The National tribune., 1890-01-16
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
WARM WATER FOR MICH COWS.

WARM WATER FOR MICH COWS.
| At the Wisconsin Experiment Station Prof.
Henry has been conducting series of tests to
determine whether cold or warm water Is
best for milch cows six cows were used in
groups of three EACH given daily ration of
five pounds of bran mixed with two pounds of
ground oats and six pounds of hay together
with what dry cut corn fodder they would eat
up clean. They were fod twice and watered
once daily and allowed the freedom of the
barnyard during the middle of each pleasant
day.
Ono group was getting water at 800 F., and
the other at zoe +. At the end of 10 days
the order was reversed, and the cows that had
been drinking warm water were given cold
water, and vice versa. 1t was shown that the
cows while on warm water gave moro milk,
drank more water and ate moro food than
while on cold water. With but one exception
tho cows whilo they ate loss and drank less
during tho cold-wator period, weighed more at
the close
With butter at 20 cents per pound, skinned
milk at 25 cents per cwt., corn fodder Mt S. per
ton, and the cost of warming water for 40 cows
100 days at SIS, the results obtained from the
cows on experiment indicated that net gain
of $2l.36 would be realized on herd of 40
cows averaging 10 pounds of milk per day per
cow and at least $40 on a herd Of 20 cows
Counting corn fodder at $40 per ton, the net
gain on q herd of 40 cows would still be $l2.48
From the above results It Is seen that it pays
more to let the cows have warm drinking water !;
but how many dairymen will SEQ that their
cows have warm water7 But giving warm
water alone however, win not increase the
supply of milk. Tho cows must have clean,
warm and dry quarters. aud that many dairy
men have not. As work is slack ut this season,
why not cover over all the cracks in the barn
through which the wind and cold comes? If
any darymen contemplate trying warm water
for their cows, they should SEQ that everything
is in right order TO help the experiment, and
then go ahead.
GRAIN STATISTICS.
The December report of tho Department OF
Agriculture contains detailed statement of
the estimates of principal cereals by States in
Guiding area, product and values. The re-
ported area of corn, 1888 65i acres represents
an increase of "a per cent. over the acreage Of
| 1888 The wheat acreage, %. ~, $50 acres is
81 per cent. greater than the aggregate for
| 1888 The revision Of acreage gives q smaller
area in Iowa, Nebraska Oregon and Washing
| ton, and larger breadth in Kansas and Dako-
| Ia. Dairyiug and meat production have for
| years been eneroachinR on wheat growing on
tho eastern side Of the great Spring wheat belt,
AS former reports have shown. Wide fiuctua-
| tiOns in breadth Of wheat in Kansas, Illinois
and other States, occurring from year to year.
| are the result Of variable meteorological con-
ditIons. Economic considerations, especially
| changes in market value, also affect peculiarly
/ the distribution Of wheat The acreage OF oats
is placed at 81 i62, 80 acres, increase Of less
| than per cent.
| The yield per acre Of corn IS very nearly 81
| bushels or one and 0na-tonth bushels less than
/ the product of 1879 and Is the largest rate Of
! yield since 1850. The prodact as estimated is
/ 2,ll2,s02, 600 bushels. Tho largest yields are
| west of the Mississippi; Iowa taking irst rank
| IN the aggregate produced aud yield per acre
Si9,9B6,0O0 bushels, or 39.5 per acre. The yield
/ per acre Of wheat IL nearly 1919 bushels, or
| oneienth of bushel greater than the Novem-
| Der average Of yield per acre. Tho variation
| from the current expectation Of tho last six
months IL not over l per cent. The total pro-
! duct, as estimated, is iD0,5GO 600 bushels. Tho
product OF oats is 75f 600 bushels, at tho rate
| Of PA bushels per acre, The aggregate OF all
cereals is about 1000 600 bushels, or at least
So bushels per capita.
CARE or WAGONS.
Wagons should be kept we'll CREASED. GreRso
IL cheaper than horseiicsh. and rs the roads in
the Winter season do not always permit OF tho
Use OF light wagons, the draft on the horses
should DO kept at the minimum point and
| Rreasing the axles will largely contribute to
lessen the wear and tear of the wagons rs we'll
as the labor of the horses.
| When spokos and felioes shrink and the
| wagon-tifes become loose, IL is tho custom TO
! have the tires reset, at the usual expense Of 30
cents each. IL is far cheaper aud better for tho
! wheels TO saturate the entire woodwork with
! hot linsced oil. IL can bo applied with rag
tied to = stick. This fills the pores aud causes
| the timber TO swell and fiji the tires as when
new. With 4 coat Of hot oil once in year or
| two there will be no loose tires, aud the wheels
Will last very much longer.
NOVEL Hod.cHoLERA CURE
prominent Nebraska farmer has hit upon
| an original method for curing hogs sick OF
| cholera, says the Milwaukee Sentinel. When he
| first began his experiment neighbors laughed
at him, but as beneficial effects followed they
began TO think better of 10. The process, as
| explained TO mo by the farmer himself Is this:
| Instead of dosing the sick porkers with medi-
| cine he takes them out riding. lie places u few
at a time in big wagon and drives pell-mell
over tho lots and pastures seeking the rough
est places lac can find. After few such drives
| hogs that before refused 10 eat begin 10 feed
| and get better. lIo has not lost a single hog
| since he began this treatment and thinks he
haS uCmoHhlFatcd its utiliby.
NOTES
During the Winter make up your mind
just what Kind of IA garden you will have next
Summer, and how you will lay it out.
-Whitewash should DC used, in order TO rom
| der the stables cheerful. A light stable Is more
comfortable than dark one, aud as tho lime
| partially serves TO disnfoct the building, its
| application should be frequent
Mulch around tho young trees as soon as
the ground Is frozen. This will prevent the
| ground from thawing too early i'll the Spring,
and delaying tho dow Of sap thereby essening
| tho liability of injury from late frosts.
| "A Michigan farmer tells contemporary
! how he manages to conquer Canada thistles by
the help of 200 sheep. Ho puts u small hand
inl Of salt on each thistle Mt the root The sheep
eat the thistle close TO the ground. The sailing
Is repeated as often AS may be necessary, and
! the thistle seldom appears tho second year.
| An experienced farmer insists that corn
slower should not DO stored in barns. Mice
| burrow in 1t there to a great extent, and the
| odor Of the vermin IL very distasteful to cattle.
But cattle eat the fodder If ii is stacked; the
| stack, however, needs to be we'll built.
| Ashes and hen manure, If mixed together
| before being applied To tho SOIL result in loss
| OF ammonia from the droppings that greatly
| lessons the value. Put the ashes on after the
manure has been mixed with the soil the am
monia will be absorbed by 10 and remain in il
| for the use OF tho crop. Wood ashes are "A val
4 III lsAuB. a f