The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-06-05
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
BIRD LIME.

10 Know how TO mako Dlfd limo, ana WheIner
it is sold ut stores.
We do not know whether or not it Is placed
on sale, but you can make it at very small cost
and of the best quality. 1t is generally pro-
pared from the middle bark of the holly, mis-
tletoe or distafT- THISTLE by chopping up the
bark, boiling il in water for several hours, and
then letting it be exposed for several weeks
to undergo fermentation, when gelatinous
mucilage called vi5cin is obtained
Ascend mode of preparing bird lime is to put
some ordinary wheat -four in cotton bag and
immorse in basin of water, or allow n stream
of water to flow on IL and repeatedly squeeze
the bag. Tho result is that the starch of tho
wheat flour is pressed out of the bag and an
adhesive substance named gluten is left in the
bag This substance resembles that prepared
by the previous process in its properties, but
tho former mode of preparing the limo is much
cheaper and moro frequently used.
PEACH CULTURE.
During the past % years we have learned
much about peach culture and the knowledge
has been purchased at fearful price. Whole
orchards have been lost through the lack of a
little experience with peach trees. This ex-
perionce however, has taught that healthy,
vigorous trees can be grown on sandy or loamy
soil, manuring entirely with chemical manurcs,
by blowing the ground once each Spring. giving
the trees the entire use of the ground and by
giving cloan culture all through the Summer
up TO September /. A liberal application of
phosphoric acid and potash must bc given,
averaging 1000 pounds of pure fine bone and
400 pounds Of muriato OF potash to the acre.
There is no heterogeneous matter in this manure,
except what is found in the bone; but it will
produce moderately strong trees, perfectly ma
turod, FREQ from yolows. fair producers, and
hardy enough 30 stand tho Tigors Of Winter.
The chemical manure should be applied gradu-
ally during the growing period, and when tho
trees come into iruiLng the application OF both
bone and potash should be- increased. The
trees then should be watched carefully and as
soon rs any signs Of weakness manifest them
selves come remedy should DO applied If there
IS lack of vigOr in the Summer time, and not
enough wood growth, some heterogeneous manure
should be supplied. Sulphate Of ammonia or
nitrate of soda will answer this purpose, for
there is nothing that is moro effective than
these for stimulating the wood growth of trees.
Peach grSners are always troubled with the
disease known rs the ycllows but yelaws aud
yollowueSs should not DO confounded. The
former is a disease the latter only condition.
GollOwness may ho due to poor SOIL poor cul-
ture. borers. and hard Winters, and il can be
cured 10y proper treatment; but yglows is en-
trely different, aud has no relation whatever
10 soil exhaustion or poor culture. Orchards
have been ruined by the yollows on virgin soil,
mud the soil exhaustion theory directly refuted.
The yclluW5 will not submit TO treatment: but
the disease can be cxtcrmIuatcd by removing
the diseased trees. That Is tho only known
cure. Other remedies fail this never does.-
Wisconsin dgrjc'dim!t
VALUE OF OATS ~ TfIg FEEDfNG RATION.
One Of the benefits which may come from the
great abundance and low price OF oats tho pres
cut season, says tile breeders Gazette, is the
probability of their moro general uso upon tho
farm Some get hold 10 the old idea jmuch 70
their own lossl that this grain was created for
the special and sole Use Of horses One hundred
pounds Of oats contain about nine and one half
pounds OF pr0tcne, ~ pounds Of oarbo- hydrates,
aud four pounds Of fat Compared with corn,
oats are from IL 10 IL per cent richer iu pro.
ieine. which Is the food that builds mp the
muscles; 20 per cent. poorer ia carlo bydratos.
which build up the fatof the body and are con
vortod into energy, aud 20 per cent lower in
oil, which serves the same purpose As tho caTbo-
hydTates. Having less carbo-h ydrates and oil
than corn, oats, with their large amount Of
protginc, come nearer being balanced ration
IN themselves than does that grain.
II we were TO burn 100 pounds of oats and 100
pounds OF corn, there would remain but one
and ne,half pounds of ash residue from the
corn, while the oats would give twice as much,
or three pounds, II Is in protcine which goes
10 build up the muscular system. aud ash, which
forms such "A large part of the bone structure,
that this grain stands out conspicuous among
those commonly grown on the farm. Many
feeders consider that the density with which
the food material is packed away in corn works
ual hat Ia Il, md hot
advantage may be derived by "diluting" the
corn so that II shall not pack in the stomach.
They tud ear.coru fed with the husks on or
ground with the cob, superior 10 either sheiled
corn or corn meal not because Of the value Of
tho husk or cob particularly, bat because they
extend or Tighten up tho feed. The hnsk of
oats, which certainly cannot be- considered as
having value, seems to play an important part
in feeding much, perhaps as the husk or cob
does with tho corn. So valuable Is the husk Of
the oat when surrounding the grain that all at
tempis TO introduce varieties free from IL have
proved futile.
NOTES.
Manufacturers estimate that 20 per cent.
of the wear of farm machinery comes from
neglect to keep the bearings properly oiled.
Farmers should take the hint and more freely
use tho oil can.
Don't stop feeding hay TO cattle, especially
dairy cows, until tho grass has got some age
and substance, says an exchange. The cows
system has demands that are not supplied by
tho young and immature grass or clover Put
hay in a rack where the cattle can have access
To IL at pleasure.
"A pound of bran makes to within II per
cent. OF rs much milk as "A pound Of corn-meal
which costs over twice as much, says Mirror aud
Farmer but corn meal makes a richer milk,
while the bran makes "A richer manure
The size at which hog can be proftably
marketed depends largely upon the kind of food
available. Pigs which have plenty Of slap from
the start may be fitted for market much earlier
than those which must transmutc dry grain
into pork. Aud when grain must be fed with
but little STOP there will DO more money in
large hogs than trying to crowd young ones to
Inarkct.-N Nebraska EaTmer
H, !. Smith, one of the directors of the
Iowa Agricultural Society, writes that one of
tho most prosperous farmers in his County
tCerro Gordo) handles oats without binding.
lie cuts his oats with header, few inches
below tho grain, stacks 10, aud feeds to cattle
aud horses without thrashing. This he regards
as the most economical way, especially In feed
ing cattle as they mHstcate tho grain better
IN chewing the cUd. This process not only
saves Irvine, but also the thrashing bill and
the high stubble plOwed under is worth more
for manure than the feeding value OF the coarser
part Of the straw.
There is no remedy so good as prevention
for seour in calves HOard's Dairyman names
four conditions which are very productive of
this arrangement OF the bowels: /. Feeding
milk cold. IL will pay you to warm the milk