The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-22
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
CHARACTER OF NITROGEN IN FERTILIZERS.


gen. We are happy to learn from the fifth
bulletin of the Vermont Agricultural Expert
ment Station that Prof. Cook has recognized
this want and has been doing some important
work in that direct line He CLASHES the
forms of nitrogen as follows: nitrogen Of am
monia salts nitrogen of nitrates and organic
nitrogen or that which is in combination with
animal or vegetable matter. 1t is fully time
that there should be recognition of the con-
dition of availability of the nitrogen that is APP
piled as plant food. The ammonia salts aud
nitrates being soluble in water are Immediate
~ available, but the case is different with the
organic nitrogen, with the exception of dried
blood, which being ola nature to rapidly decay
when subject to heat and moisture, soon yields
its nitrogen to growing crops, but hoof and horn
meal, leather waste and similar heterogeneous
substances require an indefinite time for decay
and consequent availability. 1t is gratifying
to learn that of 30 different fertilizers subject
to examination upon this point, II show that
not less than so per cent of the nitrogen is i'm
mediately available, while the lowest gives a
percentage Of available nitrogen of 81 per cent.
The highest stands at 80 per Germantown
Telegraph
POST AND RAIL FENCE.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Which is the
cheapest and best fence is the problem that
every farmer is interested in. Post and board
fences are too expensive Some do not like the
barbed wire the old zg-zag fence takes up too
much ground and too much material.
The cheapest and best post and rail fence
farmer can build is the one / viii describe.
This, if well put up will stand about as long rs
post and board fence. Any one can build it,
and in as short a time as they even can the zig
zag fence, with about One-third the rails and it
will not coyermore ground than board fence.
Set the posts 10 feet apart, Him range. Next
place fat stones at each post for the bottom rail
to rest on. Lay on two rails, the same as you
would with zig-Zag fence, only straight At
ter two rails are on set brace on the stone out
side of the two rails. The brace must be as
high as the post. Next twist q wire around
post and brace just at the top of the two rails
Now lay in more rails until the fence is as high
/ as needed. Twist another wire around the top
of the post and brace before putting on the last
rail. Six to seven rails high makes a splendid
fence. Put the smallest and straightcst rails in
the bottom of the fence. If you have rails you
will say this is the cheapest and best fence to
! build.-FRANK MURPHY, Donnelsville, 0.
COOKING ANIMAL FOOD.
o. g. Bliss OF Vermont who has occupied a
| prominent position in the agriculture of that
| comes out flat-lOoted against cooking animal
food and does not believe the Creator made
! any mistake in not providing animals with a
means OF cooking food. lie argues that il is a
| curious fact, but nevertheless true, that while
! the exterior form, habits and dispositions Of
| animals have been more or less modified by
/ the aid of man, no change whatever has ever
/ been effected in the interior organs or any OF
! their functions. An abnormal development
may be produced and sustained for q time by
unnatural methods, but reactiouary effects will
! sooner or later he felt Mr.. Bliss asserts that
most Of the diseases and ailments Of domestic
| animals are due and traccabc to unnatural
methods of feeding and states that all animals
! with which he has experimental do better upon
dry food and are less subject to Irregularities Of
! the digestive system and diseases, ailments OF
! all sorts than those led upon cooked or wet
| food. This idea may put a new phase upon the
| question of the use of ensilage, which is so
earnestly advocated al the present day by some.
--EIchange
PROCURING SEED.
| If provision was not made for seed at the
! time Of harvest from homegrown stock, the
/ procuring Of it should be attended to before it
| is time for planting, SO as to avoid any waste of
/ time. Ii is better to make a change Of seed oc-
/ caslOnally than to depend upon ones own stock,
/ for a continued use Of any strain Of seed tends
| 10 deterioration. For that reason it is better
/ to secure the best possible, and not unfrequenty
! the increased yield from such seed will many
/ times pay the cost Of the same. Sometimes very
! favorable results may be secured by an ex-
! change Of seed-sowing neighbors but this ID
! not always best.
HOMEMADE LARD.
Those farmers families that are supplied with
| pork raised upon the farm make theirown lard,
! which is much sYecter and purer than any that
! can no hOuuht and fhCEa finn iIias that ORC do
| pendent upon the market would do well to
make their own lard by buying the loaf fat at
! the markets and rendering it themselves. Cut
/ the fat in small pieces and put in q kettle with
/ a very little water, but slowly, keeping well
/ stirred; AT least three hours will be required.
Strain into jar through strainer cloth,
/ squeezing al! that can be; let cool and then set
away in a cool place for future use. 1t will be
found to be nice and sweet.
NOTES.
IF the iron wedge will not draw, build a
fire Of chips and heat it.
! - POliteness pays in the COW Stable. A gen.
tleman gets more milk than harsh man.
~ There is one part Of The farm that is not
benefited by drainages manure heap.
Take the brides with you when you 60 to
breakfast and put them near the stove while
you eat
Profit in farming comes from the maxi
mum crops the products Of Winter thought
and Summer work.
Separate the weaker animals; they need
extra feed, whereas with the stronger they get
scant feed.
Drive your horses little to one side when
you stop with load on the sled. This makes
it easier to start the load.
If you place the AK near the stove for IL
minutes it will cut better and not be so apt to
break along the edge.
1t is generally conceded that to feed sun
flower seed is productive Of q gloss on the plum
age OF fowls not to be otherwise obtained
-Neat5ioot oil is the best oil for harness
Before applying, the leather should be slightly
dampened so that the oil will penetrate. Rut
every part Of the harness. except the patent.
leather parts, with WOODEN cloth saturated
with the oil, letting it soak well into the
leather
An authority on dairying says: "a healthy
mich COW, in full flow OF milk, viii drink and
requires go to 100 pounds OF water per diem Il
Is utterly impossible TO get one to take one-hal
or either onequarter Of this amount of ice
water, nor will they drink the ice-Water Oh
cold water with any regularity"
- SIttcd coal ashes have proved good absorb
ents Of moisture. IL is said that eggs packed in
coal ashes viii keep well
Different Views.
[Btngbamlon Republican,
College professors would have us beIey,
there IS nothing higher than to labor for love
while their dude charges affect to think there