The National tribune., 1891-08-06
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers

August Is the fruit-growers' month; II Is
the month during which they resp the product
Of labor. The fruit crop viii be abundant this
year, and the attrsctivenes5 Of the fruit will
add TO the liability Of its being sold. II the
fruit-grower would only take the trouble TO
assert his fruit he would find that it would be
to his advantage. We have seen fruit come
into the market which was neatly assorted,
that is, distinction made between the small
and large ones, and the consequence was that
the lsrge ones sold for twice as much as the
small ones. Again, We have seen fruit come
in just as it was picked from the trees, which
sold for as much as the small ones mentioned
above although there were as large ones in
there as in the largo lot which sold for twice
the amount Of the small ones Do not think
that If the large and small fruits are separated
that is all you have to do. You should exclude
all the fruit which does not appear tempting.
IL all fruit-growers would only follow these
simple directions, they would be enabled to
build up for themselves a fine and profitable
trade.
This is tho season OF the year which is best
for the propagation Of the insect foes Of the
farmer. Although there is no chance of exter-
minating these pests at this late day, they can,
in a measure, be prevented from increasing so
rapidly. Uso the mixtures we have so often
recommended in this column, and they will
produce the desired result Let the swine run
in the orchard, and they will dcyour the gnarly
and worm-eaten fruit. Give the poultry the
run of the stubblefelds, where they will thrive
upon the numerous insects.
Arc you neglecting your poultry7 Do not
think that because you are checking the raw
ages Of insects elsewhere on the farm that the
poultry can tend TO themselves. Vermin are
as active on the poultry this month as any
where else. Give them their dust bath, and
do not fail TO clean out their house. If you
have the time, give the house a good coat Of
strong whitewash inside and out
After rain is the best time to make a now
strawberry bed. If such day cannot be had
when you are in a hurry to make a new bed,
then do your work on some afternoon when
the sun has gone down. 1t should be remem-
bered that the roots Of strawberries will pene-
trate tho ground considerable distance.
We are glad to sec that home farmers are in
teresting themselves in the improvement Of tho
elderberry. As it is, many women make very
good pies and vino from it, and we have no
doubt that If it were given the same careful
development that tho apple has received it
would soon be a formidable rival OF the grape.
The experiment is we'll worth trying.
New York Orchardists have found that they
can efIectually rid themselves of borers by
wrapping the stems Of trees with stiff or glazed
hardware paper. cut into strips four inches wide,
and wound spirally around the stems, which
should be- FIRST washed with whale-oil soap.
Cornell University Station has been carry
ing on experiments in regard 10 the value Of
manure, and the wastefulness of the present
methods Of caring for it. At the University il
has been found that horse excretes daily
about 90 pounds. with a money value Of nearly
seven cents; COW, in the course Of a day, ex-
cretes S2pounds worth about 10 cents; a sheep
~ pounds, worth about one and one-half cents;
a thrifty growing pig, Of fair size. excretes
three and one-half pounds, worth q little more
than one-hslf a cent. With this as basis it
is found that in the course of year the value
Of horses manure is s2433 as a fertilizIng
material to tho soil a cows $3.50; sleeps
S5.47, and pigs sl.S3. This is OF interest to
the farmer, as he can readily SEQ that sleeps
manure is the poorest for fertilizing purposes,
while that Of the pigs is the most valuable in
proportion. Not satisfied with finding this re-
suit tho Station experimental TO determine the
loss Of fertilizing elements sustained by leaving
the manure exposed to the weather. Horse
manure after being exposed six months was
found TO have lost 90 per cent Of its fertilizing
value, and cow manure exposed for the same
time lost 90 per cent. From observations upon
the ordinary conditions of piling and exposure
OF manure IL seems safe 10 calculate the usual
loss in value of nearly so per cent. Farmers
should pay some attention TO these figures Often
have we spoken about the wastefuI methods Of
caring for his manure. From the figures given
above he can easily find out what he loses
annually on his manure. A good way to
remedy this abuse is to build a shed large
enough TO hold the manure, and make its roof
water-tight Have good sides to it, so as to
prevent the liquid manure from running Off or
evaporating. The manure should be left in
the shed until the farmer Is ready TO plow it
under, for although the liquid parts sink into
the soil when the manure is scattered, the
ammonia aud other volatile substances evapo-
ratio aud are lost.
DO you let your COW stay out in a shadeless
pasture all day? If So have you noticed the
decrease in the quantity of milk she has been
in the habit Of givingP II is far better TO keep
the COW in the stable during the day and let
her in the pasture during the night. II you
do not like this scheme, then let her in the
pasture during tho day and take her in the
stable for two or three hours when the sun is
the hottest.
GRATING THE GRAPE.
Will some of your readers who are posted,
give me some instruction through your COL
umns in regard to grating the grapef have
a very houTishing vine which bears a poor
grape, and would like to graft onto II some
good variety. F. DAY, VI. d., Alfred, York
County, Ne.
German farmers are making moro money out
Of sugar than the French, for the reason that
the Germans manufacture into sugar the beets
that they grow, and thus get two profits. The
farmers cooperate in building and running
factories, and show great enterprise in securing
the best aud latest methods and machinery, as
well as good business management.
Winter crop Of spinach may be sOwn dur
ing the next two months in light sandy soil,
with drills
THE LITTLE ONES