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NESBITT’S TALK TO THE FARMERS Monthly Letter of the Commis sioner of Agriculture. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS DISCUSSED Cotton Not the Only Crop That Will Suffer a Result of the Long Drouth—The Bowin; Small Gruliao* Grave*, FStc., Vnavoldably Delayed—The Advantage* of Fall Plowing. Department of Agbicut.ture, Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 1, IS9G. FALL CROPS. The conseqnences of the long drouth are not confined to the cotton crop. The land has been in such parched condition, that no preparation for the usual fall crops could be made. The small grains, grasses, clovers, which should have been prepared for in August and early Sep tember, and sown in the latter month, have been unavoidably delayed, and unless the seasons are unusually favor able from the present date the farmer will be disappointed in his seeding of these fall crops. We should not, how ever, be discouraged, but take advant age of every available opportunity, and put in as large areas of these necessary crops, as circumstances will admit. Don’t make the mistake, because time is pressing, of too hurried preparation «nd seeding. An acre well prepared and fertilized, will be worth several times as much as a far larger area sown in the old time, careless method. FALL PLOWING. The cotton fields being cleared so much earlier than usual, will give farmers the opportunity, so rare in cotton lands, of testing the value of fall plowing. Last fall we turned over with a 2-horse plow several acres of stiff land on which there was a heavy growth of vegetable matter, leaving the furrows flush, that they might get the full effects of the air, the frosts and the rains. Could those who doubt the advantages of fall plow ing, have followed each successive steu in the management of the crops grown on these acres, they would no longer urge objections to the plan. From the outset, when the spring preparations began, this land, was easier to manure. During the time of preparation when other fields became too hard to plow, these were still managable, and all dur ing the cultivation of the crop, it has been much easier to keep the mulch of finely pulverized soil on these, than on less favored spots. Today, although these crops have suffered iu common with every other green thing, from the effects of the protracted dry spell, the yield is superior and the plants in better condition than elsewhere. On all heavy lands and lands underlaid with a stiff clay subsoil, fall plowing is above value. •The greatest need in our section for the successful production of crops, is a suf ficient supply of moisture during the long hot months, when the usual sum mer drouth prevails. And there is no more certain method of supplying this moisture on demand, than by storing it up in the subsoil. If fall plowing is properly done, the subsoil being loosened so as to receive and absorb the winter rains, we form a reservoir underneath the immediate surface. When the hot, dry weather of summer begins, tho moisture gradually ascends—and, when it comes in reach of the thirsty roots, it is immediately absorbed by them, and goes to nourish the drooping plants. Let a farmer make the experiment with a small patch of land, and mark the dif ference between the plowed and the un plowed plats, even in the winter months. Where the land is left hard, when the winter rains fall, the water, instead of sinking into the land, penetrates only the surface and when it runs off, which it will inevitably do, it often carries with it much of the surface soil, in many cases fertilized at heavy expense. Let him mark that on the deeply plowed plat, we have the double advantage of retaining both the water and the pre cious elements of fertility. Another ad vantage of fall plowing is that a man and a mule will accomplish more satis factory and more thorough work in the pleasant fall weather, than when the busy days of spring come. There is time to do the work carefullv and com pletely, no crops are pressing fqr atten tion, and each furrow can be most ef fectively run. Another fact which makes fall plowing most important is that every acre of such land contains in its subsoil an amount of phosphoric acid and potash, which is more than sufficient to supply the needs of any crops that may be grown on them for an indefinite number of years—but in their present condition these elements are not available. It has been proven over and over again that when these unavailable elements are brought to the surface and exposed to the action of the air, the frosts and the rains, they are <a>Tiverted into available plant food. It seems folly for a