The National tribune., 1890-05-01
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
ATTEND no TIE STOCK.

to their livestock which they should. INSULT
cient food, or food of poor quality, is given to
them, and the farmer wonders why his stock
is not getting along as good as fast as that
Of his next-door neighbor, who gives his stock
the best of care Some farmers, however, give
their stock bountiful ration; but perhaps
this food is not the right kind If the farmer
feeds variety of food, lie will not fail to notice
the improvement in his livestock.
ITe should keep the animals in good con-
dition. If cattlo, swine, sheep or horses are
not in good condition all the time there is a
loss that never can be made up, for once down
in condition, not only is there just so much
time lost but it always requires moro food and
better care to get the animal up than would be
required If it were kept up all the time. If
the stock is kept in good condition it will be-
como thrifty and healthy. Fatness does not
indicate thriftincs5 Many an animal that is
so fat it can hardly stand is literally starved.
Tho fat-forming foods that it has had do not
give it strength, and the system Graves some
thing il has not got
The farmer should not be content until he is
breeding from the best stock. Still, an animal
may be of the hest of q breed but If IL is
neglected aud uncared for its offspring will be
no account. We sec this in all animals bred
especially for their fatteuiDg characteristics.
Take the most thoroughbred Shorthorn COW,
herself an excellent feeder, falling into the
hands of a careless. negligent farmer, and half
starved during the time she is bearing her
calf and what is the resultp Nine times out
of ten she will bear scrub. inherting not tho
thrifty characteristics of the parent, but bear
ing through life the condition imposed on il
during its fetal existence by the starvation
and suffering of its dam.
The depression in the cattle industry ia duo
TO the scrub breeds. The farmer should, there
fore, raise nothing bat tho best breeds, and now
is the most favorable time. 1t is, in fact, only
a question OF timo whether the farmer shall
raise from the hest breed or raise none ut all.
THE CULTURE OF RHuRARB.
Rhuharb, or pic plant, should have in every
garden. however small q space allotted to its
cultivation. 1t will grow in almost any soil
and situation. and may sometimes DO seen
crowded in corners Of tho garden, or struggling
for existence among weeds and other vegeta-
ton. If large crops Of rhubarb are desired
and those of the finest quality it should DO
grown in an open situation and in rich soil
The ground should be deeply dug and heavily
dressed with maurc, rs the rhubarb delights in
raised from seed, and that Is perhaps the best
method of obtaining plants in the South. 1t is
generally increased by dividing the old stools
These are dug up and then divided with n
knife, or more generally sharp spade into as
many pieces as contain buds The side buds
may, with care, bo removed without digging
the plants, aud these, IL planted, will make
healthy plants. The roots should be set out In
rows about four feet apart in the row. The
space between the rows may, the first year, be
cropped with cabbage, lettuce. or anything OF
similar nature. IL desired. The ground should
be mniehed with mauurcA little tn the Spring,
aud during the Summer copous supplies of IL
quid manure should be given IL possible. Every
means should be- adopted To make the plants
grow vigorously during Summer for the larger
aud healthier the lEaves are one season the
stronger will bo the crowns and the greater tho
crop of The next. No stalks must no pulled
during the first season. aud but Il limited num-
Der the second; Il full crop inay be gathered
tho third year. The whole of the stalks should
not be- pulled from plant at one time. few
must always be left to aid the plant in bringing
forward the maturing stalks and 90 assist IL IN
laying up a store Of nDurishment for the fol-
lowing seayon. The stalk IL az It's greatest per-
fcction at the time when the leaf has Just com
pleled its growth. little experience In
required TO pull rhnbarb properly. The
stalk should be gTasped low down and the
thumb inserted between the crown and the
stalk, held so "a 10 compel IL 10 give way when
pulled without bringing the heart out with IL.
When this happens several days will be occu.
ped by the plant simply in repairing this loss.
When growing rhubarb for exhibition, gather
ing should cease about two months before the
date Of the show, aud during this time the
plants should be we'll nnurshed with liquid
manure aud "a good mulching should also be
applied to them. The largest and best-ahaped
stalks, and those that have the finest color
should be selected, and IL at all dirty. carefully
wiped with soft. damp cloth. Very old aud
tough stalks had better be discarded. Unless
IL should be deemed necessary TO save seed tho
Towering stalks should be- broken oil as soon rs
they appear. The rhnbarb plant generally
| perfects seed when il has attained its third
year. The seed should be- aown in the Spring
| IN drills two feet apart and be- covered about
| half an inch deep. As soon rs the young plants
come np they should be Trimmed TO Is inches
in the rows. II it is intended to SOW the seed
where the plants are To remain, the drills must
| be- four feet apart and the plants thinned to
three feet ia tho Tows-OrehdYd and Garden.
NOTES.
"A cubic foot OF ensilage each day is a lib
eral allowance per COW. !. is easy to estimate
from this how large to make your silo. Make
| ii more deep than wide.
When thumps once make their appearance
reduce the quantity of feed aud give spirits oil
| turpentine. IA teaspoonful to fifty pound pig
once a day in the slop. until tho accompanying
! cough is relieved aud they show by appearance
| general improvement.
Never permit tree or vine to overbear
| A tree or vine that is almost breaking with il
| load of fruit may be- a handsome sight, but il
| is not the most profitable one.
Salt is an unthelmintic or worm destroyer
| in animals and ia the soil. Try IL on potato
| l.. Il, 81 ~ L.