wheels of discarded mower. Just drill holes
in the rim for bolts, and bolt On pieces of two
by four hard wood scantling, beveling the edges
so as TO make close joints on the outside. Get
an iron shaft long enough TO hold a wooden
frame outside the roller, put in a tongue, and
PROFIT FROM COWS.
IL Is a good cow that will pay her cost In O
years sale of butter besides furnishing milk foI
family use. But it is only such cows that far.
mer keeping but one animal can afford to own
Usually poor families keeping only one COW
have that of superior merit. In large herds
owned by slow farmers there will be a number
of culls, which, like the lean kind in Pharoah's
dream, eat up the profits from the others.
EoTELETs
- IL Is alleged that counterfeit butter has TO.
| duced the price Of mich COWS in the United
States % per cent
Feed grain 70 sheep st night rather than
in the morning. In every flock there are sew.
eral sheep who do not get an appetite for grain
early in the day.
Don't hurry your stock to pasture. Walt
until the ground is settled and the grass wei
started. III the stock get little taste of grass
they have no appetite for dry food, and with
scanty supply of grass they are sure to suffer 10
flesh and in milk.
Farmers raising colts from mares intended
TO do work on the farm, should either have the
colts come in the Fall, or very early in the
/
work on the farm in the busy season.
- Give all the harness an oiling now, becaus.
the oil will be absorbed better than when tn,
weather is warm. Take the harness to piece.
| and wash it clean with lukewarm water using
a dull knife about the buckles TO remove thu
dirt.
The American CHltirator says that If heal
of manure be placed on one side of an apple ire,
the branches on that side will produce frui
while other parts Of the tree may be barren
which confirms the belief that the plant foot
taken up by certain roots is devoted to main
tanning corresponding parts of the tree rathe
than going into a common stock to be draw
upon alike by all, which may account for des'
limbs on trees
To cure cow Of the habit of sucking her
SELF says the Jersey Bulletin, make a saturate,
tincture Of powdered aloes aud alcohol, keep i
in mucilage bottle. tightly corked, and pain
the end Of each teat with the mixture, and tn
cow will soon become disguised.
In breeding stock on the farm do not b
tempted to sell the best. but dispose of the in
feriOr animals first. BY carefully selecting an
retaining the very best every year, the value o
the stock will be Increased and larger profit
secured.
1t is estimated that Ohio has 100000 les
sheep and viii have moro than 100000 les
pounds Of wool this Spring than two years agt
"A Connecticut farmer states that he keep
fodder best by sailing it. He salts it after it
thoroughly dry and ends the stalks free frQr
the mold, while stock eat it with more avidity
Corn and potatoes may often DO top-dresse
TO advantage after planting, providing fine ma
nnre is used. The cultivation of these crop
during the season will mix the manure wit
the soil much more perfectly than it could
If plowed under.