The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-03-07
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
KEEPING ANIMALS IN CONDITION.

lily from birth to block. A standstill means a
loss; going back means greater loss. The
above truth is from Herds and FloeES and should
be carefully considered by every farmer. It's
force applies with greater force to young and
growing animals than to those that have ar
rived at maturity, in which case there would
be no loss from simply maintaining its normal
condition; but in the case of young animals,
there is an indirect loss in not securing that
growth that ought to be continued and nat
ural. Do all farmers secure this steady gain
under the effects of Winter feeding? No.
And the number is great that do far worse and
allow them to 90 back, and so far back as in
some cases that we know of that the animals
died and were hauled away to be buried. The
kind of feeding that leads to such resultRis
the kind that starts the farmer on a down-hill
track. and when he once gets started the mo-
mentum increases so that it is with great diff
Guilty that he can recover. We should not look
for such among our Teaders.-Germultoa0 Iele-
graph.
PROFIT IN CHERRIES.
It is claimed that as much as $500 has been
made from one acre Of cherries. There is prob
ably but little doubt regarding the profit of the
cherry tree, but the trouble arises in the labor
required ia picking. Upon an acre, with the
trees 20x20 feet apart, 108 trees can be set and
it would require only about bushel from each
tree in order to realize $500. Cherry trees do
not bear every year alike, aud so it is not an
easy matter perhaps TO judge of the average
income from an acre orchard. The price real
lied also depends upon the kind of cherry.
We had tree of a variety known as Siberian
or Ok Heart, from which few years ago we
harvested an excellent crop Of fruit. We have
u e
fruit gathered, for the reason that many were
used for canning purposes-more than one
bushel. They were given away, and some left
for neighbors to pick; and besides we sold
enough to come to So Assuming that as many
more were used and given away, there would
have been realized from the tree at least Sl2,
and in the same proportion in an orchard OF
los trees there would be realized almost $1,000.
But that was an exceptional year, and yet
shows what might be with success market,
and fair prices Exchange.
SELECTION FOR MATING.
The selection of birds for mating is the most
important part of poultry raising The sire
should have good size, strong constitution,
broad back, full and round breast medium
short, strong legs, well set apart, TO secure COM
pactness and soldity. In addition to these
valuable qualities, he should have a nice
smooth head and neck, bright eye well-devel-
bpCu COIuD anu NtbtICS lCf INC DE6eut manu-
some carriage quick movements, hold and con-
fdent, attentive and discoursing to the females
and ready to battle for them with defiant
crow. The hens yOu intend to mate should be
as uniform in color and size as possible with
fine heads, long and deep bodies carried out
well behind the legs; breasts finely rounded
legs short and stout. Length of body is one
important requisite in the breeding fowls if
weight of flesh is desired. But when we aim
to combine weight of flesh with proliicness
select hens that are known to be good layers
and from good laying stock. Add to these a
strong constitution, able 80 stand the drain of
egg production and the changes of weather.
and you will have hens that are valuable to
breed from. Beauty is desirable, but there is
no reason to show why utility should not be
combined with it.-Nati0Ral Stockman.
NOTES.
No difference how plentiful the supply of
sop, hogs should have access to pure fresh
water.
"A successful grower of trees claims never to
fail to dispose of the black knot finally if it is
cut off in an early stage and turpentine ap-
piled.
The average butter production of the COWS
of New York State is 100 pounds, quite too lit
tie for profit. The standard of the jersey Cat
tie Club is 300 pounds per year.
In the improved agriculture which is in
late years renewing the wornout New England
farms. potash takes an important part and car
loads of ashes are brought over from the tim
| hered regions OF Canada for use by New Eng
land farmers.
i have found the mixture of muriate of
potash -four parts aud sulphate of iron tone
part) which you suggested, to be an efficient
remedy for black blight in pear trees. | ap-
Piled about two pounds TO the soil around each
tree. More of the chemical and several appli-
cations might be required when the disease is
Worse.-S. E. IN american Garden
Wheat should. taking the country over,
! realize IN q term of years in the neighb0rhood
| OF 81 to the farmer himself When that is the
case wheat growing is safe, and even then only
moderately profitable industry. But of all
produce at the average ruling prices of the last
| hye years there is probably nothing else con-
! nected with agriculture which has presented
less attractions than the growing of wheat.
= There IS no doubt about it that nine
tenths OF the farm-made butter is spoiled,
/ especially In Winter, from keeping the cream
| too long before it is churned. This is usually
| because so little milk is obtained in Winter; but
add water to it so as to one-third fill the churn
and 90 to work on it. The water will help
Winter cream and greatly improve the quality
| of the butter
The value of the manure is too often over
looked IN poultry raising. 1t is claimed that a
! HOWL Will make one busheI of manure in a year.
| the value Of which depends on the kind of
food used. The monetary value is never less
IMAM 20 cents and varies according to location.
Where trucking is carried on the hen manure
readily sells at s. per barrel. 1t is also used in
the arts by morocco leather manufacturers
"A gentleman having 20 years experience
rates potatoes cooked and fed alone to hogs as
about the value of corn; when fed with corn,
/ one-half the value of corn Another gives as
| ms experience that he never had hogs to do
better than when fed cooked potatoes mixed
with middlings. Another practical man re-
garded apples of more value as hog feed than
to sell them at the neighboring village at the
| price OF % cents per bushel. Potatoes should
be cooked before feeding. Apples are relshed
as nature makes them, and for the hogs we do
not believe they can be made any better by
cooking.
lie Knew Beans.
| EDITOR NATIONAL TRIRuNE. Whnn the