The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-08-23
OUR RUR4L TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
SICK ANIMALS.

slNh ANIMALS.
It is a remarkable fact that in state Of ma
ture we seldom sec sick animal. OF course,
when beast or bird becomes little weak, it
is an easy prey to carnivorous animals that
are always on the lookout for chances, and this
will keep down the number of sick subjects
that would otherwise come before us. But il
is not likely that it would keep down all, and
therefore, for this possibility Of an
early taking-olf of weak subject, we should
still see some, and certainly many more than We
do. We think it is tolerably certain that when
in a state Of nature there are not nearly so
many diseases following an animal as when it
is under domestic care.
1t is quite probable that there is much more
in the popular phrase about killing things
with kindness than we imagine. Not that
we should be harsh or unfeeling, but we do
many things under the feeling of caro- that is
unnecessary, and even an injury to do. We DO
things for some certain reason, and then con-
tinue the practice from habit without any
reason at all. Take, for instance, the way in
which brood of young chickens are treated.
1t is quite likely that if there is long grass
about, or tall weeds the young may be dragged
through by a thoughtless hen till the little
chickens are tired out, or perhaps lost To
guard against this, the hen is put into coop
as soon as the chickens are Matched, till they
are strong enough to follow pretty well where
ever she may lead them. This being usually the
case on farms the practice has become rather
common, till every one thinks young brood
with the mother must be cooped up. They
who should refuse or neglect TO follow this
practice would be thought to be very green
sort Of people. No one ever thinks to ask why
they do this. Only it is the practice and it is
done.
But the experience Of large numbers prove
that many young chicks are lost every year by
the most attentive panstaking, 1t is not too
much to say that not one-half-and this is
good avcrage-evcr live to grow to maturity.
On the other hand, how rarely is it that hen
which steals her nest" fails to bring up
nearly or quite the whole lot2 The fact is
that the young getting through the coop and
hearing the mothers continuous call TO come
back, are rendered nervous and subject to dis
eases to q far greater extent than they would
be if entirely trusted to the hens own care.
In fact, physical exercise and cheerfulncss are
as essential TO health in an animal as they arc
to the human race.
How the lack of these things operates injuri-
ously on animal life is shown by the expert
CuCeo Win al lHlal5 III ZOOi05lcaI gardens ana
menagerie5. If they are taken at mature age
and placed in confinement, they are nearly
sure to die as everybody knows who has en-
deayored to bring up in this way a captive
rabbit or bird. He has to take them very
young TO succeed. Even when taken young
they are subject to diseases, no matter how
carefully they may be handled, from which in
nature they are free. Consumption especially
Is very disastrous, large numbers dying aGnu-
aiiv frpFn This GnG dize4eo alnuc Tho want of
exercise Of kind suited to their wilder nature,
and what is to them the cheerful surroundings
of their native homes make all the difference.
We may learn valuable lessons III the treat
ment OF our domestic animals from these cen
siderations. Our care may not always be kind
ness. Animals require recreation as we'll as the
rest Of US, and are better able to take caro- of
themselves than We think Gsrmastoun TeLs-
graph.
RAISE FRUITS FOR THE BIRDS.
| Those who raise smaII-fruits, which the birds
| will depredate upon greatly to their annoy
| ance and loss, will find the white mulberry and
| the beautiful English bird-cherry to be pre-
| ferred in their season to the commonly-culti-
waited cherries, except some Of the earliest cher
ries, which ripen too carly for these substitutes
| There is also no substitute for the strawberry,
| the earliest ripening fruit we have, except the
! Mayduke cherry, and it is better to have a
| tree OL TWO Ol LuG 9ldyHUhc 10 save the straw
( berry. But for raspberTies, which are rarely
| disturbed much by birds, the white mulberry
is good protection, as is also the English bird
cherry for raspbeTries and grapes, at least with
Us. Both these trees are easily grown. The
flower or blossom Of the latter is really beauti.
fal, and the long, pendant punches Of black
| fruit equally So The robin, catbird, black,
bird, and even bluebird are extremely fond
| Of them. single tree viii supply q whole
/ and fIaT v9y,a flvr foly
| crs, and bear in few years. OF all the depre
| dating birds upon fruit, the robin is the worst
! 1t seems never 10 have enough longer than about
| 10 minutes at a time, and cannot really b.
called Carniyor0us bird, as it seldom feeds up0r
| anything in the insect line excepting til,
ground-worm AID other large worms that they
find on top Of the ground.
NOTES.
"A correspondent of the Rural Nsw Yorke
figures the cost Of three-year old colt at $84
Such a colt, be says, for ordinary farm pur
poses, viii sell for $3.50, and give net prof
to the breeder Of $1,000.
/ In England strawberry plants are con
sidered at their best when two or three year
old, quite the opposite ofour American methods
which never take more than the second ero
without plowing up, and often but the on
crop.
= Have place in which to deposit whateve
should be made to hold the ashes. When
burning has been made, cover the trench viii
boards to prevent the ashes from being blown
away. By care in gathering the rubbish, sup
ply may be secured, without outlay, of ashes, on
Of the most valuable Of fertilizers
- a correspondent Of the CoagtiY GeatIema
tried the experiment of wrapping burdocl
leaves around the stems of cabbage plants t
prevent the attacks Of the cutworm. Tn
exposed part of the leaves soon withered an
dried up leaving the plants without pro
lection and the cutworms 4" got in their work.
lie then returned TO his old plan Of wrappn
the stems in stilf brown paper, which he foun
perfect protection
- California makes a special feature an
profitable crop in farming in growing mustard
as do most of the European countries. TIL
plant grows luxurianuy, almost Indigenous
III the Central and Western States, and is locke
upon, especially by fax growers, as a noxiou
troublesome weed while many who buy fla
take little pains to separate and save the must
ard seed, and obtain a good profit in so doin.
Almost any plant out of place is in the natur
Of weed, aud it is not desirable nor an ndics
ton Of good farming to have two or more kind
OF crops occupying the same field but in il
place mustard is one Of the easiest and mos
profitable crops to raise
- If you want to propagate few gooseberr
, plants, bend down the outer limbs aud cover u
this years growth except an inch or so al til
) tip end. Pat on just enough Of earth to hol
Them. They will cco,, toll root Ti,o I,ek ,