The National tribune., 1895-03-28
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
Berries at Massachusetts station.

| earth of the tips of black berry canes At the
/ Massachusetts station prevented their being
/ Winter-killed, while many of the canes not
so protected were seriously injured. s. T.
Maynard recommends the Agawam, Snyder,
and Taylor blackberries as profitable varis-
ties. The new strawberries which proved
the best were the Bubach, Lovett's, Golden,
Defiance, Greenville, Haverland, and Mar
shall. The worms of the June beetle were
| dug out soon as noticed. A spray of the
Bordeaux mixture was used for the leaf
blight. The most valuable black raspberries
4 were the Ohio, Hilborn. Kansas. Lovett, and
SOuhegan. The canes were sprayed for spot
i diseases or anthraenOse. OF red raspberries,
the Hansel, Marlboro, and Cuthbert ara
recommended. though there il much OF
PROMISE in Victor. Stayman's No. s. and
Thompson's Early Prolific. The canes were
sprayed with copper sulphate solution in
| early Spring and with Bordeaux mixture
just before the blossoms opened, to kill the
yellow rust.
The consensus of advanced agricultural
| opinion is that sacaline, the so-called new
| fodder-plant, is capable of becoming as per-
sistent pest as the Russian thistle Like
some other pestiferOus weeds as Canada
| thistle, it propagates readily from UNDER
ground stems, and "once in the ground
always there" 1t is not grass at all, but q
species Of the order of plants of which the
familiar smartweed is member The claim
that it makes a desirable feed, both dry and
green, and that it will flourish on the arid
plains of the West, remains yet to be proven.
Wait and see before investing in seed.
Early Vegetables.
The following liss of vegetables will bear
! the cold and stormy weather of March and
April: Asparagus, BRUSSELS sprouts cauli-
flower. celery, Kohl Rabi. lettuce, peas. pars-
ley rsdish, satisfy, turnips, beets, cabbage,
| carrots. fettichs, leek, onions, parsnips, DO
tatoes, rhubarb, spinach, sea kale.
Notes About the Farm.
The Government report on hogs shows
that there were LOCO coo less Jan. than on
the same date in 1894, and 100000 less
than in 1892. On Jan. 1, 1895, there were
"A, 165, 716 hogs in the United States.
An advocate of c0rn-fed pork admits that
the hog fed miscellaneously has the sweetest
and tenderest meat, and if taste be q cri-
terion in pork, as it is reekoned to be in
everything else that is eatable, the fruit-fsd
and milk-fed pork is certainly best. Bot he
may be had by finishing off the last few
weeks OF fattening by feeding cOrnmeal, not
corn in the ear.
One peck of elover-seed is the usual auan-
tity to the acre, though some SOW less. Is
is of decided advantage to sow elover-seed,
and then follow with additional seeding OF
orchard-grass on the same land. In this
case SOW IL pounds of clover-seed, and not
less than one bnshel of Orchard-grass seed.
Since July % last 5,493 cattle supposed to
be afflicted with lumpy jaw were inspected
at the Chicago stoek-yards. and 1886 passed
the inspection as sound. There were killed
at the house operated for that purpose /, $50
head that had first been subjected to an in,
spection, and of that number 444 were
passed as fit for food, while / ,214 were put
In the tanks and rendered out under the
supervision of officers appointed by the State
and Livestock Exchange.
Fumigating Cabbages.
At the Iowa Station the lice on cabbages
were killed with hydrogenic gas. In using
this material a small quantity of su1phurio
acid 10 to Is cubic centimeters, was placed
in shallow dish upon the ground under
the plant and cover arranged so as to
drop quickly into place over the plant;
then small lump of cyanide of potassium,
from two to three grammes, was dropped
into the sulphuric acid, the cover immedi-
ately pressed to the ground and the edges
covered with dirt, which was then tramped
down firmly. Six and one-half grammes
of cyanide and 10 cubic eentimeters of acid
were used in the most successful expert
ments; the lice were killed and the plant
uniDiured. A tub would answer for a cover,
The expense of this treatment, the greater
part of which is the cost of sulphuric acid,
would amount to about one cent per head for
with covers the size used in these
experiments.
Feeding Ewes.
Ewes that are sucking lambs should have
some grain, especially if they are given roots
Or other succulent food to increase the flow
Of milk. There is always profit in making
the lambs grow rapidly, as the larger and
latter they are the better price they will
bring per pound. 1t is just as possible to
Increase the yield of milk from ewes as il is
from cows in the dairy by good feeding. By
keeping up the practice for several genera
lions breeds of sheep that are superior for
milk may be established. This will be
specially necessary if farmers grow the
breeds that produce twins and occasionally
,riplets at birth. Most common sheep are
10 poor mixers that one lamb is all they can
provide for, and they need good feeding for
hat.
Sowing and Covering Seed.
No narrowing or brushing is needed to
cover clover or grass seed. If there is any
stirring of the soil to be done it should bs
before the seed is sown to make good seed
,ed. Rains will wash enough soil over the
eed to give it chance to root. More than
his is disadvantage. When gross or clover
eed is s0wn on Winter grain it should be
While the surface is frozen. There will be
light cracks on the surface, and the seed
will fall on the sides offhese cracks. When
he soil thaws it will inelose them. But If
he land is dry enough, it is better to harrow
Vuter grain when the frost gets out of the
round, and then SOW grass and clover seeds
n this narrowed surface. The seeds will be
Up nearly as quickly as those sOwn a month
arlier, and will grow all the better for
his preparation of seed bed. 1t makes the
rain crop better also, especially if the har-
owing is done when q rain or snow storm
, coming.
Medium Sized Turkeys.
All commission merchants agree that it is
be medium-sized turkeys that sell the most
sadily and are the most profitable. The
irds should dress eight, ten, or twelve
0unds, according TO the proportion of toms
nd hens they say. and should look plump
nd clean. These birds are the first selected,
nd the others go off more slowly. At over
pounds reduction in the price is de-
an1nC while hirda ar 10 nr ponnIo