The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-03-27
OUR RURgL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
MORE QUESTIONS. IN SILK RAISING.


MORE qUEsTPpNsIN SILK RAISING.
Mrs. Helen IT. Carr, Montpelier, VT, says:
| awe have a bush or vine that we call the
mulberry bush, which. grows wild on tho walls
and in the fields 1t has flowers that look like
wild rose, and has rcd berries. viii the leaves
of this bush do tofeod the worms2"
From the above description we conclude that
that is not the mulberry on which the slkworm
feeds. The red mulberry, which grows easily
| in New England, is tree from Is to 30 feet
high, and in some localities reaching hight
between GO and 20 feet. It's fruit is about an
inch long, not berry shaped, and dark purple in
color If you do not have the mulberry or Usage
growing in your locality, ask the Department
Of Agriculture to furnish you with them when
you write for the eggs, and you will get the
plants all right. Do not lose any time in writ
ing for the eggs, as this the season to hatch
! them.-ED.1
POULTRY MANURE.
During the Winter Is when it is possible to
secure the largest quantity of this fertilizer rs
| the poultry must be confined considerable
portion of the time. With little caro- in gath
ering up and storing away properly, so that its
most valuable properties will be retained. q con-
siderable quantity of valuable fertilizer, espe-
cially for the garden and small-fruits may BIO
secured.
1t is very necessary for the health and COM
| fort of tho fowls to keep their quarters clean,
and II this is done the droppings should be
gathered up every few days and be stored
where they will keep dry. Dry dirt or sifted coal
ashes are the best materials TO use as alb
| sorhent. although, when these cannot be had
conveniently, cut straw can be made to answer.
Coarse litter should not he used, If tho largest
| benefit from the manure is desired. Old boxes
or barrels can be utilized for storing away 1t
should be kept dry, and If this is done will DO
in good condition 80 apply in Spring. If prop
erly cared for IL can lie easily fined, and in this
condition can be thoroughly incorporated with
the soil. With smali-fruits, and with all gar
den plants that are planted sufficiently far
apart To render it economical, the better plan
is TO apply in the hill, taking pains to incorpor-
ate we'll with the soil before sowing tho seed or
setting out the plants.
With the smaller garden plants, or those
grown close together. like onions. lettuce or
radishes, good plan is 10 prepare the soil in
good filth, ready to SOW the seed, and then scat
ter the fertilizer evenly over the surface, and
then with n good steel garden rake work we'll
into the surface. This will place it where it
can ho reached by the roots of the plants. As
II lisa very concentrated fertilizer, n small guam
tity will answer for each plant, when applied
in the hill. and rs IL can be readily fined, it
should be stored carefully and used in the
Spring in tho garden. IL is well worth taking
considerable pains TO save and apply.-Prairie
Farmer
SHEEP RAISING.
The rearing of sheep when skilfulIy man.
aged. is the most profitable branch of farming,
says an exchange, but when sheep are neglect
cd they will never thrive. A Cock left to itself
brings its owner to shame and inflcts loss and
disappointment upon him. More than this, it
tends 10 give wrong idea TO others who, be-
cause of SO many failures. are induced TO be-
leve that sheep are naturally poor stock, and
80 leads 20 the too-prevaleut desire TO engage
in the pursuit without knowledge or expert
ence, aud the abandonment Of 1t because of tho
certain failure As shepherds are too often,
like their sheep given 10 wandering from the
right way, and on the first reverse, or fear of
/ 1t, become panic-strielren aud rid themselves Of
their stock nc any loss it Is the duty OF all
concerned in the encouragement OF this indus
try to show that sheep more than any other
farm animals, require the best care and feed
ing, and that good feed and care are required
10 make good and profitable sheep. The Eng.
lish shepherds ara tho most successful ia the
world, and their sheep are provided for with
the most liberal outlay OF money and skillful
care. But when English sheep imported
neEe ibis care ~ rarely given ~ tHtiil, anu IN
the majority Of instances they fail 10 realize
the hopes Of American shepherds aud become
hopeless wrecks. This Is the history Of nearly
all the English sheep which have been brought
hither
NOTES
Peach trees should have plenty OF space
between them, as their roots are great wan
derers. Manure the soil WELL and grow small
fruits or vegetables in the open spaces 10 insure
good culture. The ieast desirable things to
| grow in an orchard are weeds or grass
Prof William j. Green, OF the Ohio Sta
ton, having tested the effect Of early and late
picking for apples, says: Early picking OF
apples improves their keeping qualities but no
| difference Is manifest for nearly six months
after picking. IL kept for longer period than
six months tho early picked apples show do
| cidcd gain over those picked late.
| Z. w. Reid, In the Ohio Farmer. says pear
| tree which blooms but bears no fruit is making
| too much root growth, aud recommends dig
| glng trench is inches deep below the circum-
ference Of the first limbs. filling ii half full Of
| compost manure. aud returning the soil on top.
| This will check root growth and start the tree
| 10 bearing.
- For tho sore around tho cor0net of the
! hoof of your horse p0ultice the part for three
| or four days with liaseed- meal poultice. Then
wash of with soap aud water and apply the
| following Oh soft linen muslin, aud wrap
| over III Win Dhnuhgs TO keep out the aust {:
! Acetate of lead, one. fourth ounce; oxide of
| zinc, one-fourth ounce; lard, four ounces mix
well. Change tho linen every other day, and
before each application wash with warm water
| and soap. Feed no corn for two weeks, but
| plenty Of good oats aud hay. If there are any
signs of feverishness, give pint Of raw linseed
| oil.
To preserve harness perhaps neatsfoot oil is
| best. To one quart OF neatsfoot oil you may add
0ne.quarter pound of tallow and u little lamp.
| black. Heavy harness should be taken apart and
carefully ceansod with warm water before oil
| ing. Then, before IL has thoroughly dried out
| rub 10 with WOODEN cloth saturated with OIL
or put the oil In a shallow pan over n very slow
fire. and draw each piece through the warm OIL
| bending 10 backward aud forward. Rub tho
oil in with WOODEN rag, aud hang the harness
| up whore 1t will not dry out too rapidly.
Lime Ia an indispensable fertilizer for farm
crops The farmer who wishes TO preserve the
| fertility of the soil aud produce tho largest
crop, cannot do so without using large quanti-
! tics of lime. Lime Is the most abundant min.
eral constituent Of all plants, aud Is indispens.
able TO their growth. Cheap lime Is. therefore,
sine qua non for tho farmer. Where IL Is
cheap and abundant there grass and clover
| flourish, and other crops succeed as these do