farmer to run up such heavv bills with the fertilizer merchants, when by putting his plow in deep and bringing to the surface a small portion of these heretofore unappropriated elements, he can each year supply his crops with some portion of the necessary plant food, as well as hold the moisture for further 'use. The prairie lands of Mississippi were a* one time thought to be almost inexhaustable, but there are acres and acres iu that state from which the rich top soil has been ruthlessly skimmed— and now that the hard subsoil has been reached, the farmers, instead of breaking this and releasing the stores of plant food confined there, are turniug to com mercial fertilizers to supplement the thin layer of top soil which remains. And this is but a repetition of the agri cultural history of our older southern states. Georgia farmers are just begin ning a thorough investigation of this im portant question, and each year we see new converts added to the list of those who make fall plowing a study and a success. As before mentioned, we have an unusually favorable opportunity this year for testing this question. Cotten picking will doubtless be over early in this month and labor will ue abundant and cheap. The fields, which are us ually occupied until the last month of the year, now offer no hindrance to ex perimentation on this line. Let us give a few of these hardrun acres a chance to recuperate their wasted stores We would rejoice to see every farmer in the state try it, if only a half acre on this plaj. and rej» it n suit' at this ffi .. Put the plow in deep and bring a little of the subsoil to the surface. If there Is a etating o* vegetable matter, don’t turn it entirely under; leave the furrows at an angle of about 45 degrees. D m’t I bring up a largo quantity of the sub soil and leave it flat on the surface, there to harden and bake. The plan is to go gradually deeper and deeper each year—bring up a small quantity of the subsoil to the surface, leaving it there for the forces of nature to complete the work of disintegration and decomposi tion. On sandy lands this plan is not admissable; they require different treat ment It is only on heavy clay lands, or those having stiff clay subsoils, that the full benefits of fall plowing may be realized. Don’t leave the sweet and Irish POTATOES in the fields until the tops killed by frost. In a measure the keeping qual ities of the potatoes are injured, and moreover, after the first frost, we are ’ apt to have rains, which prevent tho saving of the potatoes in a perfectly dry state, an absolute necessity, if we would preserve them successfully through the winter months. It is also important that they be kept dry. If the straw, ‘ earth, or other covering becomes damp, it shoul I be removed and dry material : substituted. FEEDING FOR MANURE AND FOR BEEF. In the Inquiries for tins month is one I of great importance and interest, as to the merits and costs of different foods in producing manure, fat and flesh. The study of these questions indicates an advance in our system of agricul ture, and those who inquire into and investigate this subject will discover that our methods have been ill advised and wasteful, and that for a given amount of food judiciously used, we can produce a much more profitable re turn in both meat and manure than has heretofore been customary. THE COTTON TIE TRUST is also inquired into by a farmer who wishes to know the history and cause of the re cent fight made against the “combine,” which has forced up tlio price of ties beyond all reasonable limits. We have replied at length in order to show the farmers how they have been fleeced, and to put them on guard against a repetition of the same tactics another year. The “trust” has made several hundred thousand dollars out of the farmers, which prompt and united effort could have prevented. R. T. Nesbitt, Commissioner. CONDITION OF CROPS. Continued Drouth Injures Cotton—The Corn Crop Likely to lie Short. COTTON. Condition worse than at last report on account of drouth through September. With reasonably fair weather the crop will be entirely gathered by the middle of October. A full estimate of the yield would be 60 per cent of an aver age crop for this state, and from seven to seven and a half millions for the en tire erdb. The price should bo, and I think will be, higher. CORN. This crop is injured more than was supposed a month ago, and in some por tions of the state the supply will be short. I therefore urge upon those farmers who know they will be short of stock feed, to save everything possible in the way of forage, viz: pea vines, ground poa vines and hay of any kind. And also to plant rye patches and