The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-09-27
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
FAVORABLE CONDITIONS.

GEaCVlCal farmers VINO are WOTh-
ing upon the soil year after year know that
there are certain conditions that must have an
influence upon growing crops. They prepare
the ground the same, manure the same as
nearly as it is possible to do So and yet the
crops from year to year viii be as unlike as it
is possible to be, almost. For instance, last
year the onion crop in the early part of the
season was one of great promise, but as the
season advanced change seemed to como over
the crop from an unknown cause that occa-
stoned, in some sections at least, an almost
total failure of the crop. The onions were
small and would not keep as well as usual.
We are led to believe that all crops are more
or less Influenced by atmospheric conditions
that are imperceptible to our senses and are
liable to occur at any time. Whether science
will ever be able to discover what these infu-
ences are or when they will occur, remains to
be seen, with the doubt preponderating
The fact that growing crops are greatly in
jured or totally destroyed by the recurrence of
conditions that science has as yet failed to
predict or explain, is very strong reason why
so many farmers are slow to recognize the
value Of science as applied to agriculture.
They fail to recognize the fact that science
cannot explain or overcome all difficulties in
agriculture any more than in other directions.
Farmers deal more extensively with nature
than any other class of laborers, and without
understanding all her laws they must not ex-
pect to be able to separate all the favorable
conditions from the unfavorable to aid them
IN a successful career Germantown Telegraph
ENRICHING BY NATURAL MEANS.
In some sections of our country there is
very strange feeling that farming does not pay,
while in other sections there is no complaint,
and observation alone shows that farming can
be made to pay. Very much depends upon the
amount of intelligence that is brought into ex-
ercise in the management of affairs. 1t is
very good idea, when tho soil from It's freedom
from stones will admit Of it, to keep the land
doing something most of the time in the way
of producing crops. Tue excellent results that
follow system of crop rotation, with a mod
crate supply of manure, recommend that
method of farming. By that system clover
comes in as an important factor in fertiliza-
ton. In seeding to grass clover Is really the
foundation and the deep extending roots which
bring up plant food from low down in the soil
will at the time of blowing, say the third year
from seeding, furnish large supply of plant
food from a source that other plants fail to
reach, which is in reality so much additio to
the stock of material otherwise at hand AS
an easy means of adding fertility as we'll as a
favorable mechanical condition to the soil,
nothing will superscde the growing of clover,
since both the atmosphere and the deeper soil
contribute to the supply.
LOW WAGONS.
We have repeatedly urged the use of low
wheeled and broad5tired wagons for general use
on the farm, and we notice the Farmers ReUjeu
has done likewise, and has elected the follow
ing details OF experience from two of its sub
scrlbers, one residing in Missouri and the other
In Colorado.
AS regards low and high-wheeled wagons,
will say that | have been using low ones for
the last two years-30- inch hind wheel, 26-inch
front. / see very Little difference in the draft,
though no doubt they do pull a little heavier
than the high-wheel wagon, and / should not
think of using them on long hauls, but in haul
ing hay and manure distances of not over
mile, it really seems TO me immaterial whether
wagon turns little hard or not so long as you
do not put Oh over ton and half to horse
by manure wagon IS l4x7; my hay wagon
1919, perfectly fat on top, same as a drag. I
think the worst fault in the construction of
farm wagons is the disproportion between the
hight Of the hind and front wheels, and that
the tires are much too narrow"
Il can respond to your request by giving
some experience with loW-wheeled wagons.
Only once, several years ago, saw an ad. Of
lSN-oJyi0 naEOIlS JHb piCbuEb anu USScTIpJlOu
of which pleased me so well that had my hard
ware dealer send for it. The wheels are 81 and
40 inches with 3 and 31-inch tire. The front
wheels can turn completely round under the
bed, which makes it extremely handy to turn
round. Bed is nearly by IA feet al inches
deep, with good provisions for extra side boards,
which are seldom needed. Contrary to my ex-
pectations, we have never discovered it to run
heavier than common wagons, and l should be
inclined TO prefer it even for long Journey
while on tue farm / would have no other that
/ know Of. lately disposed of this wagon to
drayman at nearly first cost, and he thinks it
d bonanza, while sent for two new ones, which
l found greatly strengthened and improved,
though l had discovered no weakness or def
cheney. They are warranted TO bear 5000
pounds, and l should not hesitate to put it on,
though they weigh little ifany more than com
mon. L would not intimate the makers ad-
dress, as think they can well afford to adyer-
tise IT. and cannot see why they do not. "-Ex-
change.
NOTES.
Potatoes for exhibition at fairs are often
polished off" SO as to present their best ap-
pearance, by dipping each specimen in milk
and rubbing it with WOODEN cloth when nearly
dry.
The tract known as the Florida Mead
ows," in Orange County, N. Y, contains about
thousand acres of land devoted to onion Gull
ture. The crop varies from 300, 600 to 500. 600
bushels of onions annually number of
growers have as many as 20 acres under euIti-
walton. The land is worth from $3.50 to 5000
per acre.
Now is a good time to begin to think about
preparations for warming water for your cows
to drink this Winter. E. W. Stuart, in the
Country Gentleman, says water should be warmed
to Summer temperature Of from go to 70 de-
grees. Experiments show that such warming
produces gain Of from to per cent. in the
yield of milk but, of course, the rst thing TO
secure is a warm and well-ventilated stable. 1t
would be a waste TO warm water in cold stable
As illustrating the extreme susceptibility
of milk to odors, Henry Stewart relates the fol-
lowing: u have detected the odor of tobacco
smoke in butter churned from the cream sub
! jected to the odors of pipes smoked in room
adjoining dairy, and by the man while he
was at work An instance which shows this
| constituencies of milk and cream once happen-
ed in my dairy. 4 skunk got into the dairy
| through the drain and ate the cream. When
detected, he was driven out and shot as he
emerged from the drain. The overpowering
odor tainted everything in the dary-miIk,
cream, butter not packed, and some packed in
tubs Everything had to be destroyed. The
| butter was made into soap.
Canadian Annexation.