The National tribune., 1891-10-08
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers

Tho smallest known species Of hogs are
quaTteTed at the London Geological Gardens.
They came from the southern part OF Australia,
and are known as tho pgmy hogs OF the An
tipodes." They are well formed, risky, and
good natured. aud about the size of a musk rat.
They are real hogs. and not to be cOnfounded
with guinea pigs, which are a species Of rodent.
1t is asserted by practical dairymcn that APP
pies are more valuable as COW food than for
cider or vinegar. They are better than pota-
toes for a milk diet, though, of course not so
good a milk-produeer as grain. They are nu-
tritious and laxative, aud, taken in connection
with other food, they produce excellent re-
suits.
4 certain number Of sheep, hogs, or poultry
or MI Of them-should be kept on every
farm, if for no other reason than as scavenEcrs.
They clean mp the farm and turn into valuable
products much waste material.
Ia stock growing, breed is not so important
rs The breeder, nor feed as the feeder.
brainy farmer can make more money out OF an
inferior breed than poor manager can ont OF
the best; aud mediocre feed, properly prepared
and fed is frequently better than the best slow
emily and Improperly fed.
BEAN CULTURE
Beans require rich soil, but if the bean fod-
der is carefully saved aud fed with refuse beans
10 sheep, the crop is not nearly 50 exhaustive
as many Others. Only the grain is sold, and
80 bushels OF beans per acre will not remove
more plant food than can be replaced by two
hundred weight each Of phosphate and nitrate
Of soda. Years AGO, in war times. beans sud
denly advanced ia price to S. and even > per
bushcl. Nothing ia grain farming compares
with beans for raising money quickly and with
moderate amount OF labor Many farms were
bought and mainly paid for with the proceeds
OF the bean crop. Beans took their place in
the rotation. A crop yielding p to 30 bushels
per acre sold often for 500 per acre. or as much
as the original cost Of the land. By the time
the whole farm had been beaned it was paid
for Beans were put in with a drill or with
bean planters, setting the plants in hills with
rows far enough apart one way 10 cultivate be-
tween. Most Of the cultivation was done with
horse power. Now there are bcan-harvcStiug
machines that greatly lessen the back aching
labor Of bean pulling. Thrashing, too. that
used TO he done with the fail or by trampiug
out the beans, is now accomplished more per-
perfectly by bean-thrashcrs. Medina y. Y, is
"A region where moro beans are grown than
anywhere else ia the world.-AHericm Cult
rat0T.
SALT IN CREAM
well-known Western dairyman, c. s. Ar
mold, is on record as saying that he salts his
cream as fast as taken from the milk. at the
rate of two ounces Of salt 10 the gallon Of
cream, and is getting exceedingly gratifying
results. The cream ripens better and with no
al 10
chnrn gets more butter from the cream and
! quicker than when no salt is used. All this
may be So and Mr. Arnold says. but the
amount Of salt seems excessive. So far as the
| churning and getting all the butter. we think
| that adding some fair-strengthencd brine, n
| quart to the gallon Of cream when the churn
is started, would boz better than Just salt alone
| IL Is only another sign that dairymen are after
that last ounce Of butter. and are bound to have
| it-for profits Practical Fdrmer
FALL RANGES FOR THE CHICKENS.
After tho crops are harvested on the farm
/ and i'm the garden, tyrn the chickens into the
/ fields and let them forage around for 2 living.
\ The amount Of loOsT grain. corn and seeds that
/ are scattered over he fields can scarcely be
realized aud all Of this is sheer waste il not
| gathered by the chickens. They are the natu-
| raj methods by which 10 gather these waste
/ seeds. Give them plenty Of range for they not
/ only save food but they enjoy the work. More
| over, this freedom of-n gives new life and yioOr
/ 10 weak chickens aud stimulates the young
ones 50 that they grow rapidly.
/ Even ia the garden there is a great deal OF
4 loss. Vegetables drop seeds which fall on the
/ ground and become frozen i'm Winter The
chickens quickly rake these up and devour
| them greedily. In addition 10 this they fall
afoul OF hundreds Of insects, worms and grubs.
| which they quickly destroy. Grasshoppers and
locusts are killed b. them. and they clearly
prepare the garden and fields for the long
Winter rest. few Of the insects killed in the
Fall will probably prevent the multiplication
/ OF hundreds i'm the Spring.
4 natural diet is one that produces the best
flesh and the most eggs. nature furnishes this
in the fields and woods, and the chickens select
| H., making IL rs varied rs possible. No arti-
! fetal formula can equal that which the fields
in the Fall Of the year furnish. This will re-
| suit in better egg laying and frmer and better
| flesh. The benefits Of giving the chickens a
| wider range Of the fields in the Fall Of the year
are so many that no farmer can afford 10 neglect
| it.-Amaican Calfrat0r.
CHEAP HORSES.
The French Government in order to eucour-
age horse breeding buys the best stations and
charges fee Of perhaps g for their service.
| While no national interference with the enter
prise of those who are engaged in breeding and
4 standing good horses is desirable in this cOuu-
! try, there Is one regulation that might be
adopted by the State authorities aud that is
10 prevent unsound and worthless stations
from doing business. In this country a service
fee no higher than twice that exactcd by the
| French Government is generally mark Of an
| inferior horse. Such horses get poor colts, and
you will sell them chcap.-Ndti0aal St0ckmaH
PASTURE TREES.
There arc more pastures in this country
without trees than those that are provided with
these blessings 20 live stock. There need not
be many. but a few trees scattered over a farm
not only add 30 tho beauty OF the landscape,
but carry with them the idea that tho owner
is mcrciinl 20 his beast. The shade tree may
be productive Of more than a shelter from the
burning sun in Midsummer Tor in Autumn il
may hear q load Of nuts that will gladden. the
hearts OF the boys who have mono too many
things 20 cheer them in their life upon the
farm. Chestuuts. butterEuts shagharks wal,
nuts. all furnish tpotlisome nuts for the Winter
evening, while protecting the sheep or kline ia
Summer. farm with trees sells better than
one without shade We have noticed that the
treeless farm Il most apt 10 be in the market
The farmer who plants or protects no shade
trees lets other important thing, escape through
his fngeTs-A mericaH IguculHTid
| Iggcr To.