early oats, that by these means they may sup plement their corn crops and be saved from buying corn and fodder. In most of the counties in this state there is a sufficient supply of corn made. FALL CROPS. Such as potatoes, sugar cane, peas, sorghum, etc., have been injured seri ously, particularly the three first. Sor ghum has turned out fairly well; while the grinding showed a lack of juice, the long drouth had eliminated nearly all the water from the sap and very little boiling was required to convert it into syrup. Sweet potatoes, peas and cane will be shorter than for many years past; indeed in many places these crops might be called a total failure. WHEAT AND OATS. A large acreage should be planted in these grains this fall. The early gath ering of the cotton crop will enable those so disposed to prepare thoroughly and plant with care, a larger crop than usual, of these two important cereals, one or both of which should be planted on every farm in the state. STOCK. The condition of stock continues good, and doubtless there will be more hogs killed this winter than for many years past. -This is as it should be. Our farmers should never relax their efforts to make their farms self supporting; then, and then only, will they be truly independent. Harvestlrg Upland Rico. Question. —I have a half acre in up land rice, which is very fine. When will it be at the proper stage to harvest, and how should it be gathered. Answer.—The proper stage for har vesting is when you find the straw turn ing yellow and the grains well filled cut in the heads. You can cut with a reap hook, tie in bundles at once, and hang on poles held up by props at the ends, or yen can cut and lay upon the stubble to dry, after which it can be put in small stacks. Should you hang on poles, a week's exposure will be suffi cient, and you can then house until ready for threshing. Don’t bind in bundles when the dew is on the straw.— State Agricultural Department. Value of Coal Ashes. Question. —I have a quantity of coal ashes which I do not like to throw away if there is any value hi them, either as a fertilizer or as a mulch. Can you tell me if they are valuable for either purpose? Answer. —Coal ashes may contain a slight quantity of phosphoric acid, but if so, the amount is so small as to be of no practical value. The ashes may be used to improve the mechanical condi tion of very heavy soils, which contain vegetable matter. They are also of use as an absorbent, and may be placed around fruit trees with advantage. In all cases they should be fine aud dry ?nd sifted.—State Agricultural Depart uieLi. ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES Commissioner Nesbitt’s Ques tion Box For the Month. THE HPTT WIRE COTTON TIE Certificates From Compress Companies Who It Is Far Superior to the Old Flat Tie The Fertilizing: Properties In a Ton of Cottonseed—How to Destroy “Leaf Folder.*’ Question. —What has become of the wire cotton tie, in which we as farmers should be much interested? We have heard nothing of them recently, and suppose from this that you have becu j unable to secure »i substitute that would ; answer all the purposes of the fiat tie. I We as farmers would like to know, if ; we will be compelled to submit to the i imposition of the cott on tie trust another year. Answer.—Owing to the rapidity with which the crop has been gathered, and ; also to the fact that most merchants and ginners had already purchased a supply of the flat ties, it has been im possible to introduce the wire tie gen erally this season. The first ones tried did not give entire satisfaction, but you ! will see from the following certificates, j that the improved Hitt wire tie, double strand and patent buckle, is not only a substitute, but is considered superior to ' the flat tie iu many respects. A bunch , of these weighs 50 lbs. and costs §l.lO .at present prices. The flat ties weigh 45 lbs. to the bunch and cost $1.35. We ' trust that farmers will read these cer tificates and investigate the merits of these new ties. Any questions ad dressed to the Department of Agricult ure, Atlanta, will be cheerfully an swered. The Brunswick compress, where the ties were tried, is one of the largest in | the south. The certificate speaks iu no uncertain tones as to the superiority of i the wire tie. The ties wiil be on exhi | bition at the Agricultural Department, and we would be glad to have farmers : come iu aud examine them. The two ; additional certificates are from two dis ; ferent compress companies in Albany, Ga. * Brunswick, Ga., Sept. 23. j To Whom It May Concern: I lam now handling cotton upon which : Hitt’s wire tie and patent buckle has been used, and having had 25 years’ of ! experience in stevedoring and compress- I ing will say that I can highly recom- I mend the Hitt device to the public as i being in every way far superior to the flat bands and,buckles heretofore used. First. It is cheaper, hence the planter gets a benefit. Second. Wire bauds will not break and can be tied just as quickly as tho flat ones, hence the compress people are benefited. Third. Wire bands can be tied tighter than flat bauds, which means a greater density, and as there will be no broken bands the cotton arrives at destination in much better condition than if it had been compressed with flat bands thereon, hence the shippers are benefited in two ways: first, by lower ocean rates on ac count of increased density, and secondly by having cotton reach destination in better condition than if pressed with ■ flat bands. Fourth. There are no sharp ends of ; bands to cut the hands of laborers when handling cotton compressed with the Hitt device, hence the stevedores will prefer wire bands upon cotton. Fifth. Underwriters should make a reduction in insurance rates on cotton with wire bands upon it, and no doubt they will when they are generally used, las in case of fire wire bands will stand j more than double the heat of flat bands ' without breaking, hence a great deal more cotton will be saved in bales than if it wore in the loose condition, as loose cotton burns very rapidly. Respectfully, A. F. Churchill, President The Brunswick Terminal Co. Brunswick, Ga., Sept. 24. Hon. R. T. Nesbitt, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga: Dear Sir—l forgot to mention in my letter of yesterday to you that I have had considerable experience in the use of wire bauds upon cotton. I have used them in the past when doubling cotton . (putting two bales together) under great pressure in our Brunswick compress. Necessity compelled me to use wire, as the flat bauds would uot hold doubled bales. Wire bauds will not cut the bagging of cotton bales when two bales are pressed into one, let alone upon single pressed bales. I have proven this fact from practical experience, and I make this statement without fear of con tradiction. Furthermore the tensile strength of wire is far more than tensile strength of flat bands, hence there will not be any broken bands or bursted bales when tied with wire, which must certainly be a benefit to everybody who is interested. I cannot discover any disadvantage in the use of the Hitt device, but, vice versa, it has an advantage over the flat band in every particular. Very respectfully yours, A. F. Churchill, President The Brunswick Terminal Co. Albany. Ga., Sept. 24. To Whom It May Concern: In a trial of the “Hitt bale tie” at our compress we find it altogether availa ble for compress requirements. It secures the bale at the density to which the press reduces it fully as well as the baud tie. Respectfully, Albany Compress Co., H. Nott Parker, Sec’y. aud Treas. Albany, Ga., Sept. 24. Dear Sir—After having tried the Hitt bale tie I find the strength of the tie and its method of buckling entirely effective. Yours truly, Albany Cotton Compress, J. R. Whiteread, Manager. Orders for these ties in car load lots), ax-tlres-x-J. to Jaiaes A. FanuJL mill Broadway, N. Y., will meat with prompt I response.—State Agricultural Depart- • meat. Planting; Onions. Question. —I have an acre of Rood hammock land now in peas. I wish to plant this land in onions as soon as the peas are taken off. After broadcasting well rotted stable manure over the ground, will it require any com mercial fertilizer? If so what kind and how much? What variety of onion seeds would you advise? How many seed will it require? Where can I get reliable seed? Answer. Your land should be deeply broken and harrowed and re-harrowed until the soil is thoroughly pulverized. This careful preparation, in addition to heavy manuring, is essential to the suc cessful raising of onions. In addition to a liberal applic ition of well rotted stable manure, you will find it advan tageous to add at least 500 L4sss of cotton seed meal, and 500 lbs of ktfinit, half of which should be broadcasted, and half applied in the drill. The onion likes a heavy dose of nitrogen, and is also fond of potash and salt, both of which it will get from the kainit. In your latitude (below Savannah), to i.ave early onions on the market you should sow the seed in a seed bed, from Sept. Ist to Sept. 15th. When the young plants are 3or 4 inches high, transplant them, taking care to retain all the root fibres if pos sible; set out in rows 18 inches apart and 4 to 5 inches in the row. This should bo done immediately after a rain to insure the plants from dying. In transplanting