The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-09
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
TREATMENT OF MICH COWS.

made therefrom. The best time is when the
cows are eating, or are fall, and quietly chew
ing the cud Gently wipe of the udder and
teats with dry, soft cloth, and see that they
are quitd clean. If by any accident they get
very dirty, wash with tepid water and dry per-
fectly before milking. The milking when once
commenced should be performed rapidly and
the teats stripped to the last drop. The motion
should be regular. and particular care should be
taken TO avoid pulling and jerking the teats
while the operator is earelessly chatting.
If the COW is fresh and giving q very large
amount of milk, do not hesitate to milk her
three times day. 1t is foolish notion that
the milking qualities of the animal are injured
thereby. Injury is far more likely to result
from an udder overstrained by the weight Of
milk
1t is not only at milking time that gentle
ness should be used, but it should be an inva-
riable rule on the farm to allow no harshness of
any description. A very watchful eye should
be kept on the boys who bring the cows up at
milking time. The youngsters are far too fond
of taking along the dogs aud having regular
cowboy time with the unfortunate animals
committed TO their care. Sticks, stones, dogs,
and an occasional tail-twisting is by no means
the best method TO procure good flow OF milk
and good -tempered animals. Many cases of
garget and other ills may be traced to this kind
of usage, besides the loss in the diminished
quantity of milk and the general bad health of
the animal.
PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE OF FARMING.
While book farming" is by no means to be
despised when used IN connection with prac-
| teal knowledge OF agriculture. farms are, of
course, the place to learn most Of the important
points in regard to agriculture. They are the
only schools worth naming so far as acquiring
practical knowledge in farming is concerned.
| Teaching by object lessons is effective. The
things we see, the things We do, are better re-
membered and better understood than the
| things we hear read about. Learn the prac-
tice OF farming on good farm.
PREPARE THE GROUND PROPERLY.
Every farmer knows or should know, the
/ vast Importance of a good seedbed. No seed
can properly terminate aud draw due amount
of nourishment from the soil that is not worked
down to a condition OF extreme fneness.
1t should be borne in mind that every hard
lump OF earth is almost as useless for plant food
as a stone. The timespent in thoroughly harrow.
ing the ground will trebly repay for the time
and trouble expended thereon. There isanothel
reason, too, for the necessity of making per
fcctly level surface, and that is the additional
facility which will be added 10 the gathering o.
crops the following season.
Great injury is also frequently done to reap
ing and moving machines by coming in con
tact with hard Jumps of ground. The advan
tage to be gained in getting a good stand o
grass is not TO be Oyerestimated. The gras
| seed is so tiny that IL requires the finest ground
TO terminate 1t. Do not begrudge the time o
going once OF twice more than usual over you
field this Fall when preparing for your crop o
| Winter wheat.
NOTELETs.
The american Agdeait,Tist advocates tn
feeding of unthrashed oats to horses, say
ing, THAT for grain to be we'll digested
is necessary it should be eaten with som,
sort of slower Wa IIay cut the hay, mix /
aud the grain together. and moisten the mix
ture; but we accomplish the same thing NOR
economically by feeding unfinished oats, 10
then the grain. all the chat and part of tn
straw are masticated together"
- Provide watering places for your cows, $
that they will not have to travel long distance
TO drink. Unless you do your cows will <
| without water until they get very thirsty
When they do drink, they will drink too muc
and make themselves feverish. This is con
dition unfavorable to the production of tn
largest quantity of the best quality of milk.
The practical value of farm horse shout
not be judged by the work he is able to pei
form in a day or week, but by the amour
he can do all they year round. 1t is the every
day horse" that IS worth the most money on
farm.
A man may have the best known breed {
fowls, and if they are not properly cared fC
they will not give satisfaction.
If farmer makes but little effort, and
content TO drive an old scrubby team, and sea-
ter little fodder 10 "Old Brindle." while sur
fish hogs and hairy, worthless sheep eomplei
the livestock outfit, that man 10 q miserabl
r failure.
- The last month OF so of pigs life has
great influence upon the flesh Of the ANNA
You can put on the frame all through the yea
I but the flavor is largely determined by til
, feeding during the latter period of fatteninJ
The same is true of ali animals.
- Never plant tree with bruised root
Carefully prue OF the injured ends, AS clear
cut roots throw out rootlets far quicker tina
| bruised ones.
, 1t is, as general thing, as bad policy [
! dose farm animals as human beings; bJ
there can be little doubt that occasionally dose
of turpentine, sulphur aud charcoal. mike
with their feed, help 10 keep pigs in good cor
! ditiOn. If these are given once IN a while, th
hog cholera will not be so likely to appear
but pure food and water and clean pens wi
do far more towards keeping animals health
| imam Hll the pDNslC III the Woriu
The harness is injured and tho hors,
rendered liable TO disease by allowing th
: ammonia to escape Plenty of dry dirt or niue
: will absorb it, and the use of these substanc,
will, therefore, not only assist in avoidiG
waste of valuable fertiliZing material but pr
; vent annoyance TO stock from gaseous sui
, stances.
, - Members Of the Elmira IN. " Farmer
t, Club at q late meeting asserted that immune
. | ILL haura ahn hat nfr 70
| cedar would last indefinitely, certainly a hui
= dred years, for posts are now standing in tn
{ vicinity which have been set and reset man
:, times, covering a period of 50 years or NOR
| and they are still sound
If farmer wishes 10 educate his boz
c that they may become good and contented f.
a lowers Of his own clliag, his first step shou
. be 10 educate himself In order that he nus
make successful farmers Of them he must hiI
: self have a just understanding of the pos
a bilities of his vocation aud genuine love 4
!: farm work.
u Now the weeds, briars and thistles by d
/ roadside, and if tho seeds are so far maiur'
e that they will be likely TO terminate make
:. bondfre of them.
e - Says the st. Paul Farmer: "a compar
! lively ignorant man ,may,hit on the best meth'
: of raising u crop, hnt success in farming do
n not depend on lucky hits at random. Eve
e movement must tell ,toR definite end, and
keen eye must detect any mistakes"
O -rrr D.
!. Strange Sight IN Charleston.