The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-06
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
sHEEp FoR sot1p BASIS.

sheep is of very great value to farm and its
occupant. late instance is that of man
who owns 100 acres, originally of medium fer
tility or under. A few years ago he changed
from embarrassing to the sheep business, keep
ing between 100 and 200. His soil gradually i'm
proved until it has reached very high point.
Last season he raised over so tons of excellent
clover hay, about 800 bushels each Of oats and
barley, 1900 ears of corn and 1000 bushels Of
turnips and beets. His orchard increased
largely in productiveness and quality of fruit,
and he gathered several hundred barrels of ap-
pies. He grows dollhouse lambs, and from the
wool and lambs of 100 ewes he realizes $1,000,
besides the increase of a considerable flock of
keeping sheep. Last season he added pg-rais-
ing, having as many as IS on hand at time,
which he sold to his neighbors or fattened. He
grows only wheat enough for his own use,
keeps three horses, and of bovine kind only
two cows
He raises flat turnips on clover sod, and some
of them are nearly as large around as dinner
plate Turnip seed is sown with grain drill,
three-fourths of pound of seed being mixed
with 100 pounds of commercial fertilizer aud
the drill set to SOW 100 pounds to the acre.
Sheep are at the bottom of these excellent re-
suits, and he has two neighbors farming on
about the same line and with gratifying sue
cess. His sheepfold is in the basement of
barn, where there is pump, root-cutter and
every desired convenience for supplying the
sheep with water, roots, hay and grain. The
root-cellar opens into the sheepfold, without a
partition, and the warmth of the sheep keeps
the roots from freezing. Vegetables designed
for family use are also stored here thus OBJ
waiting all maodors from decaying vegetables
in the dwelling-hOuse cellar. The surface of
the farm is very undulating, but the knobs
produce as great crops as the valleys and de-
pressions.
WHAT EVERY FARM SHOULD BE.
Says Colman's Rural World: Every farm.
barn and dairy in the country should be an ex-
pertinent station under the direction of its
owner, and in proportion as his intelligence
has been awakened will it be So" This idea is
one that tends to progressive agriculture, and
farmers should awake to its Importance. Much
may be accomplished upon every farm in the
determination of the questions of the best
practice. Very much has been done in this
line, but so far as its value is concerned is lost
to the farming world for the want of being
made known; farmers ought to get in the way
of making known the general results of their
practice, especially when it is in the line of ex-
permentation. If the result is one of success
selfshness ought not to prevent letting it be
known to others, and if it is a failure, then
others should be informed, that they may avoid
the same course. A good deal depends upon
the enthusiasm and Intelligence of the farmer
regarding experimentation. 1t is the easy
ones who are willing to walk in the paths trod
by their ancestors or are satisfied with their
modes Of procedure while it is the wide-awake
man that tries new methods for the purpose of
determining that which is best and most profit
able.
sMALL-FRUITs.
Every farmer should see to it that he has small
fruits, such as Strawberries, currants, grapes,
etc, sufficient for all the demands of the fam
lily. The plea against this that their selling
and cultivation costs time and money is INSULT
eient. Life is short at the longest, and it is the
duty of every one TO get all the legitimate COM
fort from it that is possible, and so, whatever of
comfort can be derived from 4 supply of small
fruits should be afforded, even at the very mod
crate cost required. With the very many vari-
cites of the different kinds of small-fruits a
selection of a few plants of each may be made,
so that of one kind or another an almost con-
tinuous supply of delicious fruit may be had
from the commencement of the fruit season
until its close. With suitable preparation of
soil, and an abundance of fertility, that is of
the greatest Importance to secure success, If
the plants are carefully set the after care and
attention need not of necessity be very labori-
Gus; and in fact the time required might be
taken, if there was disposition, from the time
that is thrown awaY at the corner grocery.
blacksmith shop or sim lar places; in this way
comfort and happines might be provided for
! the family.
FEED OF YOUNG ANIMALS.
| The feed of young animals should always be
! liberal. This is the time when food produces
! the greatest growth, perhaps for one reason be-
cause the natural strength of the digestive or
| gans has not yet been impaired. A young ami
NAL after being once stunted never fully
RECEIVERS its digestion This most important Of
all the organs remains enfeebled, aud dimin-
| ishes the effect of all good feeding afterwards
1t also probably helps to overcome the natural
| instinct which prevents eating too much. Al
ternate starving and clogging will ruin any
! digestion, and with this injured, all animals
even up to men and women, are not worth hal
| what they should be.
! NOTES.
! - Foul air in stables affects the quality O
milk.
Most plants will not thrive in colds wei
| soil.
- Plant the garden in rows, and cultivate
Eat ripe fruit or sauce every day, or twice
| day if possible.
Have good orchard, and as good variety
| Of fruit as possible.
II Make farm, garden and poultry house fur
nish all they can of the living.
Raising ducks is very profitable. Th'
Pekin is the most hardy and easy raised.
= Warmth is the best of all medicines fo
roup and swelled heads and eyes. Place thu
birds by stove if possible.
Eggs are the cheapest and most satisfactor,
food the farmer or boarding house keeper cal
put upon their tables.
- Make your selection of calves to raise from
the first of the good ones. Don't sell them ana
take what is left for yourself.
-Anoint the combs and wattles of the large
comb breeds of fowls with glycerne occasion
ally, and it viii prevent frosted combs.
"A good deal is said about thoroughbred
stock, and not near as much as might proftabI,
be said about thoroughbred help.
- Don't be in hurry to get the cows on e
the pasture; they, both cows and pasture. vii
be better to wait until the grass has goot
start.
- The care of poultry is pleasant outdoo
exercise, and we would recommend more atten
ton to poultry by women. The care of chick
ems will bring health and profit.
The day of large profits is gone Th
profits of dairying are made up of the small
daily savings, in the difference between tn
cost of production aud the value of the mill
or butter,
J The check-rein, which passes from tn
, mouth over the horses head, is most foolisl
contrivance of torture which possesses not on
excuse for its use. The butcher who trans
ports number of calves in his wagon and al
lows their heads to dangle over the sides ofth
box, excuses himself on the score of want o
room. The teamster who brutally pounds hi