The National tribune., 1888-05-10
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
DURABILITY OF TIMER.

for economical purposes calls for a consideration
of the subject of increased durability. I'M
questionably large quantities of timber are
wasted annually for want of proper care in
cutting and after cutting. The Forestry Di-
vision of the United States Department of
Agriculture has issued circular of informa-
ton to wood consumers, which contains some
important suggestions.
Decay Of wood is attributed to the fermenta-
ton of sap. induced probably by the growth of
either bacteria or fungi, which need for their
development warmth and moisture, besides
the heterogeneous substances and salts con-
tanned in solution in the sap. To prevent the
growth of these ferments, the sap must be
dried out or expelled by some other means, and
the moisture prevented from entering again.
Or, if timber is kept entirely under water it
will not decay. 1t Is better to fell timber at
the season when it contains leagt sap, and the
bark should be removed to aid seasoning.
When seasoned, q coating of oily or resinous
substances may be applied to keep out air and
moisture. The time may come when it will
be important to take come simple means for
increasing the durability Of timber before used
or when used.-GermantOt0a Telegraph,
WORK IN SEASON.
| We have never felt called upon to suggest
! farm work for different months or seasons of
! the year Us some of our contemporaries at times
! do for the reason that the climatic conditions
Of different seasons and at different sections
prevent its being done in a reliable manner.
| We assume that our readers are intelligent
| farmers and qualified to judge Of the best time,
under all circumstances, for them to enter
upon the necessary labor Of the farm. All that
we can say is that all farm work should be at
! tended to IS early as all conditions will admit
Of, aud if it is so attended to it will be pretty
sure to be In seasoH.-EgchGnge.
SOWING GRASS SEED.
The old idea that grass or clover seed must be
| sown on the snow Is an erroneous one, though
| the practice has some obvious conveniences
| This is really better time to SOW the seed and
for several reasons. Not only is the soil better
in condition to receive and start it forward, but
the surface may be still improved by brushing
| lightly with a fine harrow. This, instead of
injuring the roots now in the ground, has q
| tendency TO quicken and freshen them into
| new growth, and it prepares good bed for the
new seed. 60 over your meadows and pastures,
| and especially over the grain fields seeded to
| grass last year. Find the thin places, stir the
surface slightly, put in fresh seed and apply q
| little artificial fertilizer 10 these weak places.
Ii viii pay well.
USE TEE ROLLER.
It is conceded by those who have given the
subject careful attention that turn with the
roller Will save the powed ground at least one
| narrowing Then, after the crop is planted, it
comes in for q rolling to level the surface and
press the soil firmly about the seed. The har-
row and cultivator will run easier and do less
damage for having been preceded by the roller.
The meadows especially should be rolled before
the soil becomes too dry. Let the driver col
lect in his box all loose stones large enough to
-.
ground so that the moving knife will miss
them. Let the grain fields be rolled. It viii
settle the soil about the roots that have been
left half bare by the action Of the frost. Use
the roller early; use it often.
MAKE THE CONNECTION.
Because the fields are getting green, don't
imagine that your stock can now get good
living there. The animals that have been con-
fined TO dry feed for months may nip eagerly
the few bits of grass they can find, but it does
them little good. Keep up the rations of hay
and grain, or your stock will lose rather than
gain for several weeks. Make the change oil
diet gradually, kindly. Take advantage of the
coming season, but don't push the present
Make haste slowly now. 1t will pay.
NOTES.
-Linseed fed to the fowls in Summer tends
to improve their appearance and health.
"A fruit-grower who draped plum tree
with a musketo-net TO keep off the eurcuIio
obtained y quarts of fine fruit Another Gov
cred single branch with equal SUCCESS.
"A New York daiFyman says he can get
more milk from cows fed on beets, two bushels
per diem TO the cows than from ensilage
The milk yield ran up to 20 quarts. He az.
serts that ne can produce beets at cost OF
four cents bushel, 1000 bushels to the acre
-Avery cheap way to fence poultry from
the garden Is to stretch three No. ~ wires
quite tightly, ard then weave in common
swamp willow, sharpening the ends and stick
ing them In the ground couple Of inches
This fence does not cost over 6 cents a rod and
is very eifeetive.-FrGlrie Farmer.
- TO lead q stubborn COW, put rope around
her horns in the usual fashion, and then pass
it back Of and around her ear, then forward
and under the rope which goes around the
horns, pulling the ear tight against the horn
When the rope is properly arranged, the most
stubborn COW will trot along nicely.
- Zinc, when slightly roughened by oxidiza.
. ton, may be written on with a soft lead pencil
and the graphite soon becomes indellibly fixed
on the zinc, and is quite as permanent as the
, !, chemical ink. The labels may be sufficiently
! oxidized by leaving them few weeks in q
j damp place. This is much the quickest way
. of making any metal labels, and makes one Of
the best labels for outdoor purposes. They
have been seen perfectly clear after 10 years
: exposure.
! Milk fever is more prevalent with overfei
cows than with any other After the COW il
2 dried off she should be given plenty of hay Oh
allowed or the pasture. She should have M
grain except at night, when q limited allow
ance Of ground oats may be provided If sh,
becomes too fat before calVing the chances vii
be that she will have milk fever.
As kerosene has been found excellent WheI
used IN the soapsuds for washing, reshould b.
j.. taken not to apply such soapsnds to peach tree
or sprinkle it on the ground around them
Kerosene is almost instantly fatal to peacl
trees, only few drops being sufficient to xii
a vigorous tree.
- Farmers should consider that corn is no
proper food for young stock 1t will fatteI
them, but does encourage growth. A younI
animal should be made to secure bone AM
heavy frame, not fat 1t can be fattened afte
maturity. 1t is simply wasteful to feed corn t
young stock.
A COW that has been made to raise q cal
is not as good as she was previous to being al
lowed to keep the CALI as she becomes addicte
a to vices, among them being that of holdin
!, up" the milk The calf should be removes
r from the dam as early as possible, and laugh
a to drink from pail or some artificial contriv
n ance.
e The coming potato must be early, goo
g. cropper, of finest table quality, smooth, goo
10 shape, rather oblong than round and eyes eve
y with surface, to avoid waste in pairing, Thes
fVg hna fxxypK int