The National tribune., 1890-06-19
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
TUBERCULOSIS.

MS is disease Wnlcn, an authority StateS,
more or less affects over so per cent. of all the
cattle in tho country. 1t is by no means n new
disease, for tho history of the tubercle can be
traced back through ages. Experiments re-
Gently made upon the subject find the disease
to be very dangerous, for it has been found that
many persons have died from using tubercu-
lous milk and meat
Tubercle is a small mass of diseased matter,
very hard and of grayish color, which gradu-
ally softens and excites suppuration in its
vicinity, and seeks an outlet from the body.
Tuberces may develop in various parts of the
body, but most frequently in the lungs, causing
pulmonary consumption.
tuberculosis is the specific infectious disease
produced by tubercles and although the word
tubercle is as old rs anatomy, the term tuber-
culosis is n modern word, designating a certain
disease. The alarming prevalence and the al
most invariabe fatal termination Of tubercu-
losis. renders knowledge of the disease more
desirable The French Congress held in 1889
states that the meat inspector in London found
over so per cent. of tho meat sent to market
infected with tubercular disease and the fact
that such meat could, transmit consumption
TO man was so clear as to make the sale of it
very dangerous
Can tho disease be exterminated, is a question
in which all farmers are interested, Prof. Law
suggests that all consumptve animals should
be promptly killed and cremated or otherwise
thoroughly disinfoCted and that there be a
thorough distinction of all the places whore
the diseased animals have been. The safest
way TO avoid all danger in the milk is to
thoroughly scald it.
COW PEAS.
The value of this crop when used rs n fertil-
izor cannot be overestimatod 1t contains all
the elements Of the best commercial fertilizers
and supplies them to the soil in the best pro-
portions. 1t is especially useful in the renova-
ton of poor or wornout soils. Its principal
work, says the Maryland Farmer, is to gather
its great means of usefulness from the atmos-
phere aud then transmit it to the soil for some
succeeding crop. IL demonstrates tho fact that
1T can gather from some source u large amount
of potash as well rs nitrogen not existing in
the soil upon which il stands.
Take a sandy field in which there Is scarcely
trace of potash nitrogen or phosphoric acid.
and yet the COW pea will grow and accumulate
vast amount of these things, which, when
turned under add very largely TO the fertility
OF the land.
Science has much 70 discover before 10 can
answer the questions which naturally arise in
reference 20 this subject. II concerns us, how
ever To know that It accomplishes tho work of
fertilization, oven though no one can positively
tell how il is done or from where these ele-
ments come. We have rot vet given to the
sunlight, tho atmosphere aud the rain all the
credit they deserve. But these developments
will come in the fgture aud we can wait for
them, meanwhile making practical use of the
facts and using the COW pea as green crop for
enriching the land.
RuEUakTtsM IN LAMBS.
rheumatism sometimes attacks lambs. The
limbs, or some of them. become stiff, causing
difficulty and awkwardncss in motion. There
are cramps IN the neck, and the animal mani
tests au inclination To remain quiet and listlcss.
The bowels soon become eoustipated. Ono
writer states that ii ewes are fed during the
last months OF pregnancy on large quantities
OF clover, potatoes and grain, or If they are
permitted 10 cat taoldy food of any kind. IL may
cause rheumatism IN the lamb We give this
statement for what il is worth. Certainly the
animal should not be led on moldy grain,
whether rhnnma tam sasauTr or not. Such food
would produce bad effect upon tho milk aud
bad milk would likely produce disease of some
kind. IL Is said to be most common during the
wet, cold days of early Spring. Weak lambs
are subject 70 IL. la the first place see that the
ewes have proper food. Give the following at
the commencement of the disease powdered
sulphutotcd antimony five parts aud fresh
butter one part. Mix. and then administer "A
quantity the size of hazel nut three times n
day HesterH Rural
NOTES.
49, Until farmers discard the feeding Of their
hogs with sour, rotten swill and resort to clover
or more wholesome food their herds will be
affected with disease.
49, Tho fence-cOruers must now be looked
after, as they are the harbornc- places for weeds
aud insects being seed-beds from which the
whole farm may he stocked with pests.
~ Melons should be we'll hoed aud cultivated
before they begin TO run. The very young
plants may DO hoed with advantage, but after
that time all cultivation should be done with
out disturbing the hills. Melon growers hoe In
front Of the vines, not among them, rs they
soon cover the ground.
AS soon AS the buds for clusters of grapes
are visible is the best time 10 thin them. Even
then those that promise best will show their
superiority Two clusters TO "a shoot ara enough
for any kind Of grapes, and early ripeping of
very late varieties, like the Catawba, may be
secured by removing every cluster save one,
and that the BEST on each shoot. The clusters
will be larger, and one ripe cluster is better
than crop haf.ripened.
Linseed meal is an excellent and harmless
food aud medicine. Many animals that have
lost appetite may be brought into condition by
should be used sparingly at first. For COW
allow half pint day, and gradually increase
the quantity until quart or more may be
given. For hide-bound IL Is excellent and
whore cattle are lousy IL SOON drives the
vcrmin away. 1t also regulates the bowels, and
largely assists in balancing the ration when IL
is composed Of food not nutritious in nitrogen
aud cHrbouaceOus matter.
- To kill lice OH cattle Mr.. Joseph Barnard,
Of Hopkinton N. H.. recommends the follow
iug He uses carb0lic crystals, mixed as fol.
lows Slice thinly one pound of yellow bar
SOAP and melt IL in pan; then melt one and
half or two ounces of carb0lic crystals by
setting the bottle in warm water. Turn the
melted soap and carbolic crystals into palful
Of quite warm water. Stir IL we'll together till it
makes good suda. Take good sized wooden rag
or sponge AMI rub tho suds into the hair until
IL vets the skin. The suds will kill any vermn
on animals Nothing Is better for killing ticks
Mr. Barnard also considers 10 good for hum0rs
and for cleaning the skin. He has never seen
any bad effect from It's use.
-N No crops hold their own against weeds
better than millet or Hungarian grass, and
especially the latter, the frequent moving
benehting the crops and lessening the number
OF weeds. As the seeds soon terminate and the
plants grow rapidly, especially during the
warm days they soon take full possession of
the ground aud crowd down the weeds A crop
Of Hungarian grass will clean piece of land
of weeds as well as though cultivation had been
given, and II, after the final moving the crop
be turned under and dressing of lime applied
tn the UIoYeu soil the labor nf IN iyat tha