The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-13
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
BENEFITS OF CROSSING.

we gain a stronger constitution. The chicks
Matched from our crosses are much more hardy
from the shell up than the pure breds. New
blood is always beneficial. We have an exam
pie right in pure stock. If we breed year in
and year out with the same male, the offspring
become more stunted and the constitutions
weakened. Introducing new blood stimulates
the old, and this shows itself at once We tried
it. We mated number of Langshan hens
with cock for number of years, and each
year we noticed decline of vigor Last Fall
we took out the old gentleman and introduced
a fne-bred cockerel we bought in Vermont,
and the result is indeed gratifying. The chicks
are remarkable for their size and activity. And
this has been just what we have experienced
in our crosses, only to a greater degree.
There is another benefit in crosses: we can
combine good traits The Brown Leghorn lays
the smallest egg, the Black Spanish the largest.
Where merely commercial egg trade is to be
reached, this cross has its marked effects. We
may not equal the Spanish eggs as an average,
but we make up sort of middle size--just the
size to sell well in market.
Another point, and one of which we have
spoken before, we can combine early maturity
slowly, but it counts in weight. Itwould take
too long to get it to broiler if left all alone;
but if we cross quick grower, the Leghorn
for instance, on these Asiatic hens we get the
quick growth and the body too. This is in
deed decided advantage.
Farmers, as a rule, have a collection of all
kinds of fowls. Fanciers call them dunghills.
Showmen class them as mOngrels. But be they
what they will, if the males were killed off and
pure-bred males substituted, there would be
more eggs, more Spring chickens and better
health. We have tried it and know whereof
we speak, Germantown Telegraph
ABOUT CORN.
Better two vigorous stalks than four weak
ones because crowded and sparingly fed.
For cut-worms, try a mixture of one part salt
to two parts of land plaster, dropping little
at each hill.
One warm day does not make the proper
season for planting any more than one swallow
makes Summer.
The man who waited to begin cultivation
until he could see the plants found that the
weeds were earlier than he.
Select seed carefully, and keep selecting.
Pedigree in corn is just as valuable as pedigree
III the Shorthorn or Poland-China.
CARE OF YOUNG TREES.
Fruit trees set this Spring, if the ground is
not titled, should be freely mulched, placing
the material far enough from the base of the
trunk so the beetle of the apple-tree borer will
not be induced by the covert to lay her eggs
upon them. If the trees were not properly
pruned at time of setting, the top should be
properly thinned at once. It is far the better
way to do this when the trees are set and clip
the top according to the amount of roots A
tree quite severely shortened in its branches
when set out is much more likely to live, aud
afterwards make good growth, than if the
whole top is left on.
If one has occasion to water newly-set trees
IN dry, hot weather, remove the earth few
inches in depth and water thoroughly, then re-
place the soil or mulch heavily. Without this
precaution the soil will become crusted over
and the watering do but little good.
BARK LICE.
We mean the oyster-sheH bark louise, which
sticks to the tree it infests like politician to
the Government teat. Trees infested with bark
lice should be washed the last of June with
very strong soap-suds, or a solution of potash
and water. or busting OF hardwood unleached
ashes applied in damp day will arrest the at
tention of these utterly graceless scamps quite
effectually. The bark lice hatch from the eggs
lain last season. from the 10th to the Goth of june
and pass up the trunk and TO the branches of
the tree. They may be seen as a whitish powder
thickly scattered upon the trunk and branches
while in this transition stage. 1t is then they
become encysted beneath their scale armor,
they are much harder to dislodge
After the young move up the tree wherever
they stop they become fixed and suck the sap
while they encyst and form other shells, which
are the coverings to q numerous batch of eggs,
that will hatch another season. While in the
transition stage they are very easily destroyed,
but care should be exercised not to have the
WASH strong enough to kill the tender foliage.
NOTES
Fertilizers cannot be used in place of ma
nure for indefinite periods, as soils need humus
to keep them in good condition. Rye or some
other leafy crop should be grown occasionally
and ploughed in to keep the ground light
Farming business generally is conducted
on loose and slovenly basis, with an absence
of economical methods that surprises every
man who comes to this country fully posted
as to the methods adopted elsewhere, where
men have to pay an annual rent for the land
and much higher tithes and taxes than we
have to pay.
Old pasture fields are usually full of weeds
which have crowded the grass out To utilize
such pastures turn sheep on them. The sheep
will eat the young weeds as we'll as the grass
and greatly assist in destroying the pests. In
the Fall the sod can be turned under and re-
seeded with less danger of the weeds again
appearing.
Some hortlculturists are now claiming that
insects are beneficial because they lessen pro-
duction, which is a theory that is sure to end
in the practice of methods more injurious than
| can be foreseen at the present time. The war
on insects should not cease. 1t is not easy to
keep them within bounds even with the most
persistent work.
Dairy COWS should be fed twice only q day.
The dairy COW needs rest as well as food She
will eat more slowly, masticate more and digest
her food better if she gets two meals at regular
intervals. The meals should be full ones.
quiet and contented habit should be cultivated
in the cows. Such habits are conducive to a
greater production.
The first thing to do next Summer is to
| ascertain the exact amount of milk your cows
are giving; next Fall you will fatten one-third
of these cows. Then buy bull from a family
of cows that are bred up to an $50 standard;
breed him to your $25 cows and the average
calf will make $52 cow. Continue this weed
ing and breeding, and you will soon have an
$50 herd.
Ducks will fatten readily if given plenty
of feed. On the farm where they can have a
good range they require but little feed
If too fat they will not lay eggs, and at this
time the eggs are the principal source of in
come As soon, however, as the weather will
permit, commence picking the ducks and geese
for feathers.
1t is common practice with many farmers
to delay seeding till the ground is settled and
frosts are over, when, unless the season be quite
wet, the seed will not terminate; or if it start,
it is very liable to be killed by drouth in June,
before the germ has sufficient strength to resist
it. hence a failure. which IN rlv SeedinO UouId