The National tribune., 1895-11-21
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
Feeding steers.

ing period, cannot be too strongly empha-
sized. ToSac stock gains faster and at less
expense than Older stock In fact, the cost
OF the gain increases so rapidly with the
ripening Of the steer that four pounds eau
be added in the early stages of fattening for
what it will cost to add one pound later on.
Besides, 1T is no longer a question of size.
Young beef of high quality is the kind de-
manded nowadays, and as the improved
breeds all mature early, the breeder can,
with the short feeding period. quickly sell
one lot and start in with another, turning
over money so rapidly that he can be con-
tent with smaller gains than formerly,
very important consideration in these days
of keen competition.
Roofing with Straw.
Shingles make the best roof, and when
durability is required they are the cheapest
material But there are often times when
temporary sheds have 70 be put up for the
shelter Of stock, and as the building is not
designed as permanent structure, cheaper
covering - desirable. Straw piled over
framework cons derably higher in the mid
die than at either end will shed or absorb
all the rain that falls in Fall or Winter.
1t will do this more perfectly if the straw
is laid in straight rows up to the center Of
the roof and bound together by small strings.
This is the European method of matching,
which protects not only hay and grain in
the stack, but many buildings used as dwell
ings. thatch Of straw will make good
protection for eight or 10 years, before which
time it will have paid for itself and for the
labor in making q new one.
Dry Sailing and Brine-SaIting.
The two processes known as dry-salting
and bTine-salting in butter-making each
have their advocates. The latter method is
the one commonly employed in this country
and in England but the practice of dry-salt-
ing still predOminates in Denmark, Holland,
and Sweden, countries which enjoy a repu-
tItiOn as producers Of frst-class quality Of
butter.
IL is generally admitted that brine-salting
reduces the amount of work required to
complete the butter-making process and
preserves the texture of butter, but entails
an unavoidable loss Of flavor and waste Of
salt Dry-saltiug, on the other hand, while
injuriug the texture, improves the keeping
quality of the butter and retains the flavor
a fact of some importance when the cream
is rather old. As win be seen, each method
has it's advantages, and it is for the butter
maker TO determine which one will best suit
the conditions to which he must conform.
In selecting the site for an orchard two Of
the main things to be sought for are exemp-
ton from late Spring and early Autumn
frosts, and shelter from the prevailing high
winds According to Mr.. III. L. Hutt, of
Ontario Agricultural College, the locations
least subject to injurious frosts are those
bordering large bodies of water, and IN the
interior, the highlands. 1t is important to
plant apple trees on the highest land avail
able. Ii the elevation is not more than 10
feet above the general level of the adjacent
land, it affords an advantage in allowing the
cold air to drain away into the levels, and
lessons the danger from frosts, which often
do great injury when the trees are in bloom.
One of the worst locations is a sheltered
valley from which there is little or no at
mOspheric drainage, and into which the sun
shining makes it the hottest spot during the
day, while cold air settling into it from the
higher elevations makes it the coolest spot
during the night.
Pure Water for Daiyring.
Western dairymen labor under a great
disadvantage in the fact that usually the
water they give their cows is surface water,
and not to be compared with the clear spring
water which the dairymen of New England
and the dairy regions of New York have in
great abundance. This matter of pure
water will probably always give the dairy
men of the East an advantage They have
also sweeter and better pastures than can
be found in the Western States, where the
soil has only been turned to dairying after
its mineral plant food has become too ex-
hausted to grow grain with profit.
Farm Fences.
Cattle and horses frequently at this time
nd torn,
liable to do much injury to young trees
should they happen to get into a newly
planted orchard. Examine the fences and
keep them in repair. Also clean fence-rows
of rubbish and weeds. They often afford
hiding places for rabbits mice, etc. A pile
of freshly-cut limbs and twigs, the trimmings
left In or near the orchards, will give shelter
and food for rabbits, and here they may be
watched for, hunted, or trapped
Selecting Trees.
In ordering trees for planting, select two
year-old apple, pear, and plum trees instead
of three and four-year-old trees as they
almost invariably have more fine, fibrous
roots in proportion than do the older trees.
Young trees can be more readily trained to
any desired shape than older ones. The
most extensive planters prefer to plant young
trees.
Winter is a critical season for horses: and
this is plainly evident from the fact that so
many poor and ill-conditioned animals are
then to be found. The causes are readily
The Autumn weather is very try
ing; very hot days are succeeded by damp,
chilly nights; and often cold storms of wind
and rain of longer or shorter duration pre-
vail. Therefore, none but the most careful
feeding and management will suffice to rem
der the horse delight to the eye during
The Winter.
Farmers are especially prone to feed hay
too freely to their horses. Hay, beyond
certain quantity, is positive detriment. It
nnduly distends the bowels; and, from the
small quantity of nutriment it contains, the
horse is obliged to consume inordinate guam
titles in order to support life. Two feeds of
hay per day, of about 10 pounds each, will
supply sufficient bulky food. As regards
grain, oats will form the main dependence,
Is they agree with the horse better than
my other cereal. Horses used for rapid
work may have a mixture of three parts
,ats to one of bran; hard-wOrked farm
horses, equal parts oats, bran, and cracked
,orn. Six to IL quarts of grain per day,
according to the work performed, is q suffi-
,ient quantity for the horse.
Roots are excellent for improving the ap-
petite Bran mashes of four parts bran, two
PARTS cOrn-meal, and one part hnseed- meal,