The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-09-26
AGRICULTURE.

look after tue matter OF irrigation In Ine
West. II capitalists take hold of the
thing there will be no end to the expense
to the farmer. Let those benefited pay in
the way of small taxes; this will be hard
upon no one, and the Government will
be fully remunerated.
Let those who have the responsibility
of getting the fodder into shape for the
winter bear in mind that frost is liable
to come at almost any time. At best.
there is to be an immense loss of food
because of failure to get it cured in good
season, and covered from the elements.
Summer following is of some value in
restoring worn or weedy land, but the
same result can be accomplished to
much better purpose by growing and
blowing under green crops. Soil is al
ways recuperating if we are not robbing
it; if we at the same time feed it 30 much
the better.
Agriculture and chemistry are so
closely allied that every person who at
tsmpts to practice the one should make
some study of the other This is what
our boys at the agricultural colleges are
doing, and there is no reason why the
farmer class should not be the most Gull
tured and enlightened of all men.
Very little can be done for the wheat
crop after it is started. The initial step
of preparing good bed is the all i'm
portant thing. If we would raise 80
bushels instead of Is. we must plant it
where it will grow best. Plow a month
or more before sowing time; harrow and
roll, harrow and roll, harrow and roll
keep it up.
We know now for certainty that a
great deal of the wheat rust is brought
upon our farms through seed. and the
spores of rust are held from year to
year. All such seed and all bought from
seedsmen should be subjected to the hot
water test, which is the only sure way
Of killing the rust.
We must learn to know cheat seeds;
and when they are in the seed we buy.
we should reject the whole. or have the
cheat sifted out. 1t is one of the worst
weeds which affect our fields. and until
it blossoms can hardly be told from
wheat as it grows. The idea is forever
exploded that wheat will turn into
cheat.
To unwind barbed wire, run bolt
through the reel, fasten the ends of two
thin straps to this, and make of them a
pair of shafts by which to roll the reel
behind you as you cross the field. This
will save an extra man, and will leave
the wire straight upon the ground. just
where you want it.
Upon the heavy four wheeled vehicles
used for hauling loads in France the
tires are seldom fewer than six inches
in width, aud the rear axle is about
fourteen inches longer than the other,
so that the hind wheels run about an
inch outside the track of the fore wheels.
Such wagons are regular road makers.
White clover seems to spring up spon-
taneously along thu roadside and in the
pastures, and it should be encouraged.
1t makes good pasture. Lot blue grass
be sown with it. While the mammoth
clover is best from which to get a catch.
white clover and blue grass are stayers.
Most believe that lumber is superior
to masonry or concrete for silos, because
it is a nonconductor OF heat or frost;
also, that small silos are better than
large ones, because less silage is exposed
to the atmosphere while using. This
depends. of course, upon the number of
stock fed, but good silo is about IL by
16 feet.
Have you a rivulet running through a
swampy piece of ground? Dam it and
make a pleasure ground. a valuable
place for fish, source Of ice for the
winters supply, and 80 beautify the
banks that it will be indeed an attrac-
ton upon the farm. Such an acre or
two may become the most valuable spot
on the place.
After garden crop or crop of clover
is off a field can be sown to buckwheat
in July. The soil needs to be but
medium in fertility. but the culture
should be good. If the ground is too
rich the grain does not fill well, and the
stalks take all the nutriment. 1t might
not be amiss to plan for patch next
summer.
Timothy is high in price, and is a
short crop over most of the country;
but an acre of corn fodder is worth two
of timothy, and it is encouraging to
know that we have thousands upon
thousands of acres of good fodder, which
will cost only the proper gathering of it
under cover where it will not be in
jured.
If for no other reason than to kill the
weeds, pillow in the fall; putting them
under the ground is pretty sure way of
eradicating them; and ground plowed
early will hold moisture better, for eva
poration will be materially retarded.
A good seed bed will be formed fir m and
clean.
STOCK.
The addition of salt to the ordinary
food of animals does not increase the di.
gestibility of the substances consumed