The National tribune., 1890-09-11
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
SOWING anAss.srED IN THE FALL.

In Fall seeding OF grass three points may
be considered rs of tho greatest Importance,
First, the best fitting of the soil second, the
amount of seed third, the complete covering
of the seed and the manner of sowing IT,
]. The soil should be made as fine and mel
low as possible. This is equally necessary for
the wheat as for the grass The termination
OF the seed depends upon this, and so docs the
safo and vigorous growth of the young roots.
Tho seed should have sufficient depth of
earth and this can only be secured by thorough
plowing and narrowing before the seed is sown.
2. Liberal seeding is advisable. The soil
does not possess the same fertility Rs 1t did
years ago whom it was filled with available
plant food and insured an abundant growth
from tho start. and however we'll tho land may
be manured the plant food thus supplied re-
quires time for It's development from inert
matter, of which ordinary manure consists.
Ten pounds of seed Is better than tho six
pounds which was tho usual quantity years
ago, and peck, or II pounds, per acre may be
tho best when the soil is not well supplied with
fully available food for tho crop
,. Ample covering of the seed is indispen-
sable. The old plan of sowing on the surface
the last thing can no longer bo depended upon.
If dry weather follows the sowing the seed lies
inert If rains start termination tho uncovered
roots will bo wtherod by few hours Of sun
shine following, aud the young plants will per-
ish. IL is not advisable Co drill tho grass seed,
although this certainly affords tho necessary
covering. But the seeds are too much crowded
and the young plants arc in the way bf each
other. broadcast sowing is the best, so that tho
L.. 4 H.
extra labor will bo we'll bestowed Then a
final narrowing with light, sloping tooth. or
chain harrow or plank drag will give the
requisite covering for the seed, and leave the
land we'll finished. Rolling as n finish should
not be thought of The soil should be loft soft
and mellow on the surface, and absorbent Of
whatever moisture the rains and dews or the
atmosphere may supply. The roller should bo
used always before the sowing of any seed If it
is necessary to crush and pulverizo Jumps or
clods, and if it cannot be done otherwise the
rolling and narrowing should alternate until
the soil is made fine aud mellow before any
sowing is done. Finally, rolled surface will
make very poor ground for tho Spring sowing
Of the clover, whatever may be tho effects OF
the Winter in loosoniug the soil.-N y. Times.
wTNTERINa BEEs
In his annual report of the Colorado Experl-
mont Station, Prof G. Max Brose writes as fol-
lows concerning boo- keeling: Tho successful
wintering of bees Is Of the greatest Importance
TO tho keeper. On It depends his snccess or
failure for the following Summer aud, in order
that every colony may be strong in the Spring,
eager TO start the Summer campaign OF gather
ing stores for themselves and their owner, the
following points are of greatest Importance to
the apiaFist: The colonies should 20 into
Winter quarters with plenty of young bees
at least four frames should be well covered with
thCm-aud 35 pounds OF sealed honey. They
should be kept at an eyon tomperature-45 to
so degrges-and never DO unnecessarily dis
turbcd The hivs shonld b. in such eondi-
ton as to absorb all tho moisture generated by
tho bees during tho Winter
Before cold weather sets Tn All the colonies
should bo examined, and If either stores or bees
are lacking they should bo supplied during
warm weather. In this region, we advise ex-
aminiHE ai the hives by tho ist OF September
One of the greatest errors that tho novice in
bee culture will make Is in the wintering Of
weak colonies. These should be united until
they are strong enough 70 we'll cover ut least
four L.framcs. The space in the hives should
be- closed TO st least four frames by chaT diyis-
ion boards and enlarged As the colony gains in
strength and needs more room. livery night
they should bu fed abegt one. half piut Of sirup
made from srnnulated sugar The beea will go
to work IS eagerly as If it WoTo in the month
Of june The queen will 90 10 laying. and by
tho time your four or five frames are full of
broad and sugar, the space closed down to tho
size Of the colony by chat division boards, q
chat cushion over them, thoy are safer 10 win
ter. Bees in a warm climate need no prOtoc-
tion during tho Winter. but where the Winters
arc severe they must bs protected from cold
aud damp weather.
FHTsH MANURE.
1t IL most wrctched error, says tho German.
toigB Telegraph, 20 advise new manure 10 be ap-
piled IN the Fall when there Is no old maaure),
for the purpose Of letting II rot in the soil and
80 become old by next Summer Tho frat
thing 10 take place in TOtting down organic
matter is fermentation. This requires a tenn
peratpre Of TOo Fahrenheit. which does not . ist
ia soil after Fall sets in. but will under favor
able conditions take place In Summer This
condition is antaRouistic 10 plant growth; tn
Vites yerniu which attacks The plants, and
checks trne progress Until destructive fer
montntion is finished at S5' the true break
ing down of vegetable matter 10 harness per
fectly roiied organic matter) cannot take place.
The operation OF making digestcr under the
seed or plant Is exactly like swallowing tho
contents of blue paper and then white
paper in taking "A BcldIitz powder, instead of
mixing them in some water first Let 10 be-
clearly understood that manure is not n medl-
cine but food. IL must bo thoroughly COM
pounded and then cooked, aud though the in
gradients are all good, they are not good alone
aud in "a state.
NOTES.
Cuttings of currnnt bushes may be made
now for the present years growth. slipped OF
from the stock and planted in sheltered
place in the garden. The slips should be set
four inches deep In the ground, and with
six inches Of wood above the surface. In the
Spring roots will have been made or started,
and tho second year the young plants may DO
moved TO thor permanent place.
IL Is claimed that Japan buckwheat has "A
larger kernel. ripens earlier, and endurea
drouth better than the well-known silver
hull varieties Ii should be given u trial by
those Interested.
There is no mistakng fowl cholera once
you see il. The persistent thirst the drowsi
ness, tho white, visGid drOppings becoming aa
the disease progresses first yelowish and then
green, aud the characteristic symptoms of the
fowl keeping On It's feet almost To the last min
ute. These tell tho tale and are uumisakable
IL will not be long before VIC shall have
apple p0mace, which is too often allowed to 20
10 waste IL il valuable TO feed stock, aud
should be so used, especially 10 feed TO mich
cows. OF course, like everything else, it should
not be fed TO excess, especially in the beginning
Feed moderately at first and after tho cows be-
come used TO IL there will bo no danger OF the
over feeding. Many in tho past have had false
ideas ol tho valne apples TO feed to dairy stock
These facts were derived from "A too limited
aud unfortunate experience. Cows wonld get at
the apples and feed excessively. The result
was to produce a feYerish condition OF the sys-
TEN and cause them to shrink in the flow of
mi Isg haH I,f. ha.,, Hs..t