Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1891 — AGRICULTURAL TOPICS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AGRICULTURAL TOPICS.

A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR OUR RURAL READERS. Some Suggestions for the Farmer, Kann'iman, Housewife. Beekeeper, Poulterer, Gardener, and Every One Connected With the Farm. THE FARM. Worn Out Pastures.

THERE is under my care a large pasture lot which is in a sadly rundown condition, i. In one corner is a \ running spring \ stream, and a few Ishade trees scatjputered about. '"The /land has a favor/able exposure and IjK could be easily worked, if that was desired. But I don’t want to eulgs tivate it. It is just St the place fora Pers'" manent pasture, ,> and that is what it is wanted for. It

would bo an excellent pasture now, but it lacks grass. An examination shows enough of several good grasses well scattered over the field to fully stock it, if they could only be induced to thrive and spread. There is white clover and sweet vernal, and what I call blue joint or Virginia blue grass (Poa compressa), and some of the festucas, all in fair quantity for a start. But as a whole, the field does not support one cow well, where it ought to carry five. The question how to restore this old pasture, while continuing to®use it as such; has been fully canvassed, and I have decided what to try. It evidently needs an addition to its supply, and mainly its surface supply, of plant food. For years its fertilizing elements have been carried off, day by day, in the form of flesh and milk, and nothing returned. Aly judgmentis that this is not a case of one-sided exhaustion, but of general poverty. A good top-dressing of stable manure would probably bo the best possible application, but all our manure is needed elsewhere. Shall I buy and apply chemical fertilizers? That would undoubtedly be beneficial, perhaps secure all desired results, but it would be expensive. I think 1 have an equally effective and more economical plan'.' Something must be bought to do this work, and instead of buying*fertilizers I shall buy feed. Tire field will bo overstocked yvlth cows, nearly twice as many as it can keep in good order on pasturage alone, and to these a few shoep will bo added. All these animals will be kept on the pasture, night and day and the cows milked there, and all will be fed a good ration of grain till taken to winter quarters. I shall feed liberally of cot-ton-seed meal and wheat bran, or sometimes middlings. I would be glad to use cotton-seed meal alone. But during most of the season equal weights of cottonseed an bran can bo safely used, and the rest of the time equal parts of the three feeding stuffs named. This has been written as if all in the future, but really the course of treatment, for pasture and cattle, has already begun, and I have full faith in the satisfactory result. The mixture costs just about one cent a pound as feed, and it is used at the rate of five pounds per day for every cow weighing 1,000 pounds, other animals in proportion.

According to the numerous excellent tables prepared for our guidance in such matters, the manorial value of the mixture is nearly sl7 a ton. That is, with chemical fertilizers at their present market rates, the plant food contained in one ton each of cotton-seed meal, wheat bran and middlings is worth just about SSO if applied directly to the land. Fed to animals as described, at least four-fifths of its manurial value reaches the land. Then the pasture gets S4O worth of manure, very well distributed, for every S6O worth (three tons) of the feed used. This is stated in a theoretical way. But it is not mere theory, it is fact! The facts are scientifically (which means truthfully) obtained for us at our experiment stations, and we can depend upon them. The difference between the cost of this grain food and the value of the manure from it is S2O for every three tons, or three pounds for a cent. I must get about two cents in food value daily for every cow fed, and as the result of this feeding, in order to cover the deficit. But it is plain enough that the grainfeeding gives much better return than this so there is actual profit in the operation, quite independent of the betterment of the pasture. Nitrogen and phosphoric acid are the two elements of fertility, which are thus especially returned to the land, in what I regard as a safe, sure, ecomieal ’manner. There is also some restoration of potash, but probably not enough, and in time this will have to be added in a more direct form, as by application of wood ashes or potash salts. But for the present I am well satisfied that what Is wanted is secured with more certainty, that more is obtained for the dollar disbursed, and that the land receives Its needed manuring in better form by this purchase and use of feeding stuffs than If a like expenditure were made directly for fertilizers.— American Cultivator.

THE STOCK BANCII. ■ Feeding Horses. “The sole purpose for which horses kept,” says Professor Sanborn, “is for tlte production of force and work. This sets the horse apart from other domestic animals in special features of feeding and care. His ratio of stomach to body and intestines is also unique, and calls again for special consideration. His stomach holds only some three and a half gallons, while his intestines are very large. The horse, however, seems to be specialized for the peculiar purpose of speed. “The horse sells for some fifteen cents a pound, while the steer sells for but two or three cents. Is the difference one of food cost, that is, does the horse require in food for 1,000 pounce in growth an amount in ratio to the difference in cost more than does the steer? He certainly does not, although it costs some more, and unless there is a great difference in other directions Is a much more valuable market for food than the steer. “German experiments have shown that of very coarse foods the horse digests somewhat less than the steer, but this difference seems to he confined to coarse foods. E. W. Stewart gives us an account of feeding three colts, whose gain was ib round numbers two pounds daily.

which was as economically made as that of steers.

