The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-16

| A'O tiunO w lOdu al AGRICULTURAL uoW5-
paper? Truly, it does not take so long
to read newspaper as it does to do and
undo many of the useless things which
would become better understood in all
their bearings if the reading. comparing
and thinking habits were more pro-
nounced. There should be some scope
in which to develop the activities of the
mind.
Our present enormous corn crop
would have been an over production a
few years ago, and the bottom would
have dropped out of prices. Now $40 an
acre can be made by cutting up the corn
for fodder, for an acre of fodder is worth
two tons of hay. This means cash for
all our hay, and market for our surplus
corn abroad.
All Europe is learning that corn is
the best and cheapest food for man or
beast. and they are buying it for bread
and stock feeding. In flakes, breakfast
food, grits. hominy, meal. fancy bolted
flour, glucose, whisky, it asserts it's own
merits, and has created its own demands
and the price will be kept from falling
below profitable point.
The Maryland station has demon
strated that there is more digestible
matter contained in the corn plant than
in the ear, and that the fodder from one
acre yields as much digestible matter
as do two tons Of timothy hay The
butts and larger parts of the stalks con-
tain more than the tops and blades. In
any region the fodder alone would win
ter the stock therein.
The advantages arising from an early
husking are: saving of loss of grain by
weather changes; the fodder is put up
early and allowed to settle before the
severe winter winds come on and will
keep better; it is easier on men and
teams before time for bad weather and
mud; the wheat, if sown. is not impaired
so bad by teams going over it.
The soil and climate of Maine seem to
favor the growing of a table corn of
high value, and the rapid extension of
the industry attests that the farmers
are rapidly availing themselves of their
natural advantages; and yet it is feared
that much that is sold as Maine corn
has had origin in other localities; moth
ing like reputation.
Farmers are too apt to regard the
effort to supply the home market as
petty business. unworthy of their pow
ers, while to grow grain and breed, fat
ten and rear live stock for the outside
world is a great calling, even though
obliged to sell some of their crops under
cost of production. This notion is a
folly of which they should quickly disa-
buse themselves.
The husbandman should reflect that
when he has succeeded in rearing and
supporting an ordinary sized American
family upon a farm he has accomplished
great work; he has achieved greater
results than majority of those engaged
in other pursuits. His garden, hennery,
apiary and COW have kept him in food
and clothing, and brought him comfort
and happiness. Why should he ever
groan?
Some people seem to think that the
work of saving and hauling manure
costs more than it is worth. That de-
ponds upon the aforesaid people. This
expense will be at minimum if the
work is done at time when they are not
rushed with other work. Upon level
| fields there is no time when it is unwise
to spread the stable deposits. Just now
| is a good time to find the original soil in
| the barnyard.
To prevent rust, in a pound of melted
lard dissolve half an ounce Of camphor
and mix in as much graphite as will
give it an iron color. Smear the tools
with this mixture. and rub them off
with cloth the next day. Another
good preventive coating is made from
mixture of lard and resin, in about the
proportion of one to two.
The simplest. and probably the best,
way for most farmers and breeders is to
prepare the barnyard as receptacle for
the manure by scooping out portion of
it saucer shape and making it water
tight. If the manure is here collected
as made and receives no water but that
which falls from the clouds, there will
be little loss of fertility. The cost will
be trifie in comparison with the saw
ing.
1t has been estimated that there is
enough first rate wheat land, at present
unoccupied, in the single State of Texas
to produce all the wheat now grown in
the United States. 1t is also asserted
that if that State we're peopled as
thickly as some of our Atlantic border
States it would hold all the present in
habitants of the American Union.
North America is not quite land bound
yet.
STOCK.
One advantage in regularity in feed