The National tribune., 1895-06-27
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
No Market for Horse Meat.

Plus horses IN Europe, where they would be
used as food, but the Department. of Agri-
culture, after investigations in the probaDili-
ties of market for horse flesh in France,
Germany, and Austria, the only countries in
which II seems to be used for food reports
that there is no prospect of such a market to
any extent. Over 100000 horses were killed
in France last year for food purposes, but
the statistics show that while in 1891 %
900 pounds Of horse meat were imported
into the country, that amount decreased in
succeeding years until in 1894 there was
none imported; showing that the domestic
supply Of animals Was sufficient for the de-
mand. Then, the prices paid for the meat
were not large. They ranged from i've 20
six cents pound, while for pork 10 to If
cents pound was paid for beef III to l48
cents, and for mutton IA to Is cents. Be
sides this, a duty of Sale per 100 pounds is
imposed The same condition Of things
practically exists in Germany and Austria,
which impose q tariff Of 81. Is and 81. 81, re-
spectively, upon each 100 poaads OF horse
meat. It will hardly prove profitable to
grow horses for the Hash.
Our Fruits In China.
The United States Consul ut Hong Kong,
w. z. Hunt, has written the State Depart
ment concerning the market fer American
fruit in China He thinks those who antici-
patsd much from it will be disappointed,
although more might be done By having
American firms on the ground. American
interests and exporters are placed at q dis
advantage in comparison with Europeans,
owing to the absence of American firms, not
only at Hong Kong but in the open ports of
China. Although the European and Ameri-
can communities in Hong Kong are luxurious
in their habits, it is not generally known
how small they are. Out of an estimated
population of 100000 there are under the
head Of Europeans, including Portuguese,
4,195. Deducting the mixed race Of Portu-
guese, numbering 2,059, as they are too poor
to indulge in luxuries, there are only 2,106
to be considered as possible purchasers.
Apples exported from the United States
in the Spring arrive in damaged condition,
on account of tho climate. Fruit importa-
ton into Hong Kong from the United States
has to compete with pears and grapes from
Tien-Tsin and CheGoa via Shanghai 20 days
voyage; pineapples, punches, oranges,
lungngan and lichee from Canton, Swallow,
and Annoy lone to three days voyage);
mangoes from Manila and Annoy (Lhree to
five days VOYAGE; cocosnuts, pumeloes,
and mangosteens from Saigon, Bangkok,
and Singapore (three TO six days VOYAGE
raisins from the Levant, Turkey and the
Holy Land three weeks voysge). Canned
fruits come to Hong Kong chiefly from Eng
land, little from Australia Of late years,
and very largely from the United States.
Lime and Its Effects.
Lime is applied TO the soil to the best adj
vantage in the late Summer or Fall. It's ten.
dency is downward, hence it is advisable
to simply broadcast it over the surface OF
land that has been plowed, and slow the
rains to carry it down. The best results
from lime are obtained when piece of sod
land is turned under the lime and green
material making combination superior
to either alone. Lime cannot take the place
of commercial fertilizers, but it is so cheap
and easily obtained ID should be used freely
on all farms, and upon both clay and sandy
soils, owing to its chemical and mechanical
effect on land. It is also plant food, enter
ing into the structure of all plants, and ex-
lists to certain extent 10 every kind Of soil,
but it is partly deficient on sandy soils
upon which no application of lima has been
made, if such soils have been used for the
production of crops for several years, espe-
cially if the soils are porous and easily
leached.
Lime as it comes from limestone is car
Donate of lime until burned, when ths
carbonic acid is driven off, leaving the
caustic lime (oxids of calcium. In this
condition it has an affinity for moisture, COM
binng with water to form hydrste of lime,
which is termed Stacking" the lime falling
to pieces as fine powder 1t also absorbs
moisture (but more slowly from the air,
which is known as "air Stacking" 1t still
possesses an affinity for carbonic acid, the
preference being to return to its original con-
dition of carbonate of lime. In other words,
after the limestone is burned the lime de-
rived from it sooner or later becomes lims-
stone again, but in more divided condition.
1t is the effort on the part of lime to return
to its original condition as a carbonate which
induces it to derive carbOnic acid from any
and all sources, and in SO doing it breaks up
the combinations of other substances in the
soil, and causes the building up or formation
of new compounds by the disintegration of
others, the chemical action being such that
many insoluble substances are rendered
soluble and greater supply of plant food is
supplied to crops.
When lime is used on land that has
grown green crop, and which has been re-
Gently turned under, the lime Immediately
induces chemical action, especially with the
amount of vegetable matter in a
or green condition, forming numer-
Gus salts, and thus fastening decomposition.
The action of lime on green material is too
varied to enter into details, as the character
istics of the soil and its fertility are factors
to be considered, but it is profitable to all
farmers who grow green manurial crops to
apply lime, and il may also be added that
where clover or grass crops are to be seeded
down this Fall or next Spring lime is aspec-
ial fertilizer, and always gives excellent re-
suits, but should be followed by other fer
as lime of itself is not a complete
plant food.
To Prevent Gapes.
The little chicks are now being Matched
by hens, and q much larger number OF them
would be raised but for gapes. 1t is not an
easy matter to cure gapes, owing to having
to handle the chicks, but gapes can be pre-
vented To do so do not keep young chicks
On ground that has been used as runs by hens.
Select a clean place and scatter air-slaeked
lime over il plentifully. 1t will destroy the
sources of cape worms and also purify the
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