The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-01-09
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
IMPROVE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

can he Judged ny his surroundings. he
prosperous farmer has all his fences kept in
good repair; his lnrn and other buildings and
his implements are well cared for and housed ;
his cattle aud horses arc well attended to, and
his barnyard is kept in good order The
slovcnly farmer is exactly the reverse and he
lets everything take care OF itself. III. piows
and other implements arc exposed to the
weather; his fences are allowed 20 be in want
of repair; he gives his cattle and horses their
feed aud thinks that is all he has to do; there
are large cracks in and boards Off the side of his
barn; and, in fact, everything is in this way
We hope there are none of our readers who
do business in this manner. With but little work
the farmer can and should have his surroundings
in the best of order. If the fences, barn and
other buildings are we'll put up they will last
n lifetime. The wood should be whitewashed
or painted, in order to preserve it. good,
cheap and durable whitewash can be made OF
the following mixture: For one barrel of color
wash use half bushel of white lime three
pecks hydraulic cement, 10 pounds lumber, 10
pounds ochre, Que pound Venitan red, aud one
quarter pound lamPblack. Slack the lime, cut
tho lampbiaels with vinegar, and mix well to-
gether; then add the cement and I'll the barrel
with water. Let it stand II hours before using,
aud stir it frequently while putting it on. This
wash is not a clear white, but light stone
color. which may be more or less changed by
the other coors. This covers WELL hardeus
without scaling and will not wash or rub off,
nor injure trees.
Another kind, which is water proof, can be
made by mixing together the powder from three
parts silicious rock quartz, three parts broken
marble and sandstone, two parts of burnt
porcelain clay, with two parts freshly Stacked
lime. still warm IN this way wash is made
which forms silieate II often wetted. and be-
comes, after time, almost like stone. The four
constituents mixed together give the ground
color, to which any pigment that eau be used
with lime is added. 1t isapplied quickly to the
wall or other surface left Que day to dry aud the
next day frequently covered with water, which
makes it waterproof This wash can be cleaned
with water, without losing any Of its color on
the contrary, each time IL gets harder, 50 that it
can even be brushed, while it's porosity max cs
II look soft. Tho wash or caIcmiuo can DO
used for ordinary purposes. NJ we'll as for the
finest painting. so-caled fresco surface can
be prepared with it in the dry way.
DRAIN YOUR FARM.
II o. a fact not very we'll known, or If known
not appreciated that there IL very little land
which would DOT BIO greatly benefited by
thorough undertakings. Any land that will
not dry oil within u hours after q heavy rain,
sufficient to permit blowing or cuItivating
would bo greatly benefited by being drained
and the increased crops would pay for the
trouble and expense ia couple Of years The
effects Of drainage are immediate, and consist
/ la Hutfantuu gf tItFE 2utI
from souruess aid inducing vigorous and
healthy plant growth, No amount of maBur-
ing will produces the best results on land
which needs draining! As most farmers have
very littie8ofk To do at this season of the year.
H. Is therefore the best time to construct drains
OF course there ale many farms which do not
need draining, bat still there are a great many
more that do. The richest laud on the farm
may be that which IA not cultivated, simply
because of lack OF drainage. The swamp-land
Is fui Of alluyal soil. and caH be made To grow
ali kinds of crops II drained aud cleared
How many farmers who read this have wet
lands? Ii there are any and they wish To re-
claim them they can easily do SO with little
xpcnse.
broken crockeTy aud almost anything that will
not become so compact as To prevent the water
from flowing freely through the drain. The
best way, however, 20 drain tho land is by tiles
which are less liable 10 be cIogged than any
thing else. Tho tile should be laid upon flag
ging or boards and be deep enough TO be out Of
the way OF frost and the plow. While the tile
drain costs n little more than other kinds, 10 is
by far the cheapest in tho long run, for we'll.
lain tile drain will last ut least 10 years with.
out repairs. Farmers, drain your land this
season. aud note the difference in your next
years crops.
In some States il has been proposed to make
laws compelling land-drainaSe, and many say
that IL such laws were passed they would not
be unjust, as 10 is the only basis upon which
general system Of thorough drainage can be car
ried into effect. We advise the farmer to drain
his land whether he Is compelled TO or not, for
It is 10 his own advantage that lbs does so.
now TO TELL GOOD OATS
Good oats are Glenn, hard, dry, sweet, heavy,
plump full Of flour, and rattle like shot. They
have a clean aud almost metallic luster Each
oat in IA well-grown sample is nearly of the
same size. There are hut few small or impcr-
feet grains. The hard pressure of the nail on
an 0at should leave little or no mark The
kernel, when pressed between the teeth, should
clip rather than tear. The skin should DO
thin. The size of the kernel will be less in
proportion than tho skin IL thick The color
OF the oat Is not very material, but white oats
are generally thinner in the skin than black.
Again, black oats will grow inferior hoils.
snort, pump oats are pfeicfable 10 large long
| grains. Bearded oats must have an excess Of
| husk Oats are not necessarily bad because
| they are thin'skinued or bearded but they
must contain u less amount of -four per bushel
than thin-skinned oats without boards. -
| Scientific american.
NOTES.
If the Winter Is severe the pear and peach
| trees planted this Fall may be nipped by tho
| frost on the ends of the branches if they have
| been cut back, but they may be cut back be-
| yond the frosted parts III tho Spring.
| - The currycomb Is mover more useful than
| in the Winter. IL is pretty useful thing any
| time. 1t should be used carefully, however,
at all times. The man who uses n sharp curry
comb as he would a spade in digging had bet
| ter not use one at ALL
| - If you are contemplating using An ineuha-
| tor during the Winter or early Spring, now is
a good time TO investigate and get ready To
| purchase. There are good ones, aud "a little
care exercised in purchasing will, in major
| ity of cases, prove profitable.
- A poultry yard can properly be the dump
| ing-ground for great deal of vegetable rub
| bish, TO give the occupants exercise in scratch
| ing, and to convert the rubbish into manure or
mulch. ton Of weeds, straw, leaves, salt or
| bog hay, sea-weed or eornstalks will soon be
scratched fine in populous poultry-yard. The
| weather assists, Of course
The true idea in cleansing dairy utensils is
to get all the milk OFF and out OF the pals, ETC.,
before scading. Boiling water seems to cook
milk, cream and buttermilk ON to and into the
| utensils and, then, like any other milk sub
stance, there is Il change soon that imparts it's
Dad intinence TO the succeeding messea of milk.