press the small bulbs firmly into the ground. The Bermuda or the Italian varieties are best to plant from the seed, in this latitude. Five : pounds of seed should furnish enough I plants for an acre, and good seed can be | obtained from any of the leading seed i growers, such as Landreth, Buist or ! Henderson. Don’t fail to have your | laud rich and well prepared if you wish : for success. The causes of most of the failures in onion culture, and indeed in all truck growing, have been poor prep aration of the soil, or insufficient man uring, or both. —State Agricultural De partment. Bulky Portions <»f a Fertilizer. Question. The question is often : asked, “What are the other ingredients ! of a fertilizer, not included in theana'y- ! sis as published, and may not the pure materials given in the analysis be pur chased alone, and a great saving in freight be made.” Answer.—This question, so often asked by farmers, is so well answered by the North Carolina Experiment Sta tion that I give their answer. “Take for an example a fertilizer with 9.6 i per cent available phosphoric acid, 2.39 per cent ammonia, and 3.05 percent potash. Tnese three added together only make 15.08 out of 100 parts. Os what is the remaining 84 9 3 per cent composed of? ! The following table answers this ques- ■ tion: Moisture 16.39 parts per 109 i Available Phosphoric Acid 9.61 I Insoluble 1.63 “ »“ “ | Nitrogen (in the Ammo- nia) 1.97 “ “ •• Potash 3.05 •* “ “ Volatile and Organic Matter 30.00 “ “ “ Sulphate of Lime 15.00 “ “ “ Lime (Combined with Phosphoric Acid) 11.00 “ “ “ Silica 3 00 “ “ “ Chemical Salts 5 0) “ “ “ Miscellaneous 3.36 “ “ “ Total 100.00 “ “ “ “The above represents an ammoniated fertilizer. The moisture and organic matter are necessary to accompany the material furnishing the nitrogen (or am monia). Nitrogen is a gas and must be held in combination, and considerable bulk is necessary, depending on the kind of material used. Lime must be present combined with phosphoric acid, and sul phate of lime is derived from the union of sulphuric acid added to the phosphate of lime to make it more soluble. The chemical salts are generally combined with the potash. The silica is found with the phosphate. “Au acid phosphate is made up of phosphoric acid, combined with sulphate of lime (the largest constituent), neces sarily present as explained above, mois tive, and miscellaneous. ” —State Agri cultural Department. Strawberries vs. Potash. Question. —I planted an acre of straw bery plants last spring on a freshly cleared up piece of ground. The dry year has retarded the growth of the plants very materially, except where I had burnt the trash heaps in clearing up. On these spots the plants are as vigorous as in a favorable season. Did ! the potash in the ashes cause the vigor ous growth ? What percent of potash ‘ is there in ashes from burnt tan bark ? i What would be their commercial value per ton ? Answer.—The potash in the ashes ! undoubtedly caused the fine growth of the strawberry plants, which being ren dered more vigorous than those not on the ash piles, sent their roots deeper and ' farther in search of food and moisture, and so when drouth came they were in better condition to retain their vigor, and resist the effects of dry weather. There is usually from 3 to 8 per cent of potash in the ashes from burnt tan bark (of course I mean un spent bark), and they are worth from $4 to $8 per ton, according to their purity and freedom from sand and other foreign substances. I will give you another reason for the plants growing as you describe. When you burned the trash heaps, the heat killed all the seeds of grass and weeds in the ground under the fire, and when your strawberry plants were set out their growth was , never retarded by gruss and weeds, as 1 perhaps the others bad been. —State ricultural Department. 1 Sowing: Wheat. Question. —How deep should wheat be covered to produce the best crop? Some of my neighbors argue in favor of shallow and some of deep covering. Which is considered the best, a bearded or a beardless wheat? Answer. Many experiments have been made to find out the proper depth to plant wheat, and it has been demon strated that from 3 to 3U' inches is the depth to insure the largest yield. Some prefer the beardless and others prefer the bearded wheat. I think the bearded varieties suit our soil and climate best, but are not the most popular in this state.—State Agricultural Department. To Prevent a Cow From Sucking Herself. Question. —Do you know any way to prevent a cow from sucking herself? Answer.