The National tribune., 1888-01-12
OUR RURAL- TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
rHE AMERrcAN vARIEr1Es.

The Ohio Poultry Journal says: Fowls OF |
American origin have popularity about them |
in spite of the fact that much of the blood in |
their veins comes from foreign stock. Take, |
for instance, the Plymouth Rock. No general |
purpose fowl that could compare with them |
existed before their introduction. Here we |
have clean-cut business bird, no nonsense or
superhuous " flnb-dubs" about him. He hasn't |
got "top-knot," or whiskers, or five toes, and |
he doesn't need them. he has got the proper |
shape, smooth legs, richly tinted skin and sweet
meat that form the Yankees ideal table fowl |
The same may be said of the Wyandottes.
They were made by Americans, for Americans,
because there was demand for such fowl
and in this country when a demand exists an
untiring and usually successful effort is made
to fill it. American breeds are the hardest in
our climate, unless killed by in-breeding.
They stand extreme hot weather better than
Asiaties, and extreme cold better than nom
sitters. They are completely acelimated, and
under equal care will succeed better than any
other for general all-around use where fowl
for both meat and eggs is desired.
FEEDING SHEEP.
1t is an easy rule for feeding sheep, to feed
what they will eat. We have numerous inqui-
ries, in consequence of the shortness of feed, as
to what to feed sheep. When there is plenty
of everything, it is well to discuss the question
of proper feeding. When feed is short, about
all that can be done is to lay down the simple
rule that we have stated. In fact, that rule is
not to be altogether disregarded at any time.
There may be, and is, a choice of foods among
those that sheep will eat with relish, but it is
mistake to feed what they do not relish.
Il IL
considerable degree of certainty. The fact
that all animals need change in food should
be fully recognized, though some enormously
claim that sheep do not. Any animal will tire
of food that is fed exclusively for months,
and when in that condition they will not do as
well as they ought to- Western RaraE.
FLOWING FROZEN GROUND.
Sometimes land may be proftably plowed In
Winter when slightly frozen. A thin slice of
frozen earth is no serious obstruction to the
plow with good cutter in advance, nor is it
any injury when turned to the bottom of the
furrow. Rather curiously, it makes the land
warmer and dryer early in Spring than it
would otherwise be. The explanation of this
singular fact is that the frozen earth holds the
furrow up and prevents it from becoming al
compact as it otherwise would fall, especially
il wet. While the frozen slice at the bottom
thaws by internal heat of the soil beneath it,
the furrow above 1t meanwhile freezes, thus
insuring not only disintegration of soil to that
depth, but a looseness of texture that admits
the warm air in Spring when the furrow thaws
out A heavy sod plowed when there is q very
thin slice of frozen soil among the grass roots
makes particularly mellow seed bed in Spring
The frost works it down about IS well as work.
ing on it half the Summer could do.
NOTES.
-Beets are much relished by and very good
for milch COWS.
= Californian wool growers do not want the
tariff changed.
= Most house plants VIII do well in the
kitchen window.
- Butter should be kept at temperature Of
about so degrees.
- IF your vegetables freeze, let them thaw
naturally, and avoid handling them.
Export freight rates are now about $13
| bullock on live cattle.
Put salt in the food you feed the swine
and thus help to prevent hog cholera.
- is not well to commence fattening hogs
from birth, as they are more liable to disease.
The cattle upon the Canadian Northwest
| ranches have increased more than 40 per cent
Kentucky produces 81 per cent. of the
total leaf tobacco crop of the United States
- Seventy tons of Canadian turkeys were
shipped in single day for Liverpool and Lon
don.
- For every 81 900 expended for -four in this
bacco.
- The shipments of potatoes have been so
| numerous that the price is not in excess Of the
ordinary rate.
Ii is asserted that there are % alien land
holders who own 20, TAI, 900 acres in this country
Wheat is worth go cents in East Saginaw
The farmers refuse to bring it over their bad
roads.
Orion, Mich, has shipped $4,000 bushels of
turnips and $1,000 bushels of potatoes this last
Fall.
= Blowing smoke, by use of bellows, into
gopher holes is recommended as q sure method
of destroying the pest.
| The swamp lands of Levy Co.. Fla, are
said to furnish the greater part of the worlds
supply of pencil wood.
The large turkey and goose quills are In
demand now because Of the manufacture of the
new elastic bono featherbone."
- When you shiver around your warm fire
these wintry nights, remember the cattle, and
see to it promptly that they are as comfortable
as possible.
- The dumb animals are in our keeping, and
we owe it to them that all their wants are
| promptly supplied. IL we cannot do this, we
should promptly relinguish oHr charge of them.