The National tribune., 1891-02-12
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
THE VALUE OF coExsrALxa

THE VALUE or COENsTALKA
Maj. Alvord. of the Maryland Agricultural
College, has been startling the farmers of that
State with n showing OF how much money there
is thrown away by wasting their cornstalks.
Maryland is the principal corn State of the At
lantic Slope. raising from Is to 16 millions
bushels year, with an average of 90 bushels
to the acre. The custom in the State is to 81 top
and strip" the stalks. The Professor shows that
there Is two-thirds Is much starch in the stalk
as in the shclled corn and in corn and cob meal.
Assuming that there are two tons Of fodder to
the acre, at least one-quarter. or 1000 pounds,
is left in the ground in the shape of the stalk,
which is of no manurial value. There is con-
sequently enough fodder wasted in the State
to feed 100000 cattle. He states that dried
cOrnstalk meal would make good buckwheat
cakes. His idea is that the stalk should be cut
into half-inch pieces, when the stock would eat
80 per cent. of it. He prefers that stalks
be soitened before feeding, or converted
into ensilage. The dricst corn fodder If cut
into small pieces aud packed closely together
will become soft and pllatable The cob and
hnsk are the poorest parts Of the plant. lie
doubts whether II pays to grind coLs up with
the corn.
TOBACCO.
The use Of tobacco as an insecticide Is rnpidIy
gaining favor among gardeners aud florists A
decOction made from the stems OF refuse tobacco
is an excellent remedy for orr insect foes
The decOctiOn is made by stepping n pound Of
tobacco the poorer the better, as the cheaper
the grade the more poison il containsl in two
gallons Of water. After allowing this TO cool,
strain OF the liquid aud apply with an ordi-
nary spraying apparatus. Prof Cook has re-
Gently tried this against the flea beetles found
on tomatoes, potatoes, cabbages and Tadishes
The results obtained from a thorough appli-
cation has led him TO strongly recommend it
as practical remedy. As a specific against
lice, ticks and other external animal parasites
it is without an equal Orchard and Garden.
PRUNING YOUNG TREES.
The wisdom of pruning young trees at trans
planting has been disputed, but experience
teaches US that il is best TO cut back the young
shoots, at time of planting, to two or three buds
at the bases, and when the shoots are too close
10 cut some Of them or altogether Orchard
aud Garden.
THE VALUE OF WISDBREAKs.
DO our fruit-growing readers fully appreciate
the value of windbreaks as an important factor
In the production Of profitable crop Of fruit2
If so, surely there would be more planting %
that end. Wcdo not always realize the injury
that Is done 10y high, drying winds. Trees that
viii endure safely very low temperature in
still air, succumb TO much less cold when &C
cOmpanied with high wind IL is the windy
portion Of our cold snaps that hurts and is
so destructive. Fruit blossom buds, especially
peach buds, are killed by windstorms, when
they would, without doubt, pass unframed
through the same degree Of cold unaccompanied
by wind. The only safety is by protection;
and windbreaEs must be grown. This is a sub
ject that has a special application TO fruit
growing, and now, At the approach Of another
planting season, should have careful considera-
tiOn.-0Tchdrd and Garden.
HEADwORK FOR FARMERS.
We know some farmers who arc hard workers
always busy in their vocation, constantly hit
ting hard licks through Winter as well rs
through Summer, who expend comparatively
little on anything for show, who indulge in no
hne tuTnOuts, do but little driving for pleasure
on the highways and are not extTavagant in
other respects and yet these men seem always
10 be IN the drag, and can never catch up and DO
at the front. They are always behind when rent
or interest day comes round. The field for corn
is not plowed early enough in the Spring, or
the burrows are turned when they are too wet
aud so made liable TO bake or clod. Crops are
not planted in time, not cultivated in time, and
often not gathered in time and so liable 10
waste. And they wonder how IL is that they
cannot succeed and become masters Of the situa-
u,
who, apparently, do far less work than they DO
themselves, and yet get along more easily and
comfortably. The secret OF IL all IN a want Of
system in work. and a failure 10 look ahead
aud provide for contingencies, so as to be al
ways ready for them when they happen.
System and order are great factors for the ready
accomplishment of purposes. They make
things 50 smoothly and prevent vast deal Of
worriment and veXation of spirit. The farmer
needs 10 be planner as well as q labOrer.
IleadwoTk Is what is wanted just as much az
hancW5Tk. Tact aud manuvering will some
times save wages aud expense by ecOnOmiZing
time aud opportunities, and in these times Of
agricultural depression should be oftener Rp-
plied.-AmeTicH Farmer.
sHOEISG HoRsEs
The United States Government has issued
the following order relative to the shoeing of
cavalry horses In preparing the horses foot
for the shoe, do not touch with the knife the
frog, sole or bars. In removing surplus growth
OF that part of the foot which is the seat Of the
shoe, use the cutting pinchers and rasp, and not
the knife. The shooting knife may be used, IL
necessary In using the top clip. Opening the
heels or making cut in the angle Of the ball
at the heel must not be allowed. The rasp
may be used upon the part of the foot when
necessary, and the same applies to the pegs
No cutting with the knife is permitted only
the raSp is necessary. Flat-fOOted horses may
be treated as the necessity Of each case may re-
quire. In forging the shoe TO 1T the foot, be
careful the shoe is fitted to and follows the
circumference of tho foot clear round to the
heels; the heels of the shoe should not be ex-
tended back straight and outside Of the wall
at the heels OF the horses foot, is frequently
done. Care must be used that the shoe is not
fitted too small, the outside surface Of the wall
/ being then rasped down TO make the foot short
TO suit the shoe, rs often happens. The hot
~
under any circumstances. Make the upper or
foot surface Of the shoe perfectly fiat, so as to
give Lowell bearing. A shoe with a concave
ground surface should be used.
What Western Veterans Want.
dispatch from Arkansas City, Kan, SAYS
that the old soldiers Of that district, at a meet
ing held Sunday evening Feb l. adODted reso.