“Boussingault. of France, fed several colts on weighed rations. Three weighing 1,100 pounds, ate 19.8 pounds of hay and seven pounds of oats. This was in the equivalent of hay 2.0 per eent. of live weight daily, and gave a growth of 1.2 pounds daily, as good as an equal amount of hay would make on steers. I made some trials with four horses and mules last winter, which led me to believe that maintenance for a horse is slightly more than that for a steer of equal weight. The horse will not make as effective use of course foods as will the steer by probably from 4 to 11 per cent. It will make, probably, as good use of grain and very digestible foods as the steer. These foods cost something more per pound of digestible matter than dees hay, so that it is probable that horse flesh costs slightly more than steer flesh, yet not enough more to cut any figure when the relative values of the growths are considered.”

Live Stock Notes. Stock shelters should not be crowded, but one giving room to scrubs is by that much too large. The useful animal for any purpose must be built on a good frame of bone and muscle, and carbonaceous foods alone, such as straw and corn, will not make that frame. The best assimilated food is that which the appetite craves. The best feeding keeps the animal in such health that it, at all times, has a brisk appetite. The general farmer must be a man of genius if he can make as much profit without, as with cattle. On his farm he will of necessity produce much rough feed lhat hogs will not consume; that cannot be fed with profit to horses; and .a part of which, at least, can be fed to cattle to better advantage than it can be fed to sheep. It is consistent with science and practice both, that to grind the feed for all kinds of live stock Is an economy equal to fully one-quarter of the feed. That dehorning is a reform and one that ought to bo generally adopted/ and on the side of humanity 1 am thoroughly convinced.—Waldo F. Brown.

THE HOUSEHOLD. A Dictionary Holder, A dictionary is a heavy book to lift, and one that if left on the table occupies a deal of space and is apt to have other things placed upon it. That it is a book which should have its place in every family has been said over and over; also that the children should be taught to use it often. A practical “dictionary holder” that has been in use for many years in a family, where the worn cover of the book bears a strong though silent testimony to its constant use, is illustrated herewith.

It is made of an inch-thick, well-sea-soned board, 13 by 15 inches. It is supported by two iron brackets, such as are sold at any hardware store. The brackets are screwed both to the board and the wall, making all very secure. The cover is of dark-red felt. The lambrequin is ornamented with a vine embroidered in crewels. The stems and leaves are shaded green silk.and the star-shaped flowers tn Yellow. The edge of the lambrequin is finished with a fringe made by cutting felt into narrow strips for a depth of three inches. To make this holder perfect, there should'be a law as unchangeable as those of the Medes and Persians, that under no circumstances should anything but the dictionary be placed there— Country Gentleman.

THE APIARY. Thoroughly Ripened Honey a Confectionery. For the benefit of our young readers who delight in making candy, we give the following, which appeared in a late issue of the Canadian Bee Journal. Doubtless the same result could be obtained if the honey was placed in shallow tins in an oven kept at a moderate heat.. A correspondent writes: At our home we have had a coal stove burning for over two months without interruption, keeping the temperature high, consequently very dry. Near this stove is a pantry with only a lath and plastered wall between. In the pantry was a large fruit dish containing honey. The dish had been setting on the shelf next the wall for about a week, and when it was brought out the spoon was resting on the top, which was tough and had a glossy appearance. When pressed with a spoon it seemed like a paper covering. We scratched a hole in it to ascertain the depth, and found it to be between one-quarter and one-half of an inch. When placed on paper it looked like soft wax, and one would hardly believe that honey, by a hot dry atmosphere, would evaporate its moisture and become so thick. We thought this a good opportunity to test the difference in quality and flavor; taking some of the honey from a sixty-pound tin and comparing it in texture, color and flavor with this better ripened, it did not seem the same. The contents of the tin was specially selected, and we considered it as good as could be produced; but tests go to prove that the honey in the dish was so much superior that any one comparing them would not hesitate to give two or three cents a pound more for it. We do not know how much loss there would be 4n evaporating honey to that extent; but we suppose the loss to be from 10 to 20 per cent. We believe this class of honey would find a market at a price sufficient to warrant the experiment. It would be necessary to place it on very shallow vessels, and subject it to a very low temperature that the color might not be changed. We fancy a room properly arranged, with coils of steam pipes to raise the temperature to a desirable height, at the same time allowing a current of air to passthrough, would soon reduce our ordinary honey to the consistency of jelly. It could then be placed in tumblers, or any kind of vessel; Id fact, paper bags could be man-

ufactured of a size and shape suitable to hold it, and sold in 5, 10, 15, and 20 cent packages. It might even be sold by the penny worth, which would increase its consumption.

