The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-12-13
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
CURING PORK.

the least, as this condition prevents the salt
penetrating it. Cover the bottom of the barrel
with salt to the depth of three inches, then
pack the strips of pork in circles the rind fac
ing the barrel, but with a deposition of salt
intervening and stratum of salt upon each
layer of pork. When the midGlings are sailed
prepare brine sufficient to we'll cover the pork,
using all the salt that the water will dissolve.
Bring to the boil, skim, and when cold pour
over the salted pork. A well-adiusted cover
is a necessary part of pork-barreI.
Trim the hams and rub them over with salt,
to extract the blood In two days apply the
following pickle: One and half pounds of
salt and a pound of brown sugar to each gallon
of water, and an ounce of saltpeter to 100
pounds of meat bring to boil, skim and pour
over when cold. Hams should remain in the
pickle from four to six weeks. In packing don't
let them press against each other; they are
likely to faint at the bone before becoming
thoroughly sailed. Those skilled in the curing
of hams remove them from one barrel to an
other twice week until the curing is partially
completed, TO prevent tainting at the bone.
SMUT IN CORN.
Every farmer knows what is meant by corn
smut. 1t has been made study by different
persons, and among them the celebrated agri-
culturist, Henry Stewart, and the main points
which he has determined are that this parasite
as it is considered such by investigators-en-
tiers the plant at the roots and from the soil;
that it is much encouraged from the contnu-
Gus growth of corn upon The same land; that
the refuse, smutty stalks should be carefully
gathered and burned, to destroy the spores and
e
that If permitted to so into the manure the
parasite is thus sown upon the land, where it is
likely to remain until new crop is planted !;
that If the smutty corn or fodder is fed the
spores will pass through the animal unframed
and 60 into the manure, aud that these spores
are not likely to spread from one field to an
other through the circulating air. The mature
smut of corn bears close resemblance to the
mature puff-ball, and we cannot see why the
spores might not be distributed quite largely
by the wind. 1t is claimed that there are no
remedies when once it develops in corn, and
that the only successful treatment is to cut or
pull all corn that shows signs of smH { and cause
its destruction. If such course was pursued
Ivy all farmers smut might in process of time
be wholly eradicated.-G Germantown Telegraph.
PRUNING YOUNG APPLE TREES.
Orchard AID Garden says: "When climbing
high up among the widespread branches of tall
apple trees, picking the least amount of fruit
at the greatest outlay of labor and time, it may
be well to consider how much more proftably
apple-growing might be made by juacious
use of pruning tools while the orchard is still
young"
We have felt the force of this as applied to
large tall trees that have grown so from the
setting and we have also considered it very
serious objection to grating trees that have at
tanned some size. 1t is very likely to prove the
case that grating upon the tree of much size is
only lifting the top Of the ultimate tree so
much farther heavenward, and increasing the
trouble indicated in our quotation. In young
trees that are just growing up the top can be
trained so low as to be convenience in pick
ing apples instead of hard job Picking ap-
pies becomes slow, hard task when % or 30
foot ladder is required to reach out where the
apples are. Picking apples is laborious enough
without adding to the discomfort by tall trees.
SAVE THE coRNcoBs.
When the corn is shelled the cebs are worth
caring for for various useful purposes. They
make the best fuel for the smokehouse, giving
the hams and bacon delicate and agreeable
favor, free from the pungency of oak aud other
wood which contains much acid. When steep
ed in kerosene oil they make good kindling for
fires, and they are equally good for this pur-
pose when saturated with a solution OF
one pound of saitpeter in two gallons of water
and dried. They then burn fercely, giving
! out quick heat sufficient to kindle coal fire.
| But they are also good for feeding, as they
! contain as much nutriment as straw, and
! where straw is scarce the whole ears may be
/ ground together with advantage. The husks
are still more nutritious, and may be ground up
! with the ears in appropriate mills made for the
! purpose. For feeding stock cattle and for fat.
| tening ear-corn in the husk is an exceedingly
! cbcap and desirable food
NOTES.
Good cider vinegar is always salRble, and
| it pays TO convert the surplus apples into cider
| for the purpose of making vinegar. The arti
/ fetal vinegar cannot be used for choice pickles
and other purposes for which good cider vine
! gar only is adapted, and does not therefore
largely compete with it.
! Plants sometimes need q variety Of food as
we'll as animals. Variety gives them all that
may be needed. A plant will not thrive il
given an excess of one kind offood and stinted
in another III applying fertilizers the object
should be to use substances that are lacking, t.
a certain extent, in the SOIL
Don't try to crowd 80 hens into poultry
house suitable for only %, as the larger the
flock the fewer the eggs, proportionately, un
less they have perfect accommodations. AS
rule small fiOckS give a larger profit from thu
same outlay than when numbers are kept thai
cannot DE properly PROVIDED IoT'
-Parsnips, satisfy and hOrseradish can re
main in the rows where grown, as freezing
does not injure them. If they are covered
| with litter, however, it will prevent sudder
thawing around them in the Spring 1t is too
much warmth that does injury in Winter t
such crops rather than cold A few warm day.
in Winter may be more detrimental than bene
fetal
Pork made from considerable portion o
| anpla diet 10 Y1pauliar1yr in favor Hpd
will fatten more rapidly on sweet apples thar
sour, if apples are principally depended upon
but if grain is fed with apples the sour will d.
even better than the sweet, as the acid viii
assist in the digestion of the grain. It would
be better to feed corn for a few weeks before
killing, to harden the pork.
Clean, fresh hogs lard is recommended a
being the best as well as the simplest remed!
for warts on either cattle or horses. The very
simplicity of the remedy causes it to be over
looked in favor of mole elaborate and Otter
far less effective prescription.
Many farmers in western New York CAV
up the wool business as Improbable long ago
but still keep sheep, and say that keeping thu
mutton breeds is one of the best paying
branches of farming.
The price of onions is lower this year thar
for some time past. This is due to large in
crease of area planted iii New York State a
| well as elsewhere, and to an unusually larg
crops the insects and diseases that usually at
tack the onion having been far less prevalen
this year than usual.
In storing celery FIR Winter small ouan