The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-12-27
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
rnbercnln.l. and u. Prevention.

culosis, methods Of preventing this disease
are practically most important. Every
| farmer understands that cows are more likely
to contract this dreaded disease when con-
| fined in poorly ventilated and filthy stables.
In northern climates warmth seems often
| more necessary than is the preservation OF
/ healthy air. The warmth from piles of de-
| caying manure has even been considered an
/ advantage, as it saved the animals confined
| IN stables near it from warming themselves
! in the natural way by the use of a part of
| the carbon IN their food 10 overcome the
| cold to which they were subjected.
All these methods are now seen to Do
| serious mistakes. Those who have tried so
| hard 10 get the last cent from the feed given
| to cows in their milk and butter product
have been uBwittin2ly undermining health,
| until now the losses by tuberculosis disease
/ IN these tOO-caTefuily coddled herds out
| weigh a hundredOld all that has been
gained by the petty economies of keeping
the animals from fresh air in order that the
product of their food may be greater. We
are finding that the close stalling commonly
praCticed is a danger wherever the disease
exists. II IS the largest herds that have
generally been worst affected by the disease.
How 10 Obviate this danger is most i'm port
ant question. The United States Bureau of
Animal Industry furnishes tho following
methods Of disiniection:
Corrosive sublimate (mercuric chlOride),
one ounce in about eight gallons of water
lone-tenth of one per cent?. The water
should be kept in wooden tubs or barrels,
and the sublimate added to it. The whole
must be allowed to stand for "a hours so as
to give the sublimate an opportunity to be-
come entirely dissolved. Since this solution
- S1.O he. La
and well guarded. II may be applied with q
broom or mop, and used freely in all parts
of the stable. Since it loses it's virtue in
proportion to the amount Of dirt present, ali
manure and other dirt shonld be first re-
moved and the stables well cleaned before
applying the disinfectant. After it has been
applied the stable should be kept vacant as
long as possible. Before the animals are
allowed to return it is best to flush those
parts which the animals may reach with
their tongues, to remove any remaining
poison.
Chloride Of lime, FIVE ounces to gallon Of
water -four per cent.l This should be ap-
piled in the same way.
The following disinfectant is very service
able. 1t is not poisonous, but quite cor
rosive, and care should be taken to protect
the eyes and hands from accidental splash
ing: Crude carbOlic acid half gallon crude
sulphuric acid half gallon. These two
substances should be mixed in tubs OF glass
vessels. The sulphuric acid should be very
slowly added to the carbOlic acid During
the mixing large amount of heat is devel-
oped. The disinfeeting power Of the mix
ture is heightened if the amount Of heat is
kept down By placing the tub or glass demi-
john containing the earbOlc acid in cold
hill vho ,Ir1, ~ Of =
added. The resulting mixture is added to
the water in the ratio of one to 20. One
gallon of mixed acids Will thus furnish 20
gallons of strongly disinfeetant solution,
having slightly milky appearance.
Whitewash is not in itself of sufficient
strength 10 destroy tuberele baeilli, but by
imprisoning them and incrusting them on
the walls of stables they are made harmless
until destroyed By prolonged drying. White
washing should be preceded by thorough
cleansing.
Particular attention should be paid to the
sides and ceiling Of stables. All dust and
cobwebs should be periodically washed down.
Those parts coming in contact with the
heads of cattle, stanchions, trOughs, halters,
etc, should be frequently eleansed and dis
infected, even when they have not been used
by svowedly diseased cattle.
The removal of virus from the stables
should he promoted by the prompt removal
of manure, and by abundant ventilation.
Good air has the effect of dilutiug injected
air, and thereby reducing the chance of in
haling dried floating tuberele bacili, or at
least of reducing the number to be inhaled.
Ii likewise improves the vigor of the eon-
fined animals, and increases the resistance to
infection.
Sofa Beans,
The North Carolina Experiment Station
is interesting itself IN extending the eultiva-
tion of the SOFA bean, and speaks very highly
of the value of the plant. A circular from
the Director says:
The Station regards this as a very valu-
able forage plant. 1t is of upright growth,
two to three feet high, and is a legumine
capable of adding nitrogen from the air to
the soil in which it grows. 1t is planted In
hills or drills two and half to three and
half feet apart, according to the richness of
the soil, and Is to "a inches apart in the
row. 1t can be planted any time from March
TO July, either alone or in the corn rows be-
tween the corn, and two to four beans are
usually planted in each hill Soil suitable
to il and the general preparation is thes same
rs for corn. When planted for silage both
crops can be ensilaged together, and the corn
VIII AuuSH VIC COLu~
binatiOn; or the plants when planted alone
AN be cut for forage before they get too
woody. The seeds are found in small pods,
md can be saved by cutting the whole plant
when leaves and pods have turned golden
hue. They can easily be beaten out when
Try. If cutting is delayed beyond this
lime the pods will open and some will be
0st on the ground. 1t will not pay to pick
ne beans. Ii is also good table bean, but
requires a long time to cook. The beans
parehed similar to coffee have been used as
IN acceptable substitute for it, at far less
,ost. IL has not the exact aroma of coffee,
put is recommended as a cheap substitute,
probably just as coed, and in some cases
better, than the low grades of coffee, after
BEING adUlterated with peas or beans with
value less than the SOFA bean. The Station
Urges careful trial of this crop
MiIet.
Millet is used chiefly as "eatch crop"
or hay, since it eau be sown in Spring when
yer it is discovered that seeding of the
permanent grasses has failed, or that q hard
Winter OF insects have destroyed the clover.
L may be s0wu when TOO late to plant corn.
Millet requires good soil, preferably sand,
md is especially adapted to new land. Sow
. half bushel per acre for hay, one peck if
or seed.
Mlllet hay is usually cured by cooking it
Up when partially dry and allowing it to
tand for several days before being hauled