—Many plans have been sug gested to put a stop to this bad habit that some cows have. The best plan I have heard of is this, viz: put a pair of straight hames on the cow’s neck, just in front of the shoulders, and another pair just back of her horns. Nail to these two pairs of hames, two stout strips of wood on each side of her neck. This will effectually prevent her from sucking herself, and will not prevent her grazing. An animal addicted to this habit had better be fattened and ! butchered for beef, for in all probability whenever you remove the side bars you will find the habit as strong as ever.— State Agricultural Department. Planting Cabbages. Question. —I am preparing to plant I several acres of land in winter cabbages for northern markets. The land is fair, | sandy loam, with good, red clay subsoil. I Now tell me what is the best commer- I cial fertilizer I can use, how much ought : I to use per acre, where can I get it and I 5, hat will it cost me cash? j Answer.—Cabbages are very gross 1 feeders and need a fertilizer rich in all the elements of plant food. Well rotted stable manure is the best fertilizer for cabbages, as indeed it is for almost all plants. In the absence, however, of stable manure, commercial fertilizers are used very successfully, You want a mixture carrying 7 to 8 per cent of i nitrogen, 6 to 7 per cent of potash and 7 ! to 8 per cent of available phosphoric acid. You should use 1,500 to 2,000 pounds to the acre, broadcasted, and from 400 to 500 pounds in the drill. You can get such a fertilizer put up by a,ny of the guano factories, and it will cost you in the neighborhood of S4O a ton. Don’t forget to tear that clay sub soil all to pieces, if you want to make fine cabbages.—State Agricultural De partment. Fertilizing Properties of Cottonseed. Question. —I have a quantity of cot tonseed, for which I am offered $7.00 ■ per ton. Will it pay me to accept that ; price, or are the seed more valuable to ! the farm as a fertilizer? Please tell me I the fertilizing properties in a ton of seed j and their value. | Answer.—l have always I to convince the farmers of Georgia that it would not pay them to sell their cot tonseed at $7.00 per ton (lO'o cents a bushel)? The haul of the seed must be counted against the farmer, and cannot be estimated at less than SI.OO per ton, leaving him $6.00 per ton—or less than 9 cents per bushel. As meal is selling for about SIB.OO per ton, you will be giving three tons of seed for one of meal. Let us compare the value of three tons of seed to a ton of meal, in fertilizing properties: Phospho- Pot- Nitrogcn. ric Aci.l. ash. lbs. lbs. lbs. In a ton of whole seed. 61.4 20.4 33.4 In three tons 184.2 61.2 70.2 Phospho- Pot- Nitrogen. ric Acid. ash. lbs. lbs. lbs. In a ton of C. S. Meal. 141.6 56. 36. Thus you see that the three tons of seed contain of nitrogen 42.6 pounds, of I phosphoric acid 5.2 pounds, and of pot ash 34.2 pounds, more than the ton of cottonseed meal, worth in the aggregate $6.40. When you sell your seed do not do it for less than 15 cents per bushel or SIO.OO per ton, for when you sell for less you are simply giving away valuable fertilizing material, and not only giving it away, but furnishing a team and hauling it to the purchaser yourself. In the above calculation no value has been given to the mech: uical effect of the whole seed when used as a fertilizer, though every farmer knows that in use ing the whole seed he adds considerable humus to the soil, and renders stiff clay soils more friable and easier of cultiva tion.—State Agricultural Department. To Destroy the “Leaf Folder.” Question. —I have a number of vines that are affeeted with “Leaf Folder. ” What will prevent them, and will they do much damage to vines this late in the season? I also have some vines af fected in a manner that I do not under stand. I send you. some sample leaves. Is it not the “Rose Chafer?” What shall I do to remedy the matter? Answer. —The best method of des troying the “Leaf Folder” is to crush them suddenly within the leaf with both hands. To prevent their appear ance, however, is less troublesome, pro vided the neighboring grape growers unite in the effort. The chrysalis is formed within the folds of the leaf, and by going over the vineyard in the autumn, before the leaves fall, and care fully picking and destroying all those that are folded and crumpled the sup ply for the following year will be cut off. This remedy, though very effect ive, will avail but little unless all in a neighborhood unite in it. I do not think the “Leaf Folder” will injure your vines this late in the season (Sept, 10), but you should take steps to reduce their numbers for another year. The leaves sent are injured by the “Grape Leaf Hopper,” and not by the “Rose Chafer.” The former attack the thin leaved varieties of grapes in preference to those with thicker leaves, like the Concord, etc. They fasten their beaks in the leaves and suck the juices, until at length the leaves become sickly, yel low and prematurely dry, giving the vine the appearance it should have at the approach of winter. The most promising remedy yet discovered is to dust the leaves with pyrethrum (insect powder), or tobacco dust, in the early life of the “Leaf Hopper,” before they have acquired wings. Millions of them may be destroyed by this means. After they acquire wings there is no remedy yet known that has much effect upon them.