THE PELTRY YARD. Thoroughbred Foul try for Farion. Many farmers think the raising of thoroughbred poultry is too small a business to merit their attention. It is all well enough to raise thoroughbred horses, cattle, sheep and swine, or at least to improve or grade common stock by the use of thoroughbred sires, bub the idea of doing that in so small a matter as poultry is laughed at. Let us apply a few figures to the subject, and see how they look. If the common scrub fowls weigh from four, to six pounds it is thought pretty good, for' many of them weigh much less. The, standard weight of a Plymouth Rock cock is nine pounds eight ounces, andl the Plymouth Rock hen is eight pounds. Now, is it not money in a person’s pocket to take a flock of fowls to market that will average four pounds apiece more than the scrub will? Here is a difference. of forty-eight pounds in the dozen. With chickens worth 8 cents a pound there is. a difference of $3.84 cents on the dozen. Certainly there is again here, but this cannot be had without the best of stock. If the ’objection is raised “breeders place too high a price on their stock, ,r we will meet this. If you are going to raise chicks for the general market, what you want is weight and symmetry, not fancy points. If you can obtain a thoroughbred Plymouth Rock cock you can grade your flock. Write to some reliable breeder and tell him what you want, and ask him what ho can furnish you and at what price. We did so once, and were informed that one which would please us would be sent for #3, and that if it had a standard comb it could bo sold for $lO. We sent for it. When ton months' old it weighed nine pounds. Selecting twelve of the largest hens from ono flock wo made our first “pen” for graded Plymouth Rock. ’ The results were very satisfactory, and there was money in It. At two years old he weighed eleven pounds, and got us many line birds. Change cocks after the second year, and you will soon have a flock that for market purposes will be almost standard.

If you are situated so that it pays you bettor to raise eggs rather than broiler* or fowls for the market, the sameeourso pursued will bring you good returns for the investment In a thoroughbred cock of some of the laying breeds. If you think you can afford to invest in a small flock of liens or a few dozen eggs for sitting, you will improve your flock faster. The average scrub hen will not lay over six dozen eggs a year, while any thoroughbred fowl will lay at least eight dozen in a year, and some of them will lay sixteen dozen in a year, sueh as the Leghorn class of fowls, but we will take the average of this class and say that she will only lay twelve dozen a year; this i* just double the amount that the scrub, hen produces, and as it takes no more to keep tills class of fowls, the profit is certainly with them. With a thoroughbred Leghorn cock and a little care in selecting neat, trii»t pullets from your flock you can soon, have half and three-fourths blood Leghorn fowls, that will give you good service as layers. If you are skeptical as to results, try this matter of grading your poultry flock on our guarantee that you will be pleased.— Farm, Field and SUwkr man.

THE GAKUkN. Red Rasp berry Culture. Experience lias taught me that, as a rule, the plants are set too close and allowed to form a matted row. I prefer to set five feet apart each way and cultivate each v'ay with a shallow, sharp cultivator, to prevent suckers forming. Allow only from three to four stalks to a hill; cultivate until the fruit forms, and do not cultivate again til) the picking is done; then cut out and burn the old stalks, and cultivate and dean out thoroughly. Never cut back the now growth while growing; trimming while growing causes laterals to form and makes late fruit buds, which often wlnter-kilL Laterals are liable to be broken by tho snow and Ice. I have tried this methodi with great success. Defer top-trimming until winter or spring. Avoid cultivating late in tbo fall, which 16 liable to make a lategrowth and winter-kill. It is well to* mulch In the winter with straw or coarsomanure. lam of the opinion that it. will be well to sow to oats in allowing it to remain as mulch to prevent winter and spring killing.

Manurmg the Grape. The Government committee in France,, after several years’ investigation of the* manuring of the grape, and the result, of a series of experiments with potash, manures, report strongly against nitrogenous manures, including stable manure, as being “more hurtful than useful,” which accords with common practice, also that feeble grape vines consume as much manure as vigorous vinesL. Potash should enter into the composition of manure for grape vines, the elements In the soli being generally in bach condition for assimilation; potash carriesforward, In some way, with it the other fertilizing principles. ( Potash from the root passes to thevine, to the leaves, then to the twigs, to. arrive at last at the fruit, of which it. favors the development. Its migration, is comparable to those of the nitrogenized elements of phosphates. The potash introduced through the. root In the course of a season is not entirely consumed, since it is found afterfructification, reserved in sufficient quantity in the wood and in the twigs.— Hural Mensenfjer. Garden Notes. Whatever tends to promote the general health and thrift of the tree willl also free both tree and fruit from blight, and scab. Good drainage will aid in accomplishing this, so will more open, planting of trees, which allows more sunshine among the branches—the great vitalizer and giver of life. There is no market anywhere for half-grown potatoes. Growers injure the markets, themselves and neighbors, by consigning such goods. There are good markets everywhere for properly matured or full-grown stock, and growers should not waste their products in themanner indicated. The farmer who bas a neat and wellkept garden is almost sure to have a. neat and well-kept farm, tidy out-build-ings, stock in good condition, and general thrift all about the premises. Andi the housewife who takes pride in hergarden generally has a home to taker pride in and to be proud of. The devil is a gentleman and will get up aaA go it he is told.— Hani Jom»

SHELF FOR DICTIONARY.