The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-03
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
w1NTEn1Ne POTATOES.


market is point of Importance. Not all who
grow large quantities of potatoes have suitable
cellars in which to store them Thousands of
bushels must BIO winteFed in pits. The ques-
tion of 80 caring for them that Spring will find
them sound and in perfect condition Is the
proper point to consider. Rotting, sproutng,
sweating are the sources of injury. To prevent
these ia the aim. If potatoes are sound and
healthy when put IN the pits, and are properly
cared for, these conditions are not likely to
arise. To protect them from heat and damp Ia
no less important than to protect from frost.
Keeping them too warm in the Fall and too
cold in Midwinter are general causes OF de-
struction to potatoes wintered In pits. They
should be in n cool condition before being COW
cred with dirt. Then cover we'll with straw
and lightly with earth, leaving the extrome
top of the pit without earth, that any heat re-
naming or generating in the pit may escape
Protect the pits from the sun and rain by q
roof of boards under which there is a free cir
culation of air, until cold weather comes. Thus
the tubers are kept dry aud cool, and the earth
Is dry. Frost will not penetrate far into dry
earth, but it will 30 deep into that which 10
wet With the coming OF Winter sufficient
covering to protect against frosts will generally
keep the tubers in excellent condition.
PREPARE FOR SPRING PLANTING.
With all garden and fold crops which can
not endure our Midsummer heats the early
start Is of great importance, the more so be-
cause Winters protraet so late, and We
have often Summer heat with but little normal
Spring weather intervening. COL Curtis tells
IF 3pu, 10 IN, &c ns.t
through preparing the ground in the Fall aud
sowing the oats early in Spring, on late snow,
rs is done often with cloverseed. Joseph Har-
ris made trial of this, but the Spring proved
too dry for its success But in seeding field
tD barley which had been plowed ready in the
Fall. he used only tho harrow and the drill,
excepting that strip was replowed at seeding
time. On this tho seed was many days later
in terminating than on the rest Of tho field.
lie now prepares the ground In the Fall for
early garden planting, and as soon frost leaves
the surface ia Spring, marks IL out and sows
peas, onions, celcry-seed, etc. He is not alone
in this process of valuable economy. 1t works
well aud is entirely safe, and often extends
the season Of growth three TO five weeks, max
iug even great proportion of yield in the
product, because IL can mature before being
hlighted by excessive heat Hortuidnas.
TEN GOOD THINGS TO KNOW.
l. That salt will curlle now milk; hence, IN
preparing milk porrdge, gravies. etc, salt
should not bo added until the dish In prepared.
2. That clear boiling water will remove tea
stains aud many fruit stains. Pour the water
through the stain, and thus prevent IL spread
ing over the fabric.
3. That ripe tomatoes will remove ink and
other stains from, white cloth; also from the
hands.
T. That tablespoonful of turpeutine boiled
with white clothed will aid in the whitening
process.
s. That boiled starch Is much improved by
the addition Of little sperm, salt or gum
arabic dissolved
q. That bccswa1 and salt will mako rusty
fatirons clean aud smooth as glass. Tie q
lump of becswas ia rag and keep Ia for that
purpose. When the irons are hot rub them
FIRST with the wax rag, then scour with paper
| or cloth sprinkled with salt.
| z. That blue DIN tmeHt and kerosene. mixed
| In equal portions and applied 10 tho bedsteads
| - unfaiiing bedpng remedy, rs u coat oi
| whitcwash is for the walls Of log house.
4. That kerosene " III soften boots aud shoes
| that have been hardened by water, and render
| them pllahIe rs new.
o. That kerosene will make tin teakettles ~
| bright rs new. 5aturato n WOODEN rag and rub
| with it, 1t will also remove stains from var.
| nished furniture.
| 10. That cool raln-water and soda will 70
move machine grease from washable fabrics.
| BLUE GRASP HAY.
There are two seasons TO make blue grass hay
| One Is when IL seeds early Ia the season. In
| June, aud the other Is late in tho Fall whom thu
| leaves grow long fall over meet and form ths
thick material that Is known as Winter forage
| IL makes good hay, is hard to cut, aud is sol
| dom disturbed by the farmer unless 10 grows or
| some bottom liable 10 overflow Blue grass Il
| not a hay plant. stil mach very fine hay Car
be and Is made from 10. Ii happens that Ger
| tain farmers need hay and can get II nowhor,
else; then, II they have blue grass just suit
| able for Winter grazing, IL will make hay, anC
very good hay. and moro TO tho acre than vii
tho seed stems in juno. Cattle are very font
! of the blue grass hay. They are judges Of tn,
different kinds of bay, and their preference
are worth noticing. Homestead.
NOTES.
No faith in tho power Of farmers organi
| zatioua 10 control tho price of products bn
lots Of faith In lowering the cost OF production
aud increasing the produetiveness OF the soil
But this lowering OF the cost and this inGress,
Of the supply al the same time has a limit
What theu2-LOiaaE's Rural World.
- Lawns should be cut frequently, but no
so short rs to deprive the grass plants Of thei
leaves and vigor. Az a general rule, the gras
should never be sheaTed nearer than two inche
of the ground. A longer growth than Is neces
sary during Summer should be permitted afte
the middle of Autumn 10 serve "a Winter pro
| lection.
II have found Il safer TO cut the apple
| than TO feed them whole TO cows, IA there /
less danger of their getting choked, and les
danger of getting sore gums aB sometimes hap
| pens from eating bard apples whole. There
not much danger in feeding all large small
apples alone; the danger Is in the medium
sized mixed with large ones-New Eilgian
Farmer
A Maine farmer vowing death to foxes
placed carcass near his barn and then con
nected il by wire under the snow with boil IL
his bedroom. A fox could not do vigorou
work on that piece Of meat without ringln
that bell whereat the schemer would awak
and go forth To the slaughter. He killed 2
foxes by that device during the Winter.-Mas
sachusetts HOughman
A recent reliable writer says he destroye,
weeds in lawns by dropping crude carbolic aci'
right into the hearts Of the plants. Roots o
dandelions dug up "a week after the crown
were dressed with acid were found to be killel
right down 10 the tips, foot below the sur
face IL is not sufficient merely TO kill th
leaves of the plantsi the acid must enter tn
hearts quite in the center. CarbOlic acid
poisonous, aAd should not be allowed TO come Il
contact with the skin.--imerican CattiUatOr.
The old Wilson strawberry has still man
friends, and, in spite Of all that is said agains
it,, is much grown. For Fall planting for tn
expectation of a crop the ensuing year, il ha
no equal. When dead ripe oven, in flavor It
hard 20 boat 1t colors early, aud is markets
half.ripe, which accounts for its acidity.-