The National tribune., 1889-01-03
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
THE DAIRY COW.

they already understand their business; but to
give the inexperienced who may wish to en-
bark in the dairy business a few thoughts
In starting the dairy business do not think
that success lies entirely in blooded stock, for
we have seen farmers, who thought success lay
in fine blooded stock, who purchased them at q
large price, that in two or three years of poor
treatment were run down until they were not
worth well-kept scrub. We are inclined to
believe the farmer that does no good with
scrubs will not make much of business with
th0roughbreds, without change of stock make
a change in his management Therefore, if
you have not an energetic business tact, you
had better not undertake it.
In the selection of COWS for the dairy, it
must be remembered that all cows are not
adapted for the same purpose; also, the market
should be considered before the selection is
made. For some years cattle have been bred
for special purposes, aud the dairyman will
make mistake if he disregards this fact. 1t
is we'll understood as a fundamental principle
of animal economy that two distinct elements
cannot be fully and successfully developed in
the same individual. a cow that takes on flesh
and fat freely viii not as a general thing
make good mixer, and one making liberal
flow of milk will not at the same time be good
animal for beef If from circumstances that
you are placed in you desire to reach both
these ends, you must make some compromise
of both results and therefore the question of
combination must be wisely studied.
AS we have before stated, you should first
determine for what purpose the product of the
dairy can be most proftably used. If you are
convenient to a town or city that has a good
market for milk, a dairy for this purpose will
be made most profitable by the use of Holstein
cows. But if the market is good for butter, the
Jersey will bring the most profit, both because
of quantity and quality of butter. If beef
should be desired to go with either milk or
butter perhaps it will be better to use Short
horns If, however, in the last case you are
seeking simply means of relieving yourself
of increase of stock, in finding sale for your
surplus, it may be worth while to consider that
a calf bred for special purpose will command
better price than one having nothing special
to commend it.
After determining the breed to be selected
few men are able to stock farm with q herd
of thOroughbreds at once neither can we say
that thoroughbreds give the best results; we
know of grades that are giving better satisfac-
tion as dairy cows than thoroughbreds. A
thoroughbred bull crossed upon good native
cow will produce results'equal in every partic-
uar to thoroughbreds, except in market value
of stock. This fact is Of great Importance to
farmers, whether they wish to carry on a dairy
or not. 1t is time the place of inferior cows on
our farms were occupied by improved cattle.
But the dairyman must remember that the
general purpose COW" will not, as a general
thing be profitable in the dairy; therefore he
should seek those bred specially for dairy pur-
poses While it is true that certain breeds
are best for certain purposes, yet all cows of
the same breed are not equally good. There
FORE you must learn the marks of a good COW
and purchase upon individual merit.-IhoglaS
ID. Baird, an The american Rural Home.
TO PREVENT WINTER KILLING OF WHEAT.
Every Spring when the crop reports begin to
come in, more or less is heard of Winter-killed
fields of wheat. Whatever tends to prove this
helps to increase the crop and the farmers
profit. The american Agricutturist gives the
following upon this subject, which is worthy
of trial.
The most effective and beneficial mode of
preventing the wheat plant from being injured
or destroyed by the freezing and heaying of the
soil, is liberal mulching, top-dreSsing with fine
manure or compost from the barnyard, or
Stacked peat from the muck pile. to be evenly
spread over the Fall-sowed wheatfeld. In Au-
tumn, when the ground is sufficiently frozen to
bear the wagon Wheels spread Just thick
that when the soil freezes, cracks and heaves
the wheat roots will be covered, protected, and
not torn out, but the mulch or compost will
fall into the cracks and cover the roots shelter
ing them from the effects of the weather. We
have several times seen fields which were liable
| to freezing and heaving, with wheat drilled in,
portions of which were top-drsSsed in Autumn
as above directed, and on which full crop Of
plump grain was secured, while on the portion
of the fields not mulched, in every instance
the crop Of wheat was total failure, not show
ing straw grain enough to be worth har-
Yesting. In fact, the grain obtained from the
tOp-dressed portions of the fields much more
than paid the cost of the operation; beside the
incidental benefits of this light mulching as
surface manure, it was protection to the soil
from scorching sunrays of Summer, and shell
tered the young grass when the grain was cut
of. In fact, liberal, frequent careful top
dressing of Fall sown grains as well as meadows,
is ore of the most profitable and reasonable
methods for preserving fertility of soils and
protecting grains and grasses that farmers can
practice, and will be found always profitable.
THE POTATO CROP.
1t is reported that the potato crop in ARGOS
took County, Me, is fully 100000 bushels
This is an unusually large crop, and it is be-
lieved that the same is true of the general crop
of the country; that it is somewhat larger
>
fact offers the very important suggestion
to farmers to dispose of their surplus when
they can got good price. 1t is not al
ways safe to hold a crop In anticipation of an
increased price, for the turn is as likely to be
down as up.
WATERING REGULARLY.
Everybody knows how difficult it is to pre-
vent the water from freezing during very cold
weather Tin will rust, wooden troughs be-
come shiny, and earthenware crack from the
ice formed on the water To obviate these
difficulties give water three times day. Use
vessels that only permit the birds to get their
beaks wet, so as to avoid freezing the wattles
which results when they get wet, and give
warm water three times day. They will soon
learn 10 look for it at regular periods, and it
will invig6rate them. By the time the water is
somewhat cool all viii have drank, when the
surplus should be thrown out and the vessels
| LETT empty.
NOTES.
- DO not waste wood ashes.
Wheat does best Ia olayey lean.
1t is an impgrtanL item to keep the colts
growing.
| - The best way to market oats is in the shape
| of grade draft horses.
| - OF all stock raised on farm. poor horses
| are the most improbable.
= The pulse of healthy horse is from 81 to
7