The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-05-20
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
THE KITCHEN GARDEN.

country to see the farmers table so lily sup
piled with vegetables, as they naturally suppose
that if any family in the world should be fully
supplied with all that the garden can produce,
that family should be the farmers. As matter
of fact though in many cases. the average city
table is far better supplied than that of the
farmer. This should not be the case, as very little
labor is required to keep garden in good run
ming order when it is once started, and moth
ing tends more to the health of the family than
plentiful supply of fresh vegetables. Small
fruits, too, should not be neglected, as they
form most agreeable and wholesome reiishes,
and can be raised at small expense.
MIND IN FARMING.
The idea has generally prevailed in the past,
and possibly more by farmers than others, that
for the business of farming but little intellect
ual training was Necessary. A willingness to
work ON in the old routine that has been trans
mitted from the practices Of the past was all
that could be safely relied on for success. This
narrow view, born and kept alive by ignorance
only, is a mistaken fallscy Of the past, fast
dying out rather than the sentiment of intelli-
gent present thought. The agriculture of
to-day is not based on manual labor alone. The
education of the mental faculties, as well as
the training of the hand to work skillfully, is
recognized as an essential in fitting for the life
work of the farm. Upon these, intelligence
and labor combined, rest the hope of progress
in agriculture. And yet it may be questioned
if farmers fully appreciate the value TO their
children of home training and education in
the work and in the business Of the farm.
Each year there 20 out from the farm young
men and women TO assume the work of man.
aging farms for themselves. Are these young
men and young women as well educated and
trained in the work and business affairs Of the
farm as they, the sons and daughters of farm
ers, ought, with their opportunities, to be?
We fear there is yet too much of indifference
in parents in teaching their children the bust
ness of farming, not only as a trade, but as a
profession. 1t ought to be kept constantly in
view that the training and education needed
by the farmer can largely be learned at home
and that the practical knowledge thus gained
will be of inestimable value-so much capital
with which to begin the business Of farming
Maine Farmer.
GOTELETs.
The devices for feeding calves by an arti-
fetal bag with rubbeIs for teats are rot so ad-
vantageous in practice as in theory. As the
animal grows older il must learn to drink by
putting its mouth down to the water. The up
ward turn of the head, as in sucking, though
natural. should be unlearned as quickly as pos
sibie. A calf thus trained would always nat
urally take to sucking cows and it will be diff
cult TO break the habit. This method may be
an advantage for feeding calves intended to be
fattened, as they viii gain faster when sucking
milk from the pail
There is difficulty in storing soft corn in
large lots, as it easily rnoulds and becomes in
furious 10 stock and sometimes even poisonous.
Ii is believed that many cases of sickness in
cattle and hogs are due to feeding rotten or
m0ldy corn. AS soft corn cannot be ground
readily the best ussof it is 10 feed il whole to
fattening or milch cattle early in the season.
II is better for feeding whole to these than the
hard ears while the latter are much the best
for hogs.
- Because you have but short distance 10
90 is no reason why you can drive faster or put
on a heavier load than usual To 90 two or
three miles at too rapid gait is much harder
upon horse than il would to be TO go five
times As far If ii was propely driven.
An English farmer has made the discovery
that his carefully-kept farm accounts, in which
every transaction is noted as it OCCURS and
everything necessary TO the calculations which
I had not actually been bought or sold was val
ued at market prices, have demonstrated that,
after making allowance for the large death-rate
of cows, sheep keeping has paid him better
than dairying By about 80 per cent.
What is said 10 be the largest barn in the
world is situated at Papillion, Neb., covers FIVE
acres, cost SIPS. 600, and shelters $3.50 head Of
cattle. IL is the intention of the owner to en-
large its capacity so as to protect 5000 The
| immense structure Is used for the purpose OF
fattening cattle after they have been three OF
four years on the ranges. The great barn ha;
a complete system OF water works, and is thor
oughly washed twice every day. The cattle
are fed upon cooked meal-one man feeds the
| whole herd. All he has to do is to turn a large
faucet and let the feed run to them.
IF you want TO get the full capacity out o.
your horses without injury, use moderation a
the beginning of every task you impose upoI
them.
The shallow rooted timothy and deep-root
ing clover feed in different depths of soil, snC
hence 20 well together. Mammoth clover ripeni
more nearly with timothy than medium clover
but its stems are coarser and not liked by farm
stock except swine.
There were used last year in the State o
New Jersey 100000 tons of commercial fertili
zers. 1t is estimated that two-thirds Of thi
was used for garden and fruit crops.
1t is good plan 70 have two sets Of roost
ing poles for the hens, and change them eacl
week, setting them outside when not IN use.
Leave plenty OF potato to your potato-ey
If you want strong plants.
- AS rule, the greater degree 70 which farm
: products seeking market can be concentrate
in bulk and weight, the greater profit to tn
producer.
Barn manure, aside from its mechanical
effects, is the same as the concentrated fertili
GERS, except that il is less soluble. If we coul
burn the barnyard manure and preserve il
nitrogen we should have what We apply as
chemical fertilizer.
- Look after the small things Of the farm
Larger profits in proportion TO the cost Of pre-
duetiOn are realized from sales Of butter, egg
spring chickens, asparagus, etc, than from th
main crops.
Good tllage is the strongest weapon wit
which the farmer can fight hard times and gal
, success. Imperfect culture on the other hant
! will scarcely enable him 10 gain living froI
the richest soil, and the soil will deteriorat
, rapidly in qualityfrom,suc treatment beside
! "A sprinkling Of very mild mixture
/ carbolic acid in water will drive away th
! radish flea. So wal sprnkling Of road dul
= or ashes, or anything gritty.
, Benjamin Z. Wares remark in an essay o
Corn Culture" that the corn of this countr,
during the 100 days required for its maturit!
grows 70 the extent Of s., 5000 in value pc
= day, amazes one on first thought He plac,
the corn crop at 1900 1000 bushels, and at a
, average price as worths$Si6, 100000. This SUI
IS twice the value, Of the wheat crop for ISS
: three times the value of the cotton crop an
: more than 10 times the value of the produc
n of the gold and silver mines together.
If you would have orderly stock go aroun
/ the Dasture and Dut Ina fence in ordar hafo,