The National tribune., 1889-10-31
OUR RURbL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
PREPARING nrts FOE WINTER.

PREPARING BEES FOR WINTER.
Successful winteriDg of bees depends largely
on preparations made before cold weather sets
in, such ms uniting weak colonies, feeding, etc.
The extra food must be given 80 early that the
bees can seal up their stores. Unsealed comb
during Winter is not healthful food. Whatever
variety of food Is given them, the moisture
that arises from the bees during cold weather
enters tho unsealed stores and produces disease.
II is far better TO look to this important matter
during the honey season, and prepare frames
of sealed honey to supply all colonies that need
feed But, in our greed for a heavy crop, we
are apt to lose sight of this and when feeding
time comes we buy sugar, at high prices, to
supply these wants. The fact has been demon
strated time and again that il Is cheaper to
depend upon tho honey source alone than to
use sugar ut any time. Besides we are greatly
injured by the popular idea that we feed sugar
for tho production Of surplus honey. But,
though it is cheaper and better to depend upon
the natural honey source alone, yet If we have
colonies without honey enough to carry them
through tho Winter, and no surplus honey at
hand to give them, We must feed them sugar
or lose them. Uniting bees and supplying all
colonies with good fertile queens Is of primary
importance. As we havo tho advantage of
movable frame hives, we should thoroughly
arrange the brood nest in every colony so that
the brood shall occupy the center of tho hive
or combs. If 4 frame of brood is carelessly set
on one side, the bees occupy the other side, aud
the brood separates. After properly arranging
tho hive aud providing good queen, we are
Il \ A 4 a
tho cluster of bees. Frames of comb filed with
pollen near the cluster of bees are considered
injurious to bees during Winter. This has
been our experience, aud we take particular
pains to either rgmOyo such frames from tho
hive or place them outside of the brood nest
Bees should not cluster on frames filled with
pollen during Winter. They use too much
pollen rs food, and it has tendency to produce
tcry.-1mericaa AgrCtiitEist.
HORSES WITH HEAvEs.
horse with bad case Of heavos Is OF little
value for business But diet largely Of oats
and bran, wetted to the consistency OF thick
mush, with half tho quantity of bright hay usu-
ally fed To "a Sound horse, sprnkled with water
aud but little water given ut time for drink
WILL in nine eases out of ten, fit the animal for
daily labor, unless 1t be few exceptional days
of close, muggy weather. The stable Mt all times
is the best place for horse with the heaves as
the groom has control OF the quantity and quail
ity of food which is not tho case when tho ami
NAL Is in pasture. If the hay be lightly thrashed
and we'll shaken TO rid it OF dust it will be far
better, not only for the animal so afflicted. but
for all horses. Ia some cases straw may DO
substituted for hay, bot ID is absurd TO assert
that straw is better than hay for horses goner-
ally.
once used heavy horse at heavy SERVICE
hauling on the road and the farm, that care
L.. ~
care was taken in the preparation aud quality
of feed. and instead of stiuting in drink, it was
given IN natural allowance, but never mora
than four five quarts al n time. Only
one OF two days during the Summer did he
show distress. and but ma hour or two a day at
that. Thousands % useless horses could render
good service IL well cared for. Some give n
horse the utmost caro- during tho day, giving
but little drink. mad after tho days work,
during tho Summer season. turn the animal in
n Geld with access 10 brook. In the morn
lug his feet arc wide apart and stomach dis
tended n pitiable object, worthless for the day,
result due moro to earelessnesS than to dis
ease.N J.. Tribune,
WASHING WAGONS
Lots OF people vii! take buggy, and worst
Of all a box buggy. tasp atearpei aud cushions,
| aud then souAe the inside with water ill the
bottom l. fairly allnat. The bottom boards will
crack, aud sometimes start tho corners Of the
sides. The right way 10 clean tho inside of a
| buggy IA 90 Iakc ont the carpet and cushions,
brush out dust with a wisk broom, and then wipe
| battom aud inside with damp rag or moistened
| sponge.
| Watsr may DO used freely on the outside.
| but the expert washer who cares for the looks
of his carriage will uss the hose freely aud rub
| gently, for the dirt wants 10 DO washed off,
not rubbed Of. Rubbing sears tho varnish.
| After washing tho sides by playing on them
| with tho hose. you may rub with the sponge.
| but always rub one way Don't rub back aud
| forth and cgiss-cross Then rub the same way
| with the chamos-skin.
! HANDLING CELERY.
| After celery has been properly sot out there
| il in most sections but little moro attention re-
qulred than 10 give IL about the sans amount
| of cultivation As is necessary In the case OF
other plants and vegetables. After the nights
| grow cool aud moist tho plants take more
| rapd growth, aud when tho stalks have at
tnincd considerable size banking tap should be.
| gin. This is best accomplished by one person
| pressing tho leaves together with his hands,
| aud holding them in position while another
| draws the earth up aud firms 10 about the
plant 20 about onethird its hight. Ia few
days the banking up should be repeated. and
| after~aro. from time To time according to the
growth Of tho plants. until tho period OF frost,
when only the top leaves should be visible.
| Never disturb the plants except when the
| ground 10 dry, otherwise the leaves will DO in
jured by earth adhering TO them.
NOTES.
| -- A clover sod turned over IL the best posi-
bio foundation for future wheat crop. II
contains the elements needful for cereal pro,
duction.
49, The growers Of Winter lambs have found
| great profit in feeding ensilage. IL is good
substitute for roots, and much cheaper in cOsI
of production
49, Corn fodder in tho silo occupies but one
fifth the space it does in the barn loft. There
is but 10 per cent. waste in silo aud 80 per cent
in feeding dry fodder tho old style.
The average productive life of q COW Il
eight years. but this can undoubtedly DO ma
teTialiy increased by care aud good usage. II
| Is cheaper and better To preserve the productive
qualities of good COW than TO rear another
equally good
All root crops should DO thoroughly sweat
ed and dried before being stored. If buried in
piles in the ground give them but light cover
ing of dirt until Winter Is about TO begin, anC
until that time leave Jan opening at the top
filled with straw, for ventilation.
- Rich milk can only be produced by foO(
that is rich in albumnoids--th muscle form
ing material in plants and grain. Bran, pea
meal, cottonseed meal. linseed meal and oat
are rich in albumnoids. The best system o
stock feeding is To mix tho feed in proper pro
portions, and the 1yisest farmers take note o
the results of different kinds of food.
| - SOapsuds on tbs manure heap is beneficial