The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-01
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers

ton relative to wheat feeding in that State.
and has just issued bulletin showing the
result Of its work. In general way the
report shows:
In Kansas, under the conditions as to
product and prices of wheat and corn exist
ing in the years 1893, 81, 80, wheat has
become very important factor in the grain
feeding OF all classes of farm stock.
1t is superior to corn, pound for pound. as
a grain 10 produce healthful, well-balanced
| growth IN young animals.
| Mixed with corn, oats or bran. II ia p,ucb
superior to either alone for work horses.
Fed to cows, it is an exceptional milk pro-
Queer, and for that purpose corn is scarcely
| 10 be compared with if.
| For swine of all ages IL is healthful and
agreeable food, giving generous returns in
| DOth framework and flesh; but fed whole
| especially without soaking is used at a dis
advantage. Ground and made into Stops. il
Is Invaluable for sucking sows and for pigs
both before and after weaving.
For cattle 1T has, at least as a part Of their
grain ration, a very high value, which Is
much enhanced in the line of needed variety
by mixing with corn. and in still greater
degree by mixing judiciOusly with bran. oil
cake, or other albumiBous foods tending to
balance the too carbonaeeous nature of the
clear wheat.
With corn and wheat approximating the
same price per bushel, it is not Improbable
nor wicked to iced the wheat; yet, if it can
Dc ground, rolled, crushed or in some way
broken at total cost not exceeding five TO
seven cents per bushel, to feed it whole and
dry is unwise
1t can be ground at cost of five cents per
bushel, and on majority Of Kansas farms
for very much less.
If grinding is impracticable, soaking from
"a to SO hours the length OF time depending
somewhat upon the weather and season) is.
for various reasons deemed desirable. but is
lpJudlc!ous to any extent that its being
moist facilitates swallowing without the
mastlcation or the proper mixing with
saliva. Any arrangement or system of
feeding by which the grain was delivered
in such way that the animal could eat but
slowly would largely overcome this defecs.
1t Is superior food for all fowls. and az q
promoter of the maximum egg production
IS unsurpassed by any other grain.
Young Orchards.
Many cultivators, after taking great trouble
and expense in the selection and planting of
trees, fail of success by negleetiug that after
care and attention which is equally impor-
tant. Frequent cultivation is essential to
the growth of all young trees. When trees
are planted in fields of grass they should be
heavily muiehed with coarse manures for
several seasons
Cream Separators.
In the first place. the separator saves a
considerable amount of time, for by its use
one can have cream and skim-milk in few
mi foa H.
vantage to those selling milk, for both cream
and skim-milk will be salable for a much
longer time. Then, again, it saves labor and
room. A good working separator takes prac-
tically all the cream out of the milk. It has
been proved that considerably more butter is
produced from given quantity of milk when
treated III this way, as against the ordinary
setting methods. There are several makers
of these machines and they can be had for
working by hand, horse, water, or steam
power, all constructed on much the same
principles; and with each, successful separa-
ton depends mostly upon the temperature,
speed, and the regulation of the inflow of
milk.
Care of Capons.
Capons need no more care than other
poultry do. Feed them all they want to
eat, and keep their quarters clean. Simply
treat them as you would any growing chick
ems, and the capOn's growth will be surpris-
ing. The rapid growth of capons for the
first few months is remarkable and very in
teresting. A New York poultry raiser
wrote that his capons gained three pounds
each in six weeks. OF course, the first
growth is principally bone and framework.
When this is developed they then take on
flesh and fat. / find it about as well to feed
corn alone in Winter, with bone and she'll
before them all the time They are lot
great eaters: as, being quiet, all they eat
goes to form flesh and fat. Only feed what
they will eat, and you will soon have some
10 pound capons to sell.
Station Bulletins.
AT the Utah Experiment Station a series
Of feeding experiments with wheat, bran,
peas, corn, and barley, seem to point to the
TACT that wheat is a very economical grain
Or feeding to pigs. In bulletin "a of the
station it is reported that four pens of three
pigs each were fed continuously for five
months the following rations respectively:
wheat and bran, peas and bran, corn and
bran, and barley and bran. Each ration
consisted of one-half bran. Counting pork
worth 81 per hundred pounds live weight,
md bran at $40 per ton, the following prices
we're realized for the different grains when
converted into pork: wheat, SUS94; peas,
;1.02; corn, S0704; and barley, 5000.
With wheat selling at SO cents per bushel
t is most economical to feed it to pigs, and
his demonstration may lead to the more
universal feeding of this grain to animals.
Bulletin % of the Arkansas Station adj
Uses the sowing of rye for green Winter
eeding, and reports that at the station over
0,000 pounds of green rye were cut in the
our cuttings of January 5, March 10, April
o, and April %. But this would not apply
o colder latitude, although the following
rom the same bulletin as to the value of
ye feeding would: The value of rye as
reen Winter food for all live stock is APP
reciated by but few. The general custom
} to SOW broadcast for grazing but planted
q drills and cut and fed green it affords q
cry much greater quantity of food in
etter condition, and injury from trampling
be soil in wet weather is avoided.
Farm Notes.
It is not difficult matter to rid the hogs
f lice, yet too often it is not done. The
lost satisfactory wash is ehlorO-naptholeum,
liquid used principally as sheep dip and
sinfectant. 1t is death to lice and leaves
Kin of the animals in healthy condition.
GAL oil is very Objectionable for this pur-
ose, particularly tor young pigs and shotes.
causes the outer part of the skin to crack
Id scale off.