The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-08-01
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
"a Agricultural Readers
TIE GRAIN rtANT.LousB.

regarding the grain aphis (Aphis apenp tdb.),
and tho fact that find them quite numerous
upon tho wheat, / conclude that this species is
doing its mischief over a wide area this season.
And as the farmers are very anxious, / deem 1t
wise to publish what is known about this pest
"In 1861 this grain aphis was very abundant
in New England aud New York. DIR. Fitch de-
scribed it then as working much injury to oats.
wheat, barley, and rye The louise is green,
yelowish green, or reddish yellow In color
SO far as have seen this season 1t is green, or
yellowish green. Tins In India they call IL
the green nudge. The term is of course incor-
rect. The nudge is two-wiuged fly, and tho
larva footless maggos The insect is plant
louise. These lice early in the season are found
on tho leaves and stems, and are always green
in color. As the heads form the lice remove to
these heads and gather about the forming
kernels. Then the lice become tinted with
yellow or occasionally with red or orange.
Under favorable circumstances-dry weather
such MS we had In April and May is very con-
ducive to the rapid increase of these lice--each
louise produces from three to five lice daily.
These young lice commence producing young
when three days old. Thus we see that in less
than q month single louise might be the pro-
genitor of over 9, 000, 600 lice. So We easily un-
derstand how these lice become so numerous
cially favorable 10 the increase of these aphides
wet weather is usually quite the reverse. Thus
we may hope that the numerous rains of this
month-June-will lessen the injury of the
pest Had tho rains been earlier this would
certainly have been true and there Is good
reason TO hope even now. Many farmers write
me that they fear the total ruination of the
crop. This is hardly TO be expected. If very
numerous the kernels will be much shrunken
and the crop much injured, but even at the
worst it is not likely that the crop will be de-
stroyed. Like most, If not ALL species OF aphides.
these grain aphis rarely appear in such de-
strnctive numbers for two successive seasons.
Their excessive increase is so favorable TO the
increase Of their insect enemies that the lice
are overcome and nearly disappear. Thus We
may hope with good reason that this incursion
Is only for this season Owing to the nature
of the cases artificial prevention Is quite
impossi be."
HOG CHOLERA.
"Hog cholera Is nm infections disease" says
the Western Raral caused by special micro
organism which finds the best possible condi-
tons for growth and multiplication in the tis-
sues and fluids OF the hog After the death OF
the host, the germs retain their vitality Tor
certain length of time. They still live in the
dead body of the host, in the litter in the To-
cality. OF in the soil; just how long VIC cannot
at present say. If the disease actually breaks
out in your herd, remove all the healthy hogs
ut once 10 some higher and dryer ground. 1t Is
better to remove the healthy and leave the sick
animals, because the SOIL litter etc, become in
fccted and capable Of transmitting the disease.
When an animal dies, burn IL on the spot don't
! remove It 10 some other lot, or wait till your
neghbor's dog eats part Of the carcass aud car
| ries the disease homo 10 his masters hogs, Be
sure that tho infected hogs do not have a chance
Z, drink from any running water. If they do,
| hogs drinking farther down the stream may
take the disease. Barn all loose litter and rub
| bish about the infected pen. do not allow per-
sons taking care OF sick hogs to visit the lot
/ not infected. For similar reason the attend
ant Of the well animals should not visit the sick.
/ Keep animals of eyefy sort out OF tho infected
| place. All woodwork should be thoroughly
whitewaAbed. and the. soil intimately mixed
with good dressing OF lime. Other disinfert-
| ants may be used, but lime Is cheap effective
aud readily obtainable FOR the burning.
COMPARATIVE VALUE OF MANURE.
1t Is only manufacturers or dealers in com.
mercial fertilizers that will nndeFrato the real
| value OF farm mAnures. Science recognizes ia
worth al NIL times aud the following. from the
| report OF the Geneva N. W Station is = clear
! statement Of the matter: =" IL II true many ex.
| perimenta have been made which seemed "a
| prove IL they prove anything. that the appli.
cation Of stable manure was not only useless
but even harmful to the crop under trial still
does not ono believe that taking two farms ra-
gar1ed as equal in fertility. and treating one
with tho carefully hualauded msnuFe produced
upon Il for series Of years, while the other
should sell of crops aad manure for like
| period, the former would maintain or, perhaps
increase It's original fertility, while the Other
would. sooner or later. show evidence OF ex
baustion in diminished crops7" Ii Is the
hight OF folly Tor anyone from any expert
f,tn a..
favorable effect 10 claim that IL possesses nj
value. Such result can usually DO traceahl'
10 some peculiar condition Of soil or cimat e
and is no different frum that obtained from
commercial fertilizers. How often has the tria
been made with the principal elements of fer
Utility. when liberal use Of one seemed 10 di
miniah tho yield from that where nothing wa
used We have used dissolved boneblack upoi
corn when n given amount produced exeellen
results. and doubling the quantity actually 70
duced the yield Of grain. being apparently
result consequent TO an Increased growth O
fodder II is plain TO be seen that farming mus
be studied 10 be fully or even partially under
stood.
FOOD FOR NOTHING HENS.
The best food for melting hens Is that ricl
in nitrogen. Give them meat milk, aud lie
the grain food consist largely of bran, which
will supply phosphates. Clover, hay or gras
given. An excellent mixture Is piece Q
cheap lean meat boiled into pieces, and tn
water In which 10 is cooked (including tn
meat thickened with the following mixture
TO stiff dough aud fed: Ground oats, tire
pounds; bran, one pound; linseed meal, on
pound salt, one ounce. Feed this twice q da
with any other food that may be given. Il
the drinking water add teaspoonful of chic
ride of iron to gallon of water as a tonic. ]
comes O fiaky powder, and is harmless ID
not use copperas or Douglass mixture whic
are poisonous, and avoid all condiments or con
dition powders. Sulphur in damp weathe
may cause leg weakness or rheumatism, a
often the hens will be Gas stated naked.
the hens are so treated, and are kept dry an
, warm, they will be through melting befor
Winter, and fully prepared for the business q
, laying eggs, and they will keep In good healt
! and cause but little trouble.
NOTES.
Stable manure always gives satisfactory r,
suits, provided IL is well oomposted and FIRE
, from weeds.
Let the horses run in the pasture Il littl
while when they come in from a hard day
, work. They will enjoy 1t better than fu
, meal.
You had better r. provide green food fe
/. your stock next Winter 1t will give bett,
results all around. ~
|. Don't let your hay be cured on the stall
Cut il when all its nutritive value is in 1t, ju
before il begins TO seed i
!. IF you have no shade in your pasture
!, will be good to erect one. Cows especial
keen In ha Sloda att1 e;ftt dly cham la