The National tribune., 1889-12-05
OUR RURBL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
DROPS enowN WITHOUT WATER.


productive without water. An experimental
station was established by the Department in
southern Kansas not faf from Garden City.
This particular location was chosen because its
conditions were typical of tho arid regions gen.
orally. Two hundred and forty acres were
bought-69 In one place and 100 in another.
The land was mostly open prairie aud the sur
face stiff clay loan, the top of which was
baked by the sun into firm crust almost as
impervious to rain 10 so much slate. About 20
inches of rainfall occurred every year, and, of
course, ran off without entering the soil. Tho
station hands mainly confined the experiments
to eight acres, which, as originally found, were
covered with burr-grass and a priclkly peren-
NAL weed, with q long botanical name, that 10
regarded out West rs worse curse than the
Canada thistle, being even more difficult to
eradicate.
All this was cleared of last FALL the soil
plowed and narrowed until thoroughly pull
verified foot Deep and last Spring Ii was
planted with about y dozen species of grass col
lected near by and 40 kinds of foreign grass
and forage plants The prickly weed persisted
in reappearing, and mon had to go over the
land constantly with gloves and pick it out by
hand. Part Of the eight acres were covered
with matted straw after the planting, and pro-
duced without q particle of water save from
the scanty rains far more abundant crop than
was raised, with frst-rate irrigation to holp,
on the rest OF tho 80 acres which had been
sown 10 feed for the mules and cattle of the
station. The part OF the eight acres left I'M
covered produced very little, for as is usual in
this region of wind-swept plains, the powdered
soil, with the seeds, was blown away
1t is also stated that sorghum, from 10 to 20
tons to the acre, could be raised on this unirri-
gated land. Meat and it's feed could BIO readily
grown and also vegetables for human consump-
ton. All the farmer need do is conserve his
water by deep blowing and keeping his loan
from being blown away by preliminary shift
Of clean wheat-straw, which 10 matted down
by running heavy land-rOller over it.
TO MAKE GOOD MIXER AND HOW TO MILK
HER.
Treatment In raising mixers should DO some
what different from that in raising beef AMI
NAL or an animal for labor. Begin when the
calf is day old soc that ID has sufficient to
cat and is kindly treated and attended TO-.
Never pamper or over feed, but give 1t good,
generous food, to cause regular, early and
steady growth. ACQUISITION it to be handled, but
not TO such an extent TO acquire objection
able habits as u COW, but rather to be fond Of
the presence of keeper. Kindness helps to
create quiet disposition, so important in o
dairy COW, and this education must begin when
the calf is young--auy habits acquired when
young arc apt TO cling TO the COW when grown.
For a mixer, the hefer should come in at
two years old. She Is then old enough to be-
como COW. DO not, as = rule, allow her TO 20
farrow, but milk her up 20 within a few weeks
OF cslviBg. even il you do obtain but little
at milking. Couple the heifer with an older
bull; one two or three years older than she 10
preferable to yearling, and better stock Ia
likely 10 come from such. After the heifer has
come in, her feed should be regular and liberal
Good clover hay Ia the best of all. Undue
forcing shortens tie useful life of the COW very
rapidly.
The udder Of the cow consists Of two sepa-
ratio and distinct glands which do not com
municate with each other. Each gland has
front aud back teat aud the milk channels
leading to tho teats OF the same gland COM
munieate with each other. Hence, the teats
on the Same sidc ought to be MIXED at the same
time; not. a. 10 frequently the case tho front
tcat one aide, and the back teat on the other.
Now. Of the two teats on the same side, the
hind one las tho larger milk cavity at the up
per part of the tcat. and IL Ia moro difficult to
empty than tho front teat. Hence the mixers
right hand, which is usually tho stronger of the
two. ahoaid be in position to milk tho hind teat
whilst the loft hand IL emptying the front
teat.
FAIRLY WINTER ~ THE BARsYAaD
When IL is impossible 10 shelter stock, and
feeding from the stack is imperative or custom
airy, tho good farmer will SOC 10 Ii that the
proyender is fed upon poor lands, often upiands.
1t isahiftcss policy 10 spread tho food on marsh
land, or on tho surface of frozen pond. as has
been done in some cases. Farmers who are
anxious 10 get ahead will, Us soon as possible,
abandon tho absolute practice of throwing
stover upon tho ground Tho cost Of feeding
racks IL slight, aud when tho economy they in
auEuratG has been observed, protecting sheds
will soon follow them.
Boeyeslay on tat faster during this month than
In January aud should be- forced as fast as II Is
safe TO crowd their appetites. The dairy COW
must not bo neglected. Though dry, she will
need just good ratons as when in milk.
The horses are, perhaps, sustaining greater
strain upon their vital forces than ut any other
season Of the year. Thrashing, blowing and
hauling TO market arc far from easy, especially
when IL Is as hot as August. Sponge their backs
and shoulders in brine made slightly acrid with
tannin or alum. This application, especially
tanuin. IL excellent where the skin is CALLED
Severely worked animals must not be expected
to pick their living after severe days of toll
Generous feeding and ceaseless care are none too
good for them, aud their nights should DO pass
cd upon earthen floors.
Young stock, In all the business OF the month,
are apt TO be forgotten. This must never be-
Colts, calves aud lauibes beginning life at this
time labor under artificial circumstances, and
must be provided with additional comforts.
Breeding ewes must soon DO selected for
coupling for april lambs. Where hot.houso
lambs for early market constitute the object,
the ewes arc now we'll along aud need the ton
derest care. This form OF sheep husbandry 10
profitable, and becoming popular. II the lamb
ing pens are not ready no time should DO lost
Sterile ewes can DO fattened and sold advan-
tageOusy through November and December, Ia
some markets, while Spring lamb" il wanting
or dear.
In all but The coolest sections 10 Is mono too
early to breed the sows for early pigs. Re-
member that pigs even a few days in advance
OF your neighbOrs will often have less COMPETE
ton and more paying sale.-Aaeiican Agri-
cultarist
NOTES
- Fall grain may now have q top-dressinR
OF suitable manure, or Of commercial fertilizer
49, Break a piece OF cold butter, and if the
grain Is perfect, tho broken parts will resemble
the broken parts OF cast-iron or steel also the
same of some rock formations
- IL requires skill TO Winter bees properly.
They should be kept well-protected from severe
cold, but not In q location that allows them to
become too warm la tho hive should q change
of weather occur.
"A mixture OF enslage and finely-out
clover hay is claimed to DO superior to hay or
ensllago alone, as the two kinds of food serve
to partly balance the ration, the enslage being
| carbonaceous and the clover heterogeneous It "a
always cheaper aud better to feed mixed ra