The National tribune., 1895-10-24
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers


IN the months of July, August, and Septem-
Der, when the supply at home and from
other countries is not so plentiful The
| quality of the average cheese from the
| United States is not up to that Of Canada
or New Zealand. 1t is complained of the
cheeses from the United States that they
| are not entirely covered with eheese-eloth,
rs are those from the other two countries
above mentioned. The United States
cheeses, when kept for any length of tins.
are apt TO get dirty and mitey, which hurts
their appearance and sale very much. II
they were completely covered the cloths,
when pulled off, would leave a nice, clean
skin. This would also help to keep their
weight better, as the loss in weight with
keeping is generally heavy.
The great trouble with the market for
American cheese in Glasgow is in the lack
Of quality Of the offerings and the unre-
liability of the exporters. The consump-
ton of cheese per capita in Scotland is per-
haps more than four times that of the
United States. 1t is one of the most COM
mon articles of food among all classes, and
Our Consul at Leith says that the supply
of butter in this district comes from numer-
Gus sources in addition to that which is OBJ
tanned from the home producers. Denmark.
Germany (Keil), Holland, and iceland all
contribute. In recent years the import Of
butter from the Australian Colonies has
been rapidly increasing. The favor with
which Australian butter has been received
Is due IN a great measure to the splendid
manner In which it is packed for transporter
ton. The butter from the United States
does not command prices equal 10 those OBJ
tanned for the home or for the continental or
colonial product. There are considerable
quantities Of butter imported from the
United States, but it has to be sold at lower
figures than that coming from any other
quarter. The butter imported from tina
United States, as a rule, Is inferior in
quality. The better quality is eeasing TO
be sent here, and the lower quality is being
slowly superseded by the use Of margarine.
The best butter is furnished by Denmark.
A very prominent dealer in dairy products
at Leith gives ii a. bis opinion that the de-
mand for butter from the United States will
cease to be of any importance unless Tsdi-
cal change be speedily effected both in the
quality sent here and in the style of market
ing. He states that butter should be packed
in lighter cases or boxes, and he cOmmends
the Australian style as a mod i.
At Bradford, England, our Consul reports
that there is no longer q sale for American
butter, the former market having been de-
stroyed by the unevenness of the quality.
American cheese is declared to be uniformly
inferior TO Canadian. The same report. as
to butter comes from Tuustall. SOuthamp-
fOp iu 1fod ell vpft
Australia, which is cheaper than the Ameri-
can. The Provision Trade Association of
Liverpool complains of large quantities
of bogus or filled American cheese, and
recommends that its export be absolutely
prohibited and greater care be expended in
the manufacture of the best, so as to equal
the Canadian in quality. These reports are
very valuable as showing the opinion in
which our dairy products are held abroad,
and the requirements of the trade.
Feeding Fowls.
After series of experiments the New
York Station has arrived at the following
Two lots of laying hens, of large and small
breeds respectively, having their grain food
only dry and whole, ate more food at greater
cost per fowl and for the live weight than
did two similar lots having about 81 per
cent. of their grain ground and mOistened.
A pen of LeghOrns which had for the year
81 per cent. OF their food ground and moist
ened grain, produced eggs at greater profit
than did an exactly similar pen red whole
grain.
OF two like pens of Cochins, the one fed
whole grain produced eggs at much less cost
than did the pen having ground grain, which
result IS attributed partly to the exercise
assured in feeding whole grain.
With the kinds of whole grain ordinarily
available it is not possible to feed largely
grain ration having as narrow a nutritive
ratio-that is, containing as large q proper
ti0n Of the nitr0genOus food constituents, as
is perhaps necessary for best results from
laying hens.
BY using some of the highly heterogeneous
by-products such az eottonseed meal. pea
meal, gluten feed, etc, with ground grain,
it is possible to feed y somewhat narrow
ration without feeding an excessive amounts
of meat.
With hens fed similar rations, when the
hens of smaller breeds give only the same
egg yield as the hens of larger breeds. the
eggs are more cheaply produced by the
smaller hens. but taking into consie Grafton
The cost of raising and the ultimate poultry
value of the hens, the profits will be equally
or more favorable for the larger hens.
Feathers and Their Uses.
Many people neglect to save the feathers
,f their poultry, thinking them of but litSls
value. Such persons will be surprised as
he following uses to which they are put.
The quilts from the second and third Joints
If the wing Of the turkey are used for max
ng feather busters. Large quilts of both
reese and turkeys are used for feather bone.
Dry chicken feathers are used for cushions,
md the feathers from the large Pekin and
4 lesbury ducks are mixed with those of
reese. Feathers are also valuable as fertil-
GERS, and will pay for the saving Feathers
or market should be clean and free from
,lood. Any oS the commission merchants
will receive them on consignment.
Sulphur to Destroy Scab and Rot.
Prof B. D. Halsted, of the New Jersey Ex.
'eriment Station, has published bulletin,
howing the good effects of flowers ofsulphur
o prevent scab in the common white potato
nd to prevent soil rot on sweet potatoes.
] pom one plot of ground sulphur was used
t the rate of 800 pounds per acre. The
rcshly-cut seed was rolled in the sulphur
nd the balance of the sulphur sprinkled in
pen rows. Adjoining plots in the field had
VeTything In common with the above, ex-
ept the addition of the sulphur. Where
he sulphur was used the potatoes came out
4 fine shape, large and practically free from
cab, while elsewhere in the field they were
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