The National tribune., 1890-08-14
OUR RUlR|.AL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
To- 1b
Agricultural Readers
WASTES ON THE FARM.


have been trying to impress on our readers, and
we hope many of them have profited by our
suggestions In order TO make farming pay al
the present time every little thing must be taken
into consideration, for it is the small things
that count. Many farmer may be saving
| everything he knows of, but there are some
things which escape his attention. 1t is often
said that If the matter which is going to waste
on an average farm were put in money value
! IL would equal half the profits. This statement
is probably exaggerated, but still there are
| good many solid grains of truth in the asser-
ton. In paper read before tho West Bridge
water (Mass.) Grange recently, entitled Farm
Wastes we extract the following excellent
| advice:
| IL seems TO me that II Is waste TO have so many
| fences and so many fields Could not some of the
fences be removed, and two three fields be made
into onoY IL Is waste to allow wild cherry trees
| (for they breed unterpillarsl bushes briars and
other unsightly and useless objects to remain near
our walks and fences. 1t Is waste not To keep up
| in good condition what fences are necessary 4
| broken down fence If IL does not imply broken
down farmer, II suggests that IL would improve ut
least the looks of his farm II no put up his fences
IL IL WASTE TO allow your farm to present SLOW
only appearance As order is the first law Of
heaven, 40 It should be of every good farmer. A
farmer should have place for everything, and
everything In its plnce. Instead OF this too many
farmers act tho opposite of this Their practice a.
place for nothing, and nothing In its place. This
Is u Tninous policy. As time Is money n great deal
OF time is wasted by not having things where and
when you want them. 1t Is waste for farmer
10 snher ms wagons carts, carriages, iarming i'm
pements and utensils to remain out of doors nm
housed II would pay him to erect II bniI1ing for
TINS very purpose, II those he already has
suitable or insufficient for this purpose. House
your tools as well rs put up your fences
Then tho reader turned his attention to the
animals of the farm:
1t is a waste not to have the right kind of stock
na wpi La lpu grtff ,e1t
ciont care aud attention. We think farmers nrc
not particular enough about the breeds of cattle
they keep. They are too apt to purchase those
that can he got Tor tue least noner, without regard
TO their pedigree. They try 10 get those that will
give the most milk I'm the shortest time without re-
gard To other qualities Many cattle are spoilt In u
very short time 10y iniudiciuus feeding. We once
knew - man who spoilt "a horse every few years by
overlooking him with hay that brought the
heaVcs Our mifkmen are spelling their cows by
overlooking Of grain SO that In q very short time
they are I'll only for tho shnmbles, and mt "a ruin
ously low price mt tho best.
There Is much waste here and there Il much
waste in the unknd treatment of animals. 1t seems
like wasting words 10 recommend kind treatment
To Hnimnls. ~ every farmer ought 10 know the SUI
pcriority of humane harsh treatment II is
with cows ms with persons love and kindness In at
least nine cases out Of 10 are better than fonr and
brute force But there are some COWS like some
unruly children, that sometimes need something
besides words. In dealing with these animals we
Say treat them peaceably you can but forcibiy "
you must. Let every farmer or cattle owner be-
fore lac attempts to thrash his cattle seriously con-
slider u such ihrashing cannot bo dispensed with;
II the fault was not his own rather than that of his
cattle.
AS TO GROWING CATTLE.
summary of conclusions as reached at the
University OF Illinois Agricultural Experiment
Station, and stated by Prof. q. T. Morrow, is
that:
The results from two years trials indicate
that the grain ration TO young steers on good
pasture Is not usually profitable The value of
the increase in weight BY the grain fed steers
over that by those having grass only will rare
~ repay the cost of food aud labor The in
creased value Of Tire animals from early matur.
ity and better quality may make the grain
feeding profitable especially il the grain given
be ungTound, 1t Is essential 10 have pigs follow
the cattle, If profit is 20 be had
To secure the greatest gains per animal tho
pastures must not BIO fully stocked To SECURE
the largest gain peg acre they should be fully
stocked.
An acre Of good Prasa may be expected to
support steer weighing from 500 TO 1000
pounds. aud enable Il to make moderate gain
during thesnmmer. The rate of growth Of cattle
either on grnss alone with an added grain
ration. Is very irregular, being especially
checked by either drought or excessive rains
extreme heat or cold storms
The addition of grain or other food to the
pasturago before the grass fails in the Autumn
Is clearly advisable
safely decreased one.third If the steers be given
full grain ration.
1t IL doubtful If, at present, In most parts Of
the United States cattle can DO maintained or
an increase Of weight be secured at so low n
cost in any other way as by allowing them to
get all their food during the best of the grazing
season from good pastures fully but not over
stocked.
5PARE THE STRIPED SQUIRRELS.
Ef,4Ra Hl.. ag-s,.
beneficial than injurious to the farmer, says
Farn and FTeside. This may seem absurd TO
those that arc not acquainted with the food
habits OF tbese little rodents farther than to
know that they pull Young corn. but q careful
study of their food habits last Summer fully
warrants tho statement. Squirrels were shot
at intervals from April 10 till Fall. and the
contents OF their stomachs carefully examined
1t was found that from first To last about so per
cent. OF the contents Of their stomachs consisted
OF injurious insects, chief among which were
cut-worms, web worms, wire worms and grass
hoppers. As high as so cut-worms aud web.
worms were found in single stomach. From
the stomachs examined it WAS estimated that,
on an average IA squirrel would eat at Leash
1000 OF these cutworms and web worms from
tho lst Of April 10 August, aside from other
no1iOus insectg. The striped squirrels or go- |
piers should be especially protected on meadow
and pasture land, and If some way can DO found
TO prevent their taking corn, they would be
found very useful in cornhold In DESTROYING
the cnt-worms. have very often noticed that
the squirrels do not dig deep enough about the
hills OF corn To reach the kernels, in which
cases 1t Is probable that cut WORMS or the web
worms were the coveted morsels, and not the
corn.
NOTES.
The following timely hints are extracted
from the August number of Orchard aud Gar
den.
- Cucumbers for pickles will do better nc the
South If planted early this month than if
planted in July. Canteloupe melons for man |
goes can also be planted.
- IL il not too late to make paintings of Gu
cumbers, peas, beans aud sweet corn for Au. |
tnmn use, but early and quickly maturing va.
rietics should DO selected aud the soil made |
rich and loose.
- Onion seed may be sown this month and |
will make considerable growth before Winter |
sets In. They should then DO covered lightly |
with salt hay, leaves or similar material, and |
will furnish fine early onions next Spring.
- Allow no weeds 10 go to seed anywhere.