The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-12-15

rule, has the same effect in the diet
of domestic animals as bran, oil.meal
and other laxatives. The provender,
however, is effective in only mild
degree, as a rule, in laxative proper
ties. On the other hand, ripe hay,
straw and corn fodder to degree have
the opposite qualities, tending to con-
stipation.
In putting up the hay, many farm
ers make it rule to neutralize the ex-
treme tendencies in their hay by lib
eral quantities of salt distributed in
i curing. Ordinarily the watchful
+ 4er provides liberal supply of salt
and wood ashes mixed, or, in the alb
sence of wood, the ashes Of corn cobs
are used. This condiment is regard
ed as eficacious in maintaining an
equilibrium in digestion. At the
present time, very copious rains have
revived the grazing. Lime should
also be furnished as part of the con-
diment for the grazing animals.
One who provides ensilage or good
supply of roots will have little trouble
in regulating the digestion of domes-
tic animals after a rule of diet has
been established by preliminary ex-
periments.
The skillful feeder will be able to
regulate the diet of the animals by q
judicious mixture Of the grains and
forage, requiring only a limited
amount of bone nutriment in the way
of mineral condiments. In the case
of oats that are ripe, mixture of an
equal bulk of wheat bran is at times
desirable where the hay or straw is
over-ripe. .-.. ..
Economy in the use of food may be
exercised according as the weather is
| mild or severe. The amount of grain
may be diminished with mild weather,
but must on. the other hand be in
creased with a change to severe
weather. In the case of animals fat
tening to finish, it is better they
should be fed slightly less than they
will eat, than to be furnished an over
supply. The same suggestion applies
to all feeding, but there is little dan
ger, as rule, of the average feeder
exceeding the proper limit in the case
of young stock.
The young things that are weaned
about this time of the season will need
very especial care. Where their grain
food has been gradually increased be-
| fore they were taken from their dams,
there will be little trouble. Where
sudden removals have been made, it
is well, if possible, that the youngsters
should be furnished cows milk diluted
with water, along with grain rations,
for few weeks, gradually diminish
| ing the amount of milk. When one
has a good number of young things, it
is well to furnish them warm cooked
food at least once a day. The same
suggestion applies to milch COWS.
When the ice gathers, water should
be warmed for all the stock.
Vigilant care will have abundant re-
ward. Farm. Field and Fireside.
Farm and Garden Notes.
Keep the wagon well creased.
Burn up the brush on the place.
Keep the fodder tied up close to the
husking.
Cut and burn all weeds before the
seeds shell out.
Success in farming depends much
upon preventing waste. ... ..
Better get the turnips and mangles
harvested without delay.
Grain feeding of COWS in summer
helps the fertility of the soil.
Every grain bag ought to be marked
in plain letters with ink or paint.
Fresh .top-dressing of pastures is an
insult to stock if it is turned on them.
Wheat cannot sprout we'll in lumpy
soil. Pulverize and roll the wheatland
well.
A new variety not suitable to your
soil and climate is worse than an old,
inferior variety that is.
It is a waste of land to give it only
half the cultivation it needs; it is q
waste Of time to spend it half-doing a
thing.
"Mary had little lamb" and her
father sold it, but the money he got
for it did not pay for the injustice he
did the child.
If you use poles for running beans,
will it not pay to pull them as soon as
the beans are harvested, and store
them under cover?
What do you think of the plan of
drawing in some of the fodder and
stacking it before finishing the husk-
ing? Would it not be good plan?
Are the hay-rake, mower and loader
in the meadow? If 80 we suggest that
you harness the team, 60 and get
them, and put them under cover some.
where.
If the corn you intend to cut as fod-
der gets caught with a light frost all
hands turn out as early in the morning
as practical and cut as much as posi-
BILE before the sun cooks it, beginning
with that in the low places.
Nothing is better established in
agriculture than the value of a proper
rotation of crops. Donot raise crop
of corn or crop of wheat five, ten or
fifteen years in succession on the same
piece of land, and then wonder why
you set small yield.
If you find it hard to get the manure
out in time to plow the fields, take it
out as often as O load accumulates, if