The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-08-09
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions fOr Our
Agricultural Readers
THE USE OF SALT BY oArTLE.

THE USE OF SALT BY CATTLE.
Salt is a very widely distributed mineral,
and exists in variable amounts in all soils, and
in most streams and springs issuing from
often thousands of miles from the
sea. The use of salt by cattle and by all herb
eating animals cannot be called an acquired
taste, for saline waters and beds of salt abound
in all countries where animals exist and have
existed from their creation. 1t is also we'll
known that so essential is the use of salt for
the maintenance of health that wild animals
travel many miles to obtain it, either from saline
springs or from the sea, or from the salt-beds
to be found in various parts of the world. Salt
is a natural vermifuge, and animals receiving
regular and full supply of it are rarely troubled
with intestinal worms. 1t is also stimuiant,
aiding digestion, often restoring the tone of the
stomach when impaired by an excess of coarse
or watery food. Hundreds of experiments
have been made in this and other countries to
determine the Importance of feeding salt to
domesticated animals, and all the results have
been unquestionably in its favor Many years
ago one of the greatest of European chemists
On. Baussingaulti) for the purpose Of determin-
ing the dietetio value of common salt, selected
six cattle, as equal as possible in weight and ap-
pearance, and fed them in exactly the same man
ner, except that three received one-baf ounce
of salt daily, while the other three got none. In
about six months the skin and hair Of those
without salt became rough, dry and staring,
presenting a striking contrast to the smooth,
oily coats of the Others which, although not
much superior to their neighbors in weight,
were more lively and in better health and far
superior in appearance. It is too late in the
day to question the value of all kinds of COM
mon salt for grazing animals, and the farmer
who neglects to give salt once or twice week
viii lose far more than he gains by withhold
ing it.
RBUBARB CULTIVATION.
This is one of the most useful plants. The
stalks, especially if grown early, when apples
are scarce and dear, are much esteemed for
cooking purposes 1t is also excellent for pre-
serving either by itself or mixing with smail-
fruits.
There are few plants which will give moro
profitable results, but in most cases the roots
are relegated to the most obscure position in
ing good enough for the rhubsrb. Then disap-
pointment is the result, for with that kind OF
treatment nothing but puny growth can be
expected.
Like all other plants rhubarb will respond
generously TO good culture and high feeding
yielding immense crops of large stalks. The
favor is also of q superior quality when the
roots are treated literally.
Rhubarb will thrive upon any good soil
which should be dry and be worked deeply
with a liberal supply of well-rotted manure
For plants to get out 1T is better TO split up old
roots, with two crawns to each set, than TO SOW
seed, as by the latter process it viii be four OF
five years before a crop can be gathered, where
as with planting sets the roots will bear a heavy
crop the second year after being planted.
After sufficient stalks have been gathered
the remainder should be allowed 20 die down
TO rest the roots and renew their strength fol
the following season. During the Summer the
hoe ought to DO used to keep down the weeds
The soap-suds on Washing-days can be applied
with benefit while the hot days are on. In
Autumn, when all I'll stalks have died down
the earth around the3roots must be well forked
over and the bed cOv3red with about six inches
of good stable manure. Rhubarb culture de-
serves more attention than 1t receives at pres
ent
SPREADING FRESH MANURE.
The practice which Is becoming more com
mon-of spreading fresh manure on land anC
allowing it to remain through Winter till thu
rains and melting snow carry the soluble por
tions down into the thawing soil early in Sprinl
lis still opposed by some on the ground tina
the enTiehing portions are thus washed away
from the land and wasted. This opinion ap
pears to be founded on theory, and not from
careful test. In one case heaps of fresh manure
were placed on steep hill-sides covered with
grass The rain washed the heaps, aud carried
the liquid manure about FIVE feet at the far
thest down the hill, and by that distance il wa
all absorbed by the earth A part of the liquiC
was washed away from the heaps before tn,
ground was thawed and while it was yet in tn,
condition of ice But as soon as there wa
enough water to dissolve the soluble manure
there was at the same time quite enough sol
thawed to absorb and hold it. There was M
difficulty whatever in the process, for the rain
did not come down like running brook owe
the whole broad surface, but the rain drop
sprayed it gently, and the thawing earth coulC
easily absorb all the fertilizing parts, which
constituted but small portion of the liquids
If the heaps had been thrown into the bottom
of brook, the result would have been differ
ent; but farmers would not make such mis-
takes unless they did so on purpose.-C ogHtr!
Gentleman,
EoTEs.
1t is surprising to see what great chang,
little paint win make in the appearance
farm buildings.
49, Silos may be made with any Of the variou
building materials, and some very crudely anC
cheaply constructed have been found to do RooC