The National tribune., 1895-01-17
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions FOR Our
Agricultural Readers
Keep Capons Growing.


is dependent ON the rapidity of their growth.
They should be kept growing at all times
by giving plenty of feed, a carried bill of fare,
and clean and warm house. The faster
they grow the better the meat.
To Propagate currants.
Remove the cuttings fFom the vines every
time before the LIST of February, after tbs
leaf falls. Cut good. thrifty canes, this years
growth, from eight to ~ inches long.
Bury them the same as grape CUTTINGS
When currant-buds begin 20 swell in the
Spring set out the cuttings. Bury two or
three buds OF the cane in the soil and let
two or three more remain out. Transplant
when one year old, with the roots compare
lively deep, to prevent frOsts throwing them
out III cold weather. Set in good. rich soil
but not springy, for wet land will lift them
up, unless it is well drained. There are but
few plants that need more richness than
eurrants. / might have mentioned. in re-
gard 20 grapeyines, that they should be set
out shallow, as the roots grow comparatively
near the surface and need shallow culture.
Michigan Agricultural College.
The college IS extending its good work in
many directions THIS year a plan will be
put in operation by which it is hoped TO
furnish systematic course of reading on
subjects relating to agriculture.
While the course as planned recommends
progressive line of work, discussing. 6rst
the underlying principles of agriculture. and
later taking up special departments, yet il is
largely elective, and so flexible that person
Interested IN any branch of farming NAV
select books pertaining only to his chosen
line. For example, the class devoted to live
stock aims to give general knowledge OF
feeding, breeding and handling of horses.
cattle, sheep, and swine, and includes also a
book on dsirying. The course comprises
five classes, Soils and Crops, Live Stock,
Garden and Orchard, Home Making, and
Political Science.
The Secretary of this reading club is Dir.
+. B. Mumtord, OF the Michigan Agricultural
College, Mich.
Earlier Than HOMEGROWN.
Most of our farmers gather vegetable seed
from their own gardens without proper seIec-
ton, and the complaint Is often heard that
the varieties have deteriorated.
G.. G. ButZ, at the PENNSYLVANIA Station.
has through three years compared the re-
suits from Station-grown seeds with those
from seed purchased of reliable seedsmep.
The Station seeds were generally heavier
than the purchased seeds. The weight was
no indication OF the germinative value of the
seeds.
As earliness is q very important eonsidera-
ton with market gardeners, because Of the
better prices obtained for first fruits, it is OF
interest 10 know that plants from purchased
seeds yield earlier fruit than those from
homegrown seeds. Good seed can only be
grown on rich soil, and careful seed grower
will select the best fruits only. which urac-
tice tends to the improvement of varieties
rather than to their degeneration.
When to Market Poultry.
In a great majority of cases it is a safe
rule to market all farm products as soon as
they are fully ready, and poultry is no ex-
ception. We might go little farther and
say that, with poultry at least, it is a good
plan to market as soon as a price can be
realized that will give fair return of profit.
1t is often the case that with young poultry
a better price can be realized if they are in
a good condition when they are one-half or
grown than when fully ma
tured. Young chickens, and ducks espe-
cially, are often sold to a much better adj
vantage than to wait until matured. But
when raised especially for market il is only
in exceptional cases that it is best to feed
beyond maturity.
Feed and give such treatment as is essen
tiai to the securing of the best growth and
condition, and then, whenever a good price
can be realized, or when matured at least,
sell.
SkilIfuI Feeding.
J. W. Newton, in writing upon the above
subject in the Ohio Farmer recently, said
"Out OF 100 of the best dairymen report-
ing to the Wisconsin Station from "A States
and Canada, ga fed corn silage while only
So fed corn fodder and stalks; AZ fed mixed
hay, 81 fed timothy hay, and 40 fed clover
hay. Bran was fed by rs, cornmeal by AZ,
linseed- meal by 81, aforementioned by 35,
oats by 50, corn and cob-meal by IA and
barley by Is. These figures show what the
best dairy practice is, and gives every dairy
man a clue to the best methods of feeding.
The great need in most rations is more pro-
tein.
"A man has hay, corn fodder, or silage,
and sometimes with these eOrnmeal will be
fed Such ration lacks protein, and is not
we'll balanced. A well-balaneed ration
should not contain more than seven pounds
of digestible carbohydrates to each pound
of digestible protein. This last is supplied
by feeding clover hay, bran, oilmeal, and
Inc latter Is one OF tho
best on the list, but should not be fed to
animals under three years of age. In be-
ginning TO feed it to animals unaccustomed
to it, only a small quantity should be fed
at first, and the amount gradually increased,
but it is not best to feed more than two or
two and a half pounds per day, unless one is
used to feeding the meal
+" have fed three and four pounds with
out any apparent injury to old cows that
were used to eating it. Linseed-mesI is
much safer, but generally costs more; is not
rs rich in protein, and makes poorer butter
han cottonseed-meal. Linseed is far better
or young cattle. Bran is so badly adul-
.erated, and the price is held mp by the
niileTs in spite of the low price of wheat,
hat many will buy less than usual. Glover
nay is one of the best sources of protein, and
should be used in the Eastern States far
more than it is. The use of siIage and
clover hay materially lessons the cost of the
larry ration"
Peaches in Belgium.
The United States Consul at Liege, in his
asst report, says that the Kingdom of Belgi-
I'm, after supplying population of 500 to
he souare nita aYnOrta 103 0OO nm nounds