The National tribune., 1896-04-09
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
Eesd far summer nron,h..

There are crops that can be grown to take
the place Of pasture grass, and at the sams
time serve to eiesr the ground of weeds 10
IS not to be expected, however, where che
land Is compelled to produce two or mors
crops, that IL can do so unaided, for thai
would be impossible, unless the soil were
very rien; yet there is way of growing
large amount Of green food, and feeding il
at the barn while the pasture is being re-
neWed. It Is Important TO keep stock off
the pasturs lsAd when the grass begins to
faii; yet the COWS must be provided for.
and with green food, as they will not thrive
during the summer if compelled to subsiss
on hay, fodder, and grain entirely. Green
and suceuient foods are essential to the
thrift OF the animals, promoting digestion.
preventing bowel diseases, and increasing
the flow Of milk, as well az protecting
against the heat Of Summer. For cows The
oroadeasting of cats and peas, to DO moved
as wanted, and fed to the cows in the barn
yard, will provide an excellent substitute
for pasture srasa, such food being assisted
by hay and grain. Il win permit of rcssana
the pasture land. Later in the season Hum
garIan gracs may be sown on the same Land.
As 1t Is qulek-growing crop, providing q
cutting every four or five weeks, and of slfFi.
Gent growth for hay, it will more readily
provide green feed that is wanted daily. and
1t Will continue to produce green food until
u goes TO scsd or Is overtaken by frost.
This mode OF feeding Is styled 'soilinx.S
and applies TO tie practice Of growing green
food and carrying it TO the stock instead of
turning the stock on the green food. 10
also gives larger amount OF food, as a new
crop comes up On the space inst cut. thus
keeping up continual supply, while tins
manure saved IN the barnyari is an addi-
tional item. Labor, however, must not bs
overlooked, So more attention to stock win
be necessary, but the land will provide for
twice as many cattle az the same area in
pasture. Where crops are cut Frequently
the weeds are also moved down at the ssms
time, being thus destroyed and, aside from
this, any thiCkly-sown crop that maJees
rapid growth crowds the weeds ont. ia
piece OF land cen be cleared of weeds in this
manner, it will pay for the labor of soiIing
the stock IN regard to fertility, it must be-
rule to apply plenty Of manure or fertil-
lzers On land intended TO be used for the
purpose mentioned. In the meantime thers
IS gain IN another direction-the pasture
Wnile the cattlo are being soiled and the
weeds destroyed By the frequent mowings
OF green forage crops, the pasture will have
renewed itself Gnd become well fitted for
supplying green food the succeeding year.
which will enable it TO provide the cattls
with an abundance, which would not be
possible while being grazed and tramplsd
by the cattle from early Spring until late In
the Fall.
Storing Honey.
At the time the honey fow commences,
the broed-chsmbsr must be filed with
brood, with not to exceed five pounds Of
honey in it, and one pound would be far
better than more than Eve If il ia not
thus tilled with brood, the wise apiarist will
take out all the combs not thus filed, and
store them sway where the bees cannot
have access to them at this time of the
year; tor II they once commence to store
honey IN tho combs below to any consider
able extent thus early In the season. instead
OF going into tho sections, they viii begin
to crowd the queen by filing the empty
cells with honey TO greater or less extent,
thus removing the cells farther and farther
from the brood in the hive, resulting in
little honey IN the sections, and colony in
very poor condition for the Winter on &C
count Of the small number of bees left.
TO Salt Pork.
Allow the meat TO stand until the animal
heat is entirely out Of it; cut the sides iE4o
strips crossHiEe; cover the bottom of q bar
rel with salt, and pack in the pork closely
edgeWlse, with find next the barrel cover
each layer with salt and proceed in like
manner until Rll has been put in Make q
strong briRo sufficient to cover the pork
tsoft water Is b2st, and there is no danger
of getting 1t too SALTY, skim and pour into
the barrel while boiling hot Have board
cut out round, q little smaller than the
barrel, put over the pork and on it places
weight heavy enough to keep ID always
under the brine. If at any time the brine
froths or LOCKS red, il must be turned off,
scalded and returned while hot. Never put
cold brine on old pork unless you wish to
lose it. In sailing down q new supply of
pork boil down the old brine, remove the
scum and then pour it over the pork as di-
reeted.
Farm Notes.
The garden is never so rich that it will
not be benefited with more manure or fertil.
jzer. Keep it always up TO the highest de-
gree of fertility, snd begin the war on weeds
as soon as they begin to appear out of tho
ground. Never use poor seed in garden, as
you cannot afford 90 take the risk of failure
in termination, and as early vegetables
should be al object, every week is important
in the Spring, for the crops should get good
start before the dry season sets in.
1t is perhaps rs cheap to buy cottonseed
meal, to be applied directly to the soil, as to
purchase some fertilizers that are mixed
Cottonseed meal enters largely into the com
position of fertilizers intended for tobacco,
and if the hulIs sre also used the land will
receive potash, phosporic acid, and nitrogen
in fair proportion.