The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-29
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT ON FUN

THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT ON FUN
GoUs DISEASES.
The United States Department OF Agrcuture
has just issued Bulletin No. II of the Section
of Vegetable Pathology. This publication is n
report on the experiments made in 1889 in tho
| treatment of several important plant diseases,
and will be sent free to all who apply for it.
The work was carried on in nine States en-
bracing nearly every variety of soil and eli
mate, and tho results as set forth are, rs u
whole, highly encouraging, despite the fact that
the season was one of the worst ever known for
fungous diseases of all kinds. The diseases
under treatment were scab, rust and bitter rot
of tho apple powdery mildew downy mildew,
Headlight anthracnosc, and black rot of tho
grape; leaf blight of the pear; leaf blight
rust and fire-blight of the ounce; leaf blight
of the blackberry; rot and blight of the potato,
tomato and melon.
Considerable space is devoted TO n summary
of volunteer reports on vino diseases, from
which it appears that nearly everyone who
followed the direction laid down by the De-
partment succeeded in saving the greater part
of their crop. From all accounts il would seem
that the Bordeaux mixture is still the most
liable remedy for grape diseases. The results
however, of tho treatment with the ammOniac-
nj carbonate Of copper solution are highly en-
couraging, and lead to tho belief that in Ordi-
nary seasons it will be the cheapest, most de-
sirable and effective remedy. One great nd
vantage il possesses over the Bordeaux mixture
is that it does not spot the fruit, which is a
matter of Importance, especially where the
grapes are used for the table. The Department
suggests that the Bordeaux mixture be used for
the first three treatments, after which the am
monIaral solution be substituted for the rest of
the season.
Apple scab was treated in Wisconsin and
Michigan with remarkably satisfactory results,
the best remedies being the ammonacal selu-
ton and modified eau celeste. BY the applca-
ton OF these preparations at IA total cost OF %
cents per tree the yield of fruit free from scab
was from 60 to 70 per cent. greater than on trees
OF tho same variety not treated. The Bulletin
gives detailed account of the entire work, de-
scribinG the methods Of preparing and applying
the remedies, cost of the various treatments,
etc, and concludes with paper on the amount
oil copper in wines made from treated grapes,
and the hyglenic questions this involves.
REMEDY FOR CAKED UDpER.
Following is a remedy for caked udder, we'll
tried and tested, from the Jersey Bulletin Take
one-half pint aqua ammonia, one pint soft
water one or two tcaspoonfuls spirits of tur-
pentine, one and n half teaspoonfuls Of fluid
| extract of belladOnna, one and half tea
spooninls OF fluid extract of hyptoacca, one
and half teaspooniuIs of saturated tncture
of camphor. Shake we'll aud apply with all
the elbow grease and patience yUu can muster.
Take about a tcaspOouinl at y time ia tho hoi.
low of the hand, and gently, but with suGi-
Gent pressure, rub il into the skin of the udder
until the latter gets dry and quite hot; Bnp.
port yourself by putting the other hand,
with an occasional patting, across the patients
spine. After having treated both sides, in front
and rear tthe latter as high up as the uddcr
reaehes). TO doses of IMMINENT, get down under
your COW and gently commence kneading tho
bag, taking the whole aud uftcrward parts of
the uddcr between the opened hands, rolling
tho former till the formed Jumps arc crushed.
occasionally milking bag empty Stop use Of
Imminent as soon rs coaguIaton disappears, but
keep rubbing aud milk often. By all means
avoid granting, feed hay only very sparIugly,
give plenty Of water, aud keep the animal from
getting cold.
PURIFYING MILK vEssELs.
The best and most thorough way 10 purify
milk vessels is TO plunge them several times in
a kettle or tank OF water which through the
process Is kept at a boiling temperature. We
should always bear in mind that the fungi and
BhhADaAluE tuliA NG1Hsth arc OF q micro
scopic character; and seams which appear clean
to the naked eye may in reality DO teeming
with one Of the most minute and destructive
forms OF animal life. In the dairy we must
take no chances on the subject Of cleanliness
seeing that on that virtue hinges not only the
production of git-edge stock. but common
marketable value In the goods Treat your
apparatus aud utensils 50 well that thuy will
finally become useless. not through tho erosion
Of rust, but by good, honest. cieaniy friction in
the path of trade.-irdirc Farmer.
NOTES.
Experiments prove that the value Of the solid
manure produced by herd OF cows is 20 per
cent. Of the market value of tho food they con-
sumo. Bat the value Of the liquid manure il
II per cent. Of the total food value. The Now
York State farm reports that the cost of the
food OF a dairy cow one year was So. aud the
manure value for the same period $37.D B
That is the manure value if it is all saved, but
on nine tenths Of the farms IA considerable
portion OF the liquid manure Is wasted for want
Of proper methods OF stabing and preserving
the liquids.
4 cubic foot of silage is liberal average
feed for miIch COW per day; 30 cubic feet per
month and 2i0 cubic feet for seven months
With these data In mind, says IIJdrds Dairy-
man, any man who has the capacity 10 measure
cordwood ought to be able 10 toll in what shape
20 build IA silO for his herd, always remember
ing that 1t is well not to have IL lcss than IG
feet deep, and deeper is better
Mr Coil, In report to the New York Az.
ricultural Experiment Station, tells how goose
berry midew WAS checked by spraying the
bushes several times with half or q quarter
ounce OF sulphide Of potassium to gallon of
water. The substance also checked the raw
ages Of the cnrrang worm. Apple scab was
checked by sulphide of potassium applied at
the rate OF oHe-half ounce 10 the gallon This
substance appeared 10 possess more vane than
hyposuIphite OF sodium. sulphide OF calcium
did no good.
Prof i. l.. Harvey, Of the Maine Experiment
Station, gives the following practical ad vice AS TO
stamping out the apple maggot ]. Thoroughly
aud promptly destroy all refuse from infested
fruit, apple pOmace, waste abOnt tho house etc.
2. Promptly destroy windlall apples and In.
tested fruit. 3. Destruction should begin inn
mediateiy after the LIST OF August, and nothing
| short OF deep buryng, burning or feeding 10
swine or cattle will be effective. A. These pre-
cautions should be universally adopted &
The sale or importation of infested fruit should
be prohibited.
At the Massachusetts, Agricultural College
| Prof s. 4. Maynard has been experimenting on
growing lettuce under glass, aud especially on
! the subject Of lettuce mildew. The eXperience
oil the past ~ years in growing lettuce in
| greenhouses leads him To the opinion that In
| order 10 escape the mildew lettuce must be
| grown at low temperature ranging from $50
| TO i0' at night and 800 10 TOO during the day
with care TO avoid sudden extreme changes az
1gfpF NOR turG hat .l.,. +