The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-03-21
OUR RUR4L TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
FIRM THE sorr.

FIRM THE SOIL.
In planting vegetable seeds it is necessary
that they come in close contact with the soil,
in order to secure speedy termination. As a
rule, small seeds should not be covered to
much depth, and for that reason, with the soil
thoroughly pulverized, the natural moisture be-
comes evaporated at the surface, by which
means the seed is deprived of that moisture
which is necessary for its germinal develop
ment In order to avoid this the soil should
be sufficiently compacted or frmed to insure
its complete contact with the seed.
1t seems to be an absolute necessity that this
condition exist in the planting of all kinds of
seed, and in transplanting plants. This princi-
pie seems to have been fully understood by the
fathers for we can we'll remember when it was
considered that it was absolutely necessary at
time of planting of corn or potatoes that every
hill be stepped upon and trodden by the feet.
This course, in addition to bringing the soil IN
contact with the seed, served, as was believed,
as an obstacle to the successful efforts of crows
| in pulling the corn. And they raised good
corn in those old fashioned days.
HEALTHY SWINE.
The American AgricultWriSt gives some rules
necessary to have healthy swine, and one among
them that we think must refer to Summer care:
Provide ventilated shelters from wind, rain
and snow, but no litter. Hogs with litter get
too warm. If you wish disease, put your hogs
to the straw pile"
We cannot agree with this advice as relating
to litter at season of the year when there is
likely to be snow. While it may be possible
for hogs TO survive lying upon the cold ground,
the plank or stone floor we do not believe it
is for the interest of the farmer to adopt any
| such course. Nor do we believe that the judi
cious use Of litter is liable to promote disease.
The hog enjoys its bed as well as any other ami
nal, or as we'll as man, and in Winter weather
does not suffer from heat in consequence of it.
Clean straw makes good bedding but dry leaves
are equally as good, the only trouble being the
necessity for frequent replenishing, as they are
soon pulverized. We have never had any trouble
from the use of litter.
EGG FARMING.
Raising eggs PAYS that is, where good, warm
houses and the proper feed is in order. Our
henhouse is warm and comfortable. 1t is lined
on the inside with heavy paper, and all cracks
and creviees are thus closed up. Wind cannot
| possibly blow in it, and having good roof,
there is no way for the rain to come in. By
| this precaution we keep the fowls combs from
freezing. They lay better for it. good, warm
| in the morning bran, to which we put cooked
greens whenever we can get them, and all meat
| scraps. Boiled potatoes mixed with bran Is
| also good. During the day, every now and
| then, we bury a little grain, and get the hens
| scratching. 1t gives them exercise, and counts
| by the dozens in the egg-basket. We feed them
| grain at night Don't throw it down to them,
but cover it up, aud they will scratch until
| dark. We cannot afford to let our hens idle.
| They won't lay, and they begin pulling each
| others feathers. And last but yet the most
| important, we continually have good fresh
water before them. What is the consequence?
| The hens always have bright red combs, and
| lay when other fowls do not. They are healthy,
| and there is remarkable fertility to their
| eggs Try it and see for yourselves.
KEEPING FARM. ACCOUNTS.
Perhaps not many farmers are in the habit
of keeping any sort of an account with their
| farms, and therefore do not really know
| whether the farm pays ernot It ought not to
| be difficult thing for the average farmer to
| adopt some simple system of keeping an account
| of receipts and expenditures, crops raised, with
| the labor of raising, sufficient to determine
whether he is going forward or backward in
| the scale of finances. The supposed trouble of
| doing the work is the chief obstacle.
NOTES.
Occasional cases of CHAMBERS are reported
| from different sections of the country. It might
| be we'll for farmers to keep lookout for it.
| - Be ready to plant just as soon as the soil
| is warm enough. There is no profit in doing
| it before. Seeds cannot grow without warmth
| = Take pan of corncobs, put them in the
| oven to char, grind them up. and give to your
| hens, chickens and turkeys. 1t corrects acidity
or fermentation of too much corn, and is val
| liable adjunct to their food.
| - Stephen Powers says good grain for fat
| tenIng sheep is shelled corn, one-hatf; barley
| or rye, one-quarter; oats, one-quarter. Years
of experience satisfied him that it pays, unless
| the mill is very remote, to have all grains
| ground, even for sheep.
| - The farming of the future must be gradu-
| ally contracted in the number of acres. Less
| hard work over broad fields and closer atten-
| ton to special paying crops on the fields that
| surround the house. More pasture, more stock
and plenty of ensilage. This insures the pur-
chase of less commercial fertilizer and the very
| best results from the contents of the barnyard.
| Among the most useful of all cannibal in
sects are the small and beautiful ladybugs, too
well known TO our readers to need description.
| Their favorite food consists of plant lice
| (apbides) and potato-b bug eggs. Two years ago
| they were so plentiful in one garden that they
almost kept the potato patch cleared from po-
| tato-bugs, The gardener should try to protect
| these little friends of his.
- The age at which horses should be put to
| work depends good deal ON their size build
| and general temperament. A light, nervous
horse should be broken early, but should not
be set at hard drawing until it fully develops
| The heavier draft breeds of horses are less am
| bilious, and having also more weight and
strength are less likely to strain themselves
At three years old they will do a good deal of
| pulling with benefit in developing their mus
| cles and with little danger of harm.
- There has not been year for long time
| in which the apple market has proved less sat
! isiactory to producers than in the season now
| drawing to a close. 1t seems probable, from all
| that can be learned, that more good apples will
be in the market in the next two months than
ever before at this season. Prices are very UNI
! satisfactory everywhere, and it is reasonably
certain that very many who have picked bar
relied and stored their fruit, hoping for change
for the BETTER will be disappointed, and make
nothing whatever, and in many instances act
ually lose money.-NatonaI Stoctlaan
POULTRY NOTES.
! An occasional feed Of raw onions, say about
once week, cnt up about the size of whole
corn is not only reished by the chickens but
| affords them capital tonic. Some writers say
that fed at night they are good preventive
of roup.
- Let all roosts be ca level, two feet from
| the ground. 1t is ridiculous to see one roost
above the other like seats in circus tent
| There is always a race for the topmost scat:
and not being room enough for all, they must