The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-23
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
A HuMRua.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I saw q COM
munication in your paper of Feb 2 from Dom
elsville, O., in regard to that 9Odays seed corn.
That fellow has wonderful way of getting his
advertising free. Some time ago he had about
the same thing on oats. As don't want to sea
the good old NATIONAL TRIBUNE and my COM
rades imposed on, / thought would write and
tell you it is humbug. He says he has no
corn to sell by the bushel or peck. OF course
not, when he can get 10 cents for few grains
from the thousands of subscribers to THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE, / have no doubt but that
he will get 10-cent pieces by the thousands 1t
is game tat has been carried on at Donels-
vile for several years. Two years ago the To-
ledO Blade published about the same article,
and some of my neighbors drove 20 miles to see
the wonderful man and the wonderful corn.
They pronounced it wonderful swindle.-
CHARLES BRELsFoRD, Co. F, 9th Ohio, Ballou,
o.
FUEL FOR WINTER.
As general rule those farmers who are pos
sessed of tracts of woodland place their depend
ence for fuel upon that source of supply. We
have frequently mentioned the apparent mecca
sity of having supply always on hand, and to
add to that supply from time to time, so that it
may not be very greatly diminished. We fear
that more than one farmer in the West and
New England States has felt the Importance of
this in the severity of the weather that has
visited many sections of the country with
continued depressed temperature. If degree
Of cold such as to endanger life by much ex-
posture does not suggest the pressing necessity
of bountiful supply of fuel, we fear nothing
will. There is always an opportunity for the
labor necessary for the procurement of fuel at
times when other farm duties are not pressing,
and when it can be done without serious incon-
yenienee, and then is the time itshOuid bedone.
There is no danger of getting too much, for one
never knows the emergencies that may occur,
such as sickness in Winter, when extra fires
must be had, or in severe cold weather, when
double the quantity is required for ordinary
comfort. We venture the assertion that dou-
bic the amount Of fuel was consumed in Janu-
ary that has been in the same month for 20
GsrgsGat0Vn Telegraph.
SELECT YOUR SEEDS.
Now that the dealers of vegetable seeds are dis
| tributing their eatalogs, farmers should, while
they have the leisure of long Winter evenings,
| make a selection Of those varieties that are
| most desirable. Notwithstanding the fact that
country merchants are supplied with large
| quantities at prices little below those Of regu-
| lar seed houses, it is our firm conviction that
seeds obtained from reliable houses at even a
considerably greater cost will prove the cheap
est in the end. It is too often the case that
box seeds fail to terminate, and besides the loss
of money there is loss of time far moro vslua-
BILE. So we say in this matter, make haste
| judioiously.
CARE OF ANIMALs.
| Il is 20 be regretted that there are to be
| found among those who call themselves farmers
90 many cases in which there is apparent
neglect IN the care of animals which presents
| itself with much greater force during period
| of severe weather such es has been experienced
| during the present Winter. 1t is downright
cruelty to animals to allow them to remain out
OF doors exposed to the freezing blasts, when
shelter may az well be provided. Given sufi-
| ciont number Of animals that are exposed dur
| ing the Winter, If they are fed proportionste
| to the increased demand for food TO provide
| suitable animal heat and the increased quantity
of food consumed would go very far towards
! the erection Of sll buildings necessary for the
| storing Of fodder and the proper protection Of
| the animals themselves Then add to this the
| value of animals that perish for want of such
protection, and it would take but few years al
| most to secure buildings by means Of the losse1
sustained. Farmers should take humanita-
| rian view of the question, and then act with q
| view TO the comfort of animals rather than from
any. false views.of economy by failure 70 erect
| suitable farm buildings.
NoTEs.
If the parsGips have been caught in ths
ground by sudden freeze-up, no matter. Let
them alone; they will come out sweeter and
better when the frost is out.
| IF mulch is not applied until after tbs
ground freezes hard, mice cannot get down K
the roots of the plant If applied before, il
protects them in their word of destruction.
Wire is better than wood of any kind fol
grape trellis The tendrils get hold Of wire
more readily than they do Of poles or lath. b
sure TO brace the end post well and draw th'
wire taut.
So good an authority IS g. w. Campbell
thinks that grapvines can safely be pruned Ii
ordinary freezing weather. He also says cut
tings can be made while the wood is frozen
unless the cold has been 50 intense az TO injur'
the wood and buds, or the wood is allowed h
thaw out rapidly.
The intensive system Is always the bea
system with small-fruiss. The man who plant
q single rod more than he can give the best pos
sible care il all particulars is not wise On
acre of any of the berries that can be made Il
produce 300 bushels will prove more profitable
for several reasons, than three acres producing
500 bushels.
If corr fodder, not fodder corn, is out II
! duu tIe 6aIh GHShSu y Gnu bH0
well put up under shelter, it is better for mill
than the best OF hay; as evidence of which tn
cows viii eat large quantity of it even ate
having stood al night to full racks Of hay
What few stalks are left uneaten are exeellen
absorbments of the liquid manure.
"A correspondent of the Farmers Hon
Journal, speaking Of orchard grass says Of |
that although it is better shifted to the shad
than, perhaps, any other grass, yet it is equall
| we'll shifted TO the Oman ground If sown in tn
Spring and well narrowed ill., using not loss thai
| two bushels of seed to the acre. 1t is true
! is inclined to grow in punches, bHt if tn
, quantity here recommended issown to the acre
one-half sown north and south and the othe
half east and west it will gives as perfect an
continuous a sod rs could be desired. The see
should be sown not later than April /.
For Southern Soldiers.
| movement is on foot to establish Hom
, for disabled Confederate soldiers in MarylanG
A bill has been introduced in the Legislator