The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-12-27
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
UNDER -DRAINAeE.

UNDER-DRAINAG
This system of farm improvement does not
appear to be INDUCED in to the extent that its
Importance and advantages would seem to
warrant. It is difficult matter to convince
the average farmer, and especially in the
rougher sections of the country, that it is best
for him to engage in an enterprise that becomes
so expensive as under-drainage is. Under
drainage in a soil that is free from stones and
so loose that it can easily be removed with the
shovel or by machinery is very different from
that in a soil that is filed with boulders from
the size of mans head to those four six, eight
or even 10 feet across. imbedded in a sub-soil so
firm that every inch requires to be loosened
by pick before it can be removed. The items
of expense are entirely disproportionate, and
in case of the kind last described the ques-
ton at once arises, Which is best, to enter upon
the severe labor of improving soil at an
enormous expense, or dispose of the same and
purchase land that has been improved and can
be bought with the money it would require to
improve the other2 These are conditions that
confront farmers in some sections of our coun-
try, and which have to be met manfully.-Ger-
naantown Telegraph
SEED POTATOES.
Edgar Sanders in the Prairie Farmer, says
that there is desirability in changing seed
potatoes, and mentions ease of experience,
where he pIanted his own seed in part and also
seed from the north of England of the same
variety, and found a very great difference in
yield in favor of the seed from off the farm, and
closes the statement by making the rather wild
assertion that it would pay anyone to give
away their own seed rather than plant it again
on the same kind of soil. We have no doubt
but that the planting of potatoes on the same
kind of soil tends to deterioration of both the
quantity and quality of the crop, and the rule
might be advisable when the soil of the entire
farm is uniform; but there are sections of our
country, and New England notably, in which
a single farm of even more than 150 acres con-
tans nearly every variety of soil that can be
named, and so we can imagine many cases
where the great necessity for a yearly change
of potato seed would be wholly unnecessary.
Sometimes broad statements require some modi-
fcation before being applicable.
GREAsTNG SHEEP.
As it is a difficult matter to keep sheep from
every storm, it would be good idea for sheep
growers to adopt the plan of English and
Scotch shepherds, which is too smear the sheep
thoroughly with grease, quite frequently with
butter that has been condemned. This praC-
tice tends to keep out water, which sometimes
| is ice cold Perhaps American farmers might
! secure oleomargarine for this purpose, and so
make it of some use and to purpose for which
it is better fitted than for table use. With
cheap material it costs but little to smear the
sheep, and in this way their health may be
preserved or lives prolonged.
ACTION OF SPECIAL FERTILIZERS.
Those who have been in the habit of using
special fertilizers, know full well how varied
are the results often in a way that cannot be
understood or explained. This fact only goes
to show the necessityHof careful experiments
conducted under different conditions in order
that some general conclusion may be arrived
at. This can be done upon small scale in a
comparatively inexpensive way, and would
show whether the use of the material employed,
under average circumstances and conditions,
would be likely to prove profitable in the
growth of various crops.
THE CRANBERRY CROP.
According to Bradstreef8 reports from the
most important cranberry raising districts in
! dictate a short crop, and as consequence prices
ara high. Many of these berries are raised in
| Massachusetts, especially on Cape Cod and the
shores of Buzzard's Bay. Last year the Cape
| Cod crop amounted to $500 barrels; this year
| it will fall some 10000 or $4,000 barrels short
| Some of the best berries we have seen this
size, and, what was more, were very highly
| colored, which is an important feature.
NOTES.
- calf born in Fall or Winter is worth
| two born in the Spring for profit
| 1t is said that by forcing salt into the holes
made by borers in the trees, the borers will be
| destroyed.
- Cut-worms do not like buckwheat and
| may be driven off the field, or starved out, by
| planting it with that crop.
- The water-trough needs a thorough scrub
| bling aud scaiding occasionally, or it will soon
be coated with slime.
The warmer aud more comfortable the bed
of pigs the more rapidly will they grow and
| fatten, while less food will be consumed.
- Too much grain is more detrimental to
| breeding stock than not enough The food
should be bulky, with small allowance OF
| grain.
= Mushrooms are always salable and can
be grown in any dark room cellar that Is
kept at temperature from so to so degrees.
- Maj. Alyord Condemns dehorning in toto
He says, in the Boston CutiUatOr, that it is cruel
and argues that it does not render cattle less
pugnacious.
"A heavy application of poultry manure on
places infested with Canada thistles is said t
be effective, as the manure is too strong for the
young plants.
No animal is so hardy as to require 10 at
tention. The more an animal is exposed the
less it will produce either of pork, wool, NUT
ton, beef or milk.
The Pekin duck can be kept in yards
without ponds of water, but it should have
trough to battle in, while the food should con
sst mostly Of grass or cooked roots.
- Iarred paper makes an excellent covering
and protection for cold frames at night. Ok
bagging serves we'll, but the paper is a better
non conductor of heat
Don't be afraid of the onions being injured
by cold. The point to observe is not to ALLOW
them to become too warm. Keep both onion
and sets in dry place in thin layers.
- Do not set apart a special time to clear
your house cellar. When you spill anything
clean it up. Leave nothing there that does no
belong there just because it is out of sight.
Pour brine down the sink-holes and Their
will be less liability of pipes breaking from
frost. Salt and lime should also be used freel,
where the outhouses are choked mp with ma
nure and ice.
- Clean out the seeds of beans. beets AM
peas aud put them,in WoOlen bags, with small
piece of gum camphor in each bag. Hang tn
bags in dry pldce, and occasionally shak
; them up during the Winter.
- There IS no way in which pork can be 8
, quickly and SO cheaply produced as upon
partially green diet, which the animals gal
through the wholesome exercise of picking froI
, the pastures Themselves
- Evergreen boughs make an excellent GOV