The National tribune., 1896-02-06
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
Cntworms in Ks ,fucky.

IN that State He states that last year the
damage GOle by this pest amounted to over
100000 IN Kentucky alone. Some ways Of
getting rid Of the worms are suggested.
After calling attention to the fact that the
moths deposit their eggs upon grass and
weeds, late in the Fall, he says early Fall
piowing prevents them from LAYING eggs
upon the grass, weeds and the like. turned
under. Farmers have often observed that
ground plowed in the Fall is never bothered
with this worm like that pIOwed in the Spring
They have usually, he thinks. believed these
eggs were in the ground and freezing had
much to do with killing them out. This is
not the case, but does cause starvation more
or less among those Matched from eggs de-
posted before the blowing took place.
Again, it is suggested that burning over the
land before blowing in the Winter or Sprin0
will destroy many of the eggs on the grass
and weeds
Also, poisoned punches of clover. OF any
plant that these worms feed upon, placed in
many different parts Of the field Immediately
after seed IS planted, will destroy most of the
WORMS IN the soil before the plants come I'D.
For garden plants cylinders of thick brown
paper or tin six or eight inches high slipped
over the plant at night and taken off in the
morning will prevent the worm from doing
any damage.
Prof Garman refers to the bluebird and
other birds as the enemy of this worm, and
calls upon the farmers to look to their own
interests by having laws passed to prevent
the destruction of such birds
Cabbage.
The cabbage requires deep, rich soil and
thorough working. Iftbese requirements are
met and good seed planted there is no difficulty
in obtaining fine, solid heads For early use,
the plants should be planted in a h0tbed or
cold frame, but seed for Wintercabbage should
be sown in a seed bed early in the Spring.
Some gardeners prefer to grow plants for early
Spring cabbage IN q frame in the Autumn.
protecting them with boards or mating dur
ing the Winter, but without good care plants
saved in this way often prove q loss. In a
mild climate plants may not only be started
in Autumn, but transplanted and will make
considerable growth during the Winter sea-
son. Some varieties seem to do best If the
seed is sown in the hills where they are to
remain, and this is particularly the case with
the Marblehead varieties. Sow two or three
seeds where each plant is desired and pull up
all but the strongest.
Gluten Products.
As there is considerable confusion in the
minds of many concerning the difference be-
tween the products of gluten, it may be stated
that gluten meal is the substance left floating
ON the troughs after the starch has settled at
the bottom. It is fine meal, yellOwish
brown in color and resembles high grade Of
cottonseed meal Gluten feed, with WHICH
the meal is so often eonfounded, consists OF
the bran or hull of the kernel and the germ
mixed in with the meal.
Both the meal and the feed have high
value as cattle foods The feed, which is the
less concentrated article, is regarded as hav-
ing nearly the same value as a feeding stuff
as good wheat bran. Gluten meal is more
concentrated, less bulky, and therefore more
dangerous to feed in liberal quantities. 1t
contains half rs much again of protein as the
feed, and is to be placed next below oil meal
in the list Of highly nitFogenOus foods. 1t is
safer to feed in quantity than either cotton
seed or linseed meal, and can be used where
the cottOnseed meal cannot.
The amounts which may be fed vary with
the animal, but in ordinary feeding it is not
wise to give as much IS four pounds of gluten
meal to a cow, for the large amount of protein
and fat is apt to cause digestive troubles and
throw the animal off her feed. Another
strong objection to very free use of gluten
meal is it's tendency to cause soft and oily
butter, resembling oil-meal in this respect.
This difficulty may be overcome by feeding
q small amount of eottOnseed meal.
Gluten meal and feed may also be used to
advantage IN feeding sheep and swine, being
particularly excellent for forcing young pigs
and lambs. When the feed is preferred it is
often cheaper to buy the meal and mix it
with wheat bran or something of that nature
on the farm The fertihzing value of these
foods, though distinctly inferi1%~to that of
cottonseed or oil meal, is still considerable.
sprouting Prevented.
How to keep potatoes and prevent them
from sprouting is an important matter, as it
will largely influence the supply next Spring.
A French experimenter keeps the potatoes
for "a hours in a mixture of two quarts of
sulphuric acid in u gallons of water, then
dries them. Another method is to dust each
layer of potatoes with lime when they are
put in the bin The cheapest and best
method is to expose the potatoes to the fumes
of burning sulphur, in a close chamber or box.
for half an hour. Such potatoes are not
suitable for seed, however.
Cleaning the PIow.
Buy from drug. store four ounces of
sulphuric acid and pour it carefully into a
pint of water. Do not spill a drop of it on
the flesh or clothing. as it will burn like
fire. Cork the bottle tightly. When ready
to use, pour q little ON the rusty surface, and
let it soak in; when dry, give another coat.
If the pillow is very rusty, three or four
applications may be required SeOur off with
fine sand and water. Rub dry with cloth.
Rub over the steel a mixture of crude
petroleum and lard, equal parts. Set plOw
upon board floor in barn, free from rain or
snow. pillow thus treated will scouT bright
after round or two, and with good team,
the furrow will turn over without break.
When the pillow is being cleaned is proper
time to examine the nuts and bolts to see
that they are all screwed up, and that the
threads of bolts are not 50 much worn rs to
work loose.
Manure for Early Vegetables.
Only eompOsted manure should be used to
grow early vegetables While the air and
soil are cold manure in small quantities, does
not ferment at ALL OF course while it is uU-
fermented it has no plant food to give off, and
it's sole benefit to the soil is to tighten it and
make it dryer and warmer. There are many
who grow early vegetables who claim that
nitrate of soda, in which available nitrogen is
always ready for use, is enough better and