The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-07-24
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical. Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
ECONOMY IN rERrrL1znRs.

tho Farmers Institute of Hudson, N. Y, by
Prof. /. p. Roberts, of Cornell University, were
the following: "The surface foot of an acre
Of ground weighs 10000 tons, and contains
1000 pounds Of phosphoric acid 5000 pounds
of potash, and 10000 pounds of nitrogen. These
elements, If purchased in tho open market,
would cost for potash four cents, phosphoric
acid seven cents and nitrogen 16 cents per
pound, making $500 per acre. This shows
the amount Of fertility in the soil and the need
of keeping it there.
1--WE have lost the control of agriculture.
How shall we regain 1t and keep it turning
round for our beneftg First get the water out
Of the soil, SO the plant can get hold of the
nitrogen in il. When the farmer has learned
how to grow plant he has solved the problem.
We put in tile drains. am not going to leo
ture on tile drainage; half of the money OK
pended for tile is thrown away, just because
the farmer does not know the difference be-
tween drain and conduit.
"The second course to pursue Is culture.
We don't half cultivate our soils. We do not
delve deeply euoughs are not earnest enough.
Can You raise o bgshel Of wheat now any
cheaper than you did so years ago2 Tile
draining, the plow, the eultivator and the roller
will do the work. Get the water out We
sowed clover, and at the end of the year found
clover roots 81 inches long / found on an acre
of clover, below the mower, $l8 worth of plant
food in the roots. Ninety per cent. of the for
tility of the soil be put back and used again;
this is what call rotation in fertility. All the
nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash can be
saved. Every 1000 pounds Of horse is produc-
ing 80 pounds OF manure day, aud overy l,0O0
pounds of COW produces eight pounds. In nine
tenths of the barnyar7is in this country there
is waste of 90 cents'to 81 per day in manure.
have known man to wade through a barn
yard two feet deep in manure so years and
never see It, We get carbon from the SUM- and
we get energy from IL. A barrel of sugar or
ono Of burnt starch or of coal put on n straw.
berry bed will not produce another berry If
you SELL 500 worth Of wheat Mt 80 cents per
bushel, you sell SGT worth of nitrogen. phos.
phoric acid and potash. II you sell 200
dollar horse You sell only 81 worth of those fer
tiiizers. If You sell 500 worth Of butter you
sell only % cents worth. If you sell clover
hay at 81 per ton yon sell 50 worth of these
fertilizers SO, then, feed such foods TO stock,
and thus make manure Mt cheaper rate than
TO purchase commercial fertilizers.
CURING PORK.
The following Ia a good way to cure pork, "a
given by tho Amerioaa CHiipat0r It is known
as tho English method:
/. For every 100 poGnds Of pork take eight
pounds of salt, five pounds Of sugar four
ounces OF sailpoter, aud one ounce Of red pep
per, aud make pickle strong enough To float
an egg, aud pour II on the pork when cold
The hagns should be al the bottom shoulders
next, aud the sides on Top. This will pickle il
we'll II left IN IL for six weeks, when il should
be lifted, and every part where tho bones pro-
trade upon the tieshy side lightly covered with
rcd pepper. Hang up carefully in smokehouse,
not too close. so that tho smoke can freely cir.
culRte and reach every psrt of each piece
z Salt down the pork FOR about two weeks
take mp aud rGsAlt with ono teaspoonfal OF
saltpcter 20 each haia, and three pounds of
brown sugar to each 100 pounds: pack down
Tor two weeks more; take up aud wash hams
In warm water, aud put them in clean sacks of
coarse, white cloth, which hMs been stepped in
solution OF lime; hang aud smoke for about
three wooks. aud thov eau then be Left hanging
tho entire season. No asee,s will modest them
IL thus prepared.
3. After the hams are perfectly cold, tho ami
nal heat being entirely out Of them, put them
down ln salt for q few days. after which lift
aud drain OF ali the bloody water. Make tho
following pickle sufficient % cover them; Nine
pounds Of salt, three ounces of saltpeter, ono
ounce of saloratus, four pounds of brown sugar
and six gallons Of water After lying In the
pickle Tor u month, hang aud smoke rs In No l.
The iatnoas Mcstphalia hams arc cured as
follows: They are first we'll rubbed with dry
salt aud leit 10 drain Tor ri hours. -Four quarts
OF salt three pounds OF brown sugar, one pound
OF saltprter, four ounces OF saprunella and
four ounces of Juniper berries are bruised and
well mixed together and boiled in six quarts OF
water. The brine is then cooled aud akimmed
The hams arc taken from the salt and are
wiped dry, aud the cold pickel is poured over
them and VOL rubbed into tho meat There
should be enough brine 20 cover the meat.
The hams are turned every second day for three
weeks, after which they are taken out wiped
dry, and mixture of pepper, salt aud bran Is
thoroughly we'll rubbed into tho meat They
are then smoked little every day for three
months. or even more. until completely dry.
when they will keep sound aud improve in
flavor for years
Hams shrink ia smoking about 10 per cent.
IN weight, whilst picked or saltod pork gains
about ~ per cent; 50 say tho cnrers.
NOTES.
The best rule FOR mensuring corn fsays the
Orange Jtdd farmerl IN The crib is tho follow
lug: Multiply tho length, breadth and hight
together III feet To obtain the number OF cubic
feet. Multiply this product by four, strike off
the rght-hand figure. aud tho result will be
the number OF shelied bushels In all very
| nearly,
- IpI. Incipi. OF tho StOrrS EXpefimBut
Station, says: There Is little doubt to-day
that one OF tho cheapest and best ways of add.
lug nitrogen 10 soils Is 10 grow tho nitrogen
collectors rs clover, alfalfa, veteh lnpines sar.
sadella and peas. and feed them and save the
manure or plow them pnder."
Experiments have proved that some plants
draw part OF their ammonia aud carbon from
the air; but 10 10 OF far more importance TO 80
purture and manipulate the soil rs 20 retain the
ammonia OF decaying vegetation aud fix what.
ever OF nitric acid may be precipitated by
thunder showers, rains and dews.
When chickens arc 20 be caught IL Is best
10 do IL alter they have gone To roost. The
chasing liable 10 ensue If one attempts To catch
them during the day not only annoys tho per.
sou IN pursuit. but Is highly injurious TO the
fowl. Besides, ali the other poultry Is generally
frightened, and more or less injury results from
this.
The cabbage crop not only requires rich
land but frequent cultivation. Even if there
arc no weeds visible, stirring the ground makes
more plant food available This is especially
| true after the surface is crusted by heavy rains
| Even when the weather Is dry it will promote
rapid growth TO hoe the cabbage plant early
enough in the morning to brush the nights
| dew into the newly stirred soil. Dew is al
| ways rich in ammonia,
The hOrticultnrIst OF the Agricultural De.
partment IN Washington gives this valuable
| hint To those intending to engage in Crane cul-
| ture: The distinguishing popularity of a good
| grape climate is, primarily, that of an entire
absence OF mildew on the foliage. The presence
| OF water or moisture On the leaves is necessary