The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-03-21
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers

Inc wastes separated from wheat during
its cleaning and grinding for human food
may be made TO form q nutritious part Of
stock ratiORs Thus, in 81 samples of North
Dakota wheat, taken from Is widely-sepa-
rated grain elevator buildings, it was neces-
ssry to make an average dOckage of nearly
two pounds of screenings per bushel Al
these screenings are sold in the market for
s. to $l2 per ton, it would pay the farmer
to screen his wheat at home before selling.
and thus save the doekage
The experience OF feeders has shown
that it is . good stock food, and the
analysis Of the chemist, T. r. Ladd, shows
That NJ contains about One-seventh Of
albuminoids and tbrse-6ftas nitrogen-fres
extract. Some farmers are prohtably feed
ing the mill wastes which are thrown out
during the process of grinding into -four.
The draft of air forces out a heavy waste
and light. The light dust is one-twelfsh
alhuminoIds, and otherwise is as rich an
wheat screenings. The heavy waste Is one
fourth albuminOids and one-tenth fac. 80
that it would give the best results if fed with
coarse bran.
Cultivation OF the Cactus.
The cactus has always been popular among
lovers CT beautiful flowers, but Of late ifs
cultivation is becoming quite fad. The
low price at which propagat0r3 sell the more
common species aud the ease with which
they may be shipped make it very easy TO
gain large collection. The little care
which the culture requires, the monstrous
amount OF neglect which the pllats will
survive, and the small space which they
occupy when not IN bloom, renders cacti per
maps the most cheapiy and sasily-kept class
Of plants in the verdi And. then, they have
peculiar and characteristic charms.
About the Farm.
The warning to buy trees. vines and
shrubs from reliable nurseries only ia timely.
and II needed may save the grower much
loss The travelling tree agent, though in
many cases perfectly honest and selling good
trees, must Charge higher prices than the
nursery 10 cover his expenses.
There aTe no end of plaees-pieces OF
rough, rocky, uucultivated land IN the Mid
die States, which would yield Az abundant
crop Of native nuts. ButteFnus trees grow
well in such localities, and besides the annual
mt crop, the trees when they become old
are valuabls as timber.
Rhode Island Greetings though a very
old variety, continue in popular demand.
bringing good prices even in dull markets.
This Spring will be good time to plant an
orchard of this variety.
Do not hurry away animals from the
drinking trough. Give them time to drink.
Wood ashes should not be mixed with hen
droppIngs, as 1t may eause fermentation THAI
sets free the ammonia in the manure, the
most valuable element. Apply tho two
NEafu 4
pounds hen manure, 200 pounds muriats OF
potash, Tor three times that weight Of low
grade kainit, and $50 to 800 pounds of acid
phosphate. Sow broadcast and harrow in If
used literally, or put in the hill if only small
amount.
Grape Arb0rs.
In vineyard culture vines are often trained
10 stakes and el0se-pruned, often not more
than four or FIVE feet high. This method
has its conveniences for the vineyard, az il
allows the ground to be thoroughly cuItf-
waited both ways; but the vines are eramped
in growth, and the excess of root in proper
ton TO the vine predisposes it to disease.
The vines being low gives the leaves lesa
circulation of air about them For private
grounds much more room for each vine 10
and to get tina best results ID
should be trained over an aTbOr. The posts
should be OF durable wood so that when
,nce set the arbor need not soon be rebuilt.
The size Of the arb0r depends somewhat on
he kind Of grape to be grown on il but
wen the slow-growing varieties, like Della
ware, will I'LL large arbor in time. Where
there Is little room, as near the house, the
srbor may be made high rather than long.
No matter how high the arbor, the vine will
reach its top, and will there bear always
The choicest fruit. It viii be hard to I'll
he lower part of the trellis, even when it 10
exposed to the sunlight. If the lower trellis
s shaded, there is no use trying to grow fruits
here, and the shoots that put out should be
oinched out as fast as they appear But
'eally good trellis should have sunlight to
he ground most of the day, and should
bear fruit on its lower branches as well az
IN those at the top. This can only be done
y pinching back the top growth in Summer.
An Interesting Experiment.
Prof Dolbear, of Yale College, has been
making some interesting observations on the
feet OF electricity on plant growth. He
avs that electric light is intensely stimulate
Dg to plant growth. Plants kept in the
light from an electric arc not only grow as
n sunlight, but some grow much faster and
anger They produce chlorophyl in abuu-
lance; they reach out toward the source Of
he light and twist this way and that; they
ssimilste more potash, produce more albu-
ninoids and yield larger amount of ash.
These phenomena show that the physiology,
al quality of the electric arc light is the
anne as that of the sun. The light has
srge number Of violet rays, which are highly
timulating, and when employed directly
nd within 10 or IL feet sre apt to injnrs
10 plants, for the chemical processes ara
rged on faster than the plants can supply
M material