The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-09-26
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
snnEINa HORSES.

OF the horse are the two main objects to be
gained by shoeingI the following extract from
an article by Allan Eric, in the PioEghman, will
be suggestive to those of our readers who per-
sonally shoe their horses, or wish to know that
it is done rightly by their blacksmith. He
thinks that the ordinary SYSTEM of horseshoe
ing is rude and irrational, and is the main
cause Of most lameuess and of the majority of
falls in riding or driving. Chief among its
faults are the attempts To- fit the foot to the
shoe instead of the shoe to the foot. After the
cautions removal of the old shoe, the crust on
which it rests generally requires to be pared
down with parer or drawing knife, and its
edge nfterward rounded with a rasp Any
ragged portion of the frog should also be taken
of; and this believe, should include all of
the allowable pairing of the horses foot.
The horny wall intended as n covering and
protection Of tho sensitive parts beneath the
tough, elastic frog and insensible pad, which
obvatcs conclusion and preserves the foot wide
and free from contraction; the bars, an invo-
luton of the crust, which helps it to support
weight and give il lateral support, are all too
valuable and necessary 10 DO ruthlessly cut
away. and in all ordinary cases should be scru-
puIously preserved both from knife and rasp.
For sound, healthy feet, treated as advised, a
plain shoe is preferable for saddle or harness
horses. The web need not exceed three-fourths
of an inch, and should iii the crust closely aud
accurately all the way round to the heels, where
its inner edge will rest upon the strong and I'M
cut bars. Nowhere should there be any over
tapping, for it only renders the shoe more apt
to cut tho opposite limb and be torn of on
heavy ground TO lessen the chances of trip
ping, and make the shoe wear equally. il should
for the fore feet be turned up slightly and its
ground surface followed out little at the toe,
so as to present the appearance of an ordinary
shoe which has been worn fortnight or three
weeks, aud which, rs everyone knows is rem
dercd more safe and comfortable. By turning
up at the toe these advantages are secured at
once. For saddle or light harness work three
nails on the ont aud two on tho inside will Sc
curcly hold any we'll made well Ing shoe.
The nail holes should always be countersuuk.
by this l mean carefully aud sufficiently coun-
tcrsunk and be nearly in tho center Of the web,
and pass straight through IL, thus giving the
nails hrner hold Of the firm, unrasped crust.
The points of tho nails, when driven home,
should bo broken over and laid down with the
hammer. but not touched with the rasp. The
raspine of the crust which backsmiths fondIy
regard rs their finishing stroke, is very iniuri-
ous, as it removes the uncinous. protected por-
tons OF the crust. and renders IL weak. brittle
Bud liable 10 crack. Shoes should be replaced
every three weeks or month Mt tho longest.
In shooting the hind feet, the outside web
should 10 slightly turned down behind, while,
to give an equal bearing the inside should be
thickeneh. For heavy draft, both hind and
fore shoes should have moderate tips aud heels,
not too prominent. "a. of course these enable
the horse 10 exert his full power without much
risk OF slipping, Instead of the five nails used
for the lighter horse. seven or eight should be
used in this case. Horse and Stable.
WHY cnIcKA DIE IN THE SHELL
This Is a question so often asked and so few
understand. Mr. Cooper says they die more
from improper ventilation than any other
cause. Air cannot bo seen and measured. The
operator win have to have little experience
before The proper amount can be- given. With
insufficient air the chicks may die in oil stages
OF growth, bot tho greatest number during the
last three days OF tide hatch. In very bad cases
chicks get cut OF tho she'll but fail 10 absorb oil
the yolk. aud this sticks 10 some object, and
the poor chick in nloviaE around pulls out its
bowels. After several get out IN this manner
the tray presents MOST horrible appearance.
The chicks that are osit are blowing and pant
inc FIR mir. Chicks ftor Matching should never
pant. II they do the operator has not given
them air enough. When chicks die in the shell,
aud the shell Is full, the chick wedged in tight
80 1t cannot move. the cause is too much moist
nre. When chicks are very much shTiyeied and
small, and air space very large, not enough
moisture has been given. Mr.. Cooper recently
delivered lecture tn California on artificial
incubation, aud proved that his theories were
correct by Matching 325 chicks from 81 fertile
eggs. Exchange
GROWING TuRNIPs
II the soil Ia Ia suitable condition. 10 Is some
times an advantage 20 get all that can be OBJ
tanned from IL 10y means Of double cropping.
We have noticed method of treating patches
that have boon planted Ia early potatoes that
Is 10 be commended. both for tho method itself
aud the clean culture which 10 effects. The
70
for an early crop, while the tops are yet some
what green, 10 pull tho tops aud all the weeds
that may be growing ut the time and place
them between two rows 20 be- dug; then with
the hoe haul the earth over tho tops and weeds,
forming Of the two rows and space between
sort Of elevated ridge. In this way each alter
nate space between the roSs is left somewhat
depressed. TO serve the purpose of carrying off
or holding surface water. Upon these ridges
sowed tho tnrnips with little fertilizer as
dressing, or without If the soil Is rich enough.
The decay of the tops and weeds assists the
growth of the second crop and keeps the soil
loose This liz much better than TO allow the
ground to be unoccupied and perhaps grow up
To weeds. Says Prof johnson: Keep the soil
all the time az work"
Never feed whole grain TO the COWS. 1t pays
well To have 10 ground.
The first thing 10 be done TO secure large
1ow of Winter milk is To make the cows com
Portable; the next, TO feed judiciously aud lib
orally,
Don't bruise the apples when you pick
them. If you employ "a careless picker, do not
do it longer; aud don't have any nails sticking
out on the inside Of the barrel in which you
market apples
The necessity of having g suitable place
for keeping the milk Is felt At no time more
than during tho freezing weather. Frozen
cream rise properly.
Give Winter protection TO the small. fruit.
The thing To do Is TO select the best varieties,
even IL tender, and then go 10 the trouble OF
protecting them. Hardy varieties arc often
like the scrub COW, tough, but mighty unproit-
able
Never touch tho butter with the hands
Use paddle made Of an oakeh sbngle to lift it
by, or one Of the ladies sold at the storcs Put
the butter in u clean wooden butter.dsh well
rinsed with cold water, spread il out as fiat
as possible gashng il with ladlo and sprinkle
one ounce of the finest dairy salt TO the pound
OF butter over it.
There is perhaps no moro profitable method
OF improving heavy clay soils than by liber-
al application of sand, when this material ID at
hand. Such soils are naturally iiieless, aud by
supplying this element the land liz made por-
GUS, which insures better results from cultiya-
ton.
An excellent fattcning food for swine is
made up OF the soft corn ears aud nubbins boil
cd with potatoes, or boiied potatoes given with
some c0rnmeal or bran mixed with tho hot
water in which tho potatoes have been boiled.
The food may be given when cooled down To