The National tribune., 1895-08-22
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
Feeaing TalIow to Dairy Cows.

that the composition OF The MIX depends
on the nature Of the COW, aud that any no.
ticed change in the fat or other components
of the milk is merely temporary one, due
to the unusual food.
Thus, linssed, cotton seed, rape, peanut,
eocoanut, palm and cleo oils and stearine
have been successfully fed to cows with no
increase in the yield of butter. Lately ID
has been claimed that dairy ration Of tai
low would increase the fat in the milk.
But Prof II. II. Wing obtained no such
result in two careful tests with ten differ.
ent cows of the Cornell herd, Of two breeds,
of various ages, in various periods Of lacta-
ton, extending over 10 weeks, for at least
six of which each COW ate and relished two
mixed with her ground grain.
Hence the feeding Of tallow to dairy cows
will not increase the yield of butter, neither
will it decrease the yield.
The Quality of Honey.
Honey is obtained by bees from the nectar
of flowers, and it's color, taste and character
are mainly dependent on the kind of flower
which the bees frequent. Every expert
enced bee-keeper soon learns to recognizes
the white and excellent honey obtained
from the white clover blossom. In loeali-
ties where there are numerous Eastwood
trees, very choice honey, but darker than
that from white clover, is made from their
blossoms.
1t is to many tastes preferable to the
lighter-colOred honey from the white clover
The bees do not visit different kinds OF
flowers on the same trip, nor are different
kinds of honey placed in the same cell.
Buckwheat honey is that made last in the
season, and it Is also the darkest 1t has
strong flavor, but some prefer il for eating
to the more delieately -favored kinds. But
as buekwheat honey does not sell so well ON
the market, it is usually left for the bees to
eat during the Winter.
Plants for North windows.
There are but few Towering plants which
succeed in a room with a northern aspect.
In undertaking to Winter over geraniums
and other bedding plants that have been
doing good service in the Summer, and are
wanted again for the next season, the attempt
will be a failure, as growing plants must
have sunshine for their development, par.
ticularly such as produce snowy flowers But
there are many evergreen plants that perfect
their growth during Summer and which can
be kept over Winter in room without sun
shine admirably.
In fact they do not, require il, they are
better without as they need rest, which they
do not get if kept too warm, and given
water frequently as all house plants are
supposed to need. Prominent in this class
are several species of palms. The latanias
and the arecas make splendid plants for the
Wi uHO rffa and lint IifSIa 0ar ar
attention. If at rest when taken into the
house, slight waterings, once q week, viii
keep them fresh and green
The same may be said of the fieus elastica.
Most of the ferns thrive admirably IN the
shade after they have perfected their fronds
The most beautiful of all ferns, adiantUm far
leyense, does best of any in the house. But
it should have perfected its growth in the
greenhouse first. The Chinese primroses do
well in a shaded place, if brought in from
a greenhouse when they first commence to
bloom.
For basket plant the saxifraga sarmen-
tosa is probably the best one possible for .
shaded situation. The tradeseantias do
fairly well in the shade, but will not be as
highly eolored as if grown in the sun. A
window furnished with two or three good
palms is far more beautiful than one COW
cred with sickly plants pining for sunshine.
Stock and Shelter.
Driving through the farming districts in
Autumn and seeing so many sheep, cattle
and other stock exposed to the inclement
weather, leads the observer to believe that
the kind hand of mercy is not always ex-
tended to the dumb brutes. Some farmers
think the animals are toughened to 1t. In
a measure that is true, but the expense of
this tougheniDg process is excessive. Fall
feed has not the lile-giTing properties in it
that the Summer growth has. Half the
days in the late Fall are truly inclement,
and many of them decidedly so, and much
of the time stock have their coats water
soaked. They are also obliged TO lie on cold,
wet ground, and during storms huddle to-
gether or crowd against rail or board fence.
All this is done and being done while at the
barn and sheds is an abundance Of unOc-
eupied stalls and shelter. Some farmers
think that soon as the stock are at the
barn they must be feeding them the gathered
crops. This is not so, and any farmer who
carefully shelters his stock from the cold
Autumn storms is adding to their weight,
preserving their health and lettering their
condition. This is accomplished without
feeding a single pound of fodder. There is
Also great SdIls1ACtIOn III kuOWlu2 IUdb bRo
dumb animals are safely and cozily sheltered.
This may be accomplished by simply dSiv-
ing the stock back and forth, or allowing
them free access to a friendly shelter. The
latter is eheaply and readily built in almost
any locality by the use of poles and boards,
Dr. roofing over an excavation in a hillside.
When the winds are piercing, even a tight
board fence will prove an excellent wind
break.
Fattening Hogs Early.
Fortunate is the farmer who mas soma
corn or other coarse grain left from last year
With which to begin the fattening Of his
pork. The grain will be much more effect
i've fed in small amounts while the hogs have
\ run at pasture, than it viii fed more large
" when the hogs are confined in the pen.
One of the best feeds for hogs in Summer is
peas. We know farmers who grow an acre
DR. two every year as feed for their hogs,
onIy harvesting each Fall enough to furnish
seed for next year.
The pea is better feed for hogs in the be-
ginning of fattening than corn is. 1t is O
better proportional ration for making
growth and frame, and for this reason it is
more easily digested. Any bighly-carbona-
.eous food, like corn, is hard to digest. and it
should never be fed exclusively. Ifa farmer
has not . patch of peas the next best suhssi-
ute is fine wheat middlings. These are
always cheap after harvest, and they will be
reedily eaten if mixed with water and
what milk can be spared. A very little
IN .-.:.L ,,,.JdI;r1o ,usII l-oar, koos