—State Agricultural Department. Chickens Suffering From Roup. Question. —Can you tell me the dis ease, and give mo a remedy for my sick chickens, several of which are affected as follows: A thick offensive discharge from the nose, heads swollen, the eyes often closed, great weakness and con stant thirst? Answer.—Your chickens are suffer ing from roup, which is very fatal un less promt measures of relief are taken. The sick fowls should at once be re moved from the flock, and placed in dry, warm quarters. Warm, soft food in which a teaspoonful of sulphur for a dozen fowls, has been mixed, should be given them. A little cayenne pepper or powdered ginger should also be mixed with the food, three times a day. Wash the head and nostrils with suds, and then with weak alum water several times daily. Syringe the nos trils and throat daily with a solution of one part of chloride of soda to two of water. Should they show no improve ment under this treatment, you had bet ter kill, and bury or burn them. It is easier to prevent roup, than to cure it. Warm, dry shelters in bad weather, fresh, pure water to drink, cleanly and nutritious food, no crowd ing together in large flocks, and active measures kept up to prevent lice and filth, will insure your chickens not only against roup, but also against many other diseases to which poultry are sub ject.—State Agricultural Department. Hice us Stock Feed. Question. —I have a field of upland rice, that has a very fine growth of n stalk. It is now heading out, and as the V heads appear, they dry up the stalk. ■ Can you tell me why this is? Should I 1 cut the rice now, what kind of stock feed would it make? Answer. —Not knowing all the au ditions, relating to the soil, rainfall, it is difficult to given satisfactory ■ swer to the first question. It is poM ble that the soil is so dry. that fi e phlfl can advance no farther toward - riched with .fertilizer noWproperly bal anced, and hs giWwth it has ex hausted the plat necessary to . make the grain, and has so come to a stand still. By all means cut it for stock feed, as both mules and cattle will eat it greed ily. If the heads have not filled at all, it will make fine long forage, and if the heads are partly filled it-will be of course that much better. St-.te Agricultural Department. Marc Troubled With Urticaria* Question. —I have a pony mare 10 or 11 years old. She has hail something like itch for 3or 4 years. First appears as itch, then in hard whelks; has been getting worse every summer; almost disappears in the winter. There is no eruption. She seems perfectly well and hearty otherwise. Can you tell me what is the matter and give me a remedy? Answer. —Your horse is troubled with urticaria, an itching skin trouble, duo usually to high feeding, with insufficient exercise. It is neither dangerous nor contagious. Give her 6 drachms of Barbadoes aloes, made into a pill; reduce her feed, give her more work, and the disease should soon disappear.—State Agricultural Department. To Remove Warts. 1 ■ Question. —I own a fine col years old, that has a large wark on its hind leg, on the knee joint. 1 cut it off once and applied pulverized bluestone, but it lias grown out agaiif. The colt is a valuable one, and I would like to know how to get rid of the wart. It is as large as a man’s fist. Answer.—Cut off wart again and ap ply acetic acid daily until cured. You should have no trouble in removing it permanently by this means. It is al ways best to remove warts before they grow so large, as the operation then would, be less painful, and a cure more- THI easily effected. —State Agricultural De- M partment. Losses In Manure. An English chemist points out the " fact that in every ten gallons of urine there will be found as much nitrogen as is contained in 7 pounds nitrate of soda, 34 pounds of bonemeal or 127 pounds of white turnips. This ptrfa in a com prehensive way the loss that occurs when liquid manure is permitted to drain or soak away. A farmer would certainly not throw away a bag of ~ ground bone. Yet he may thoughtlessly lose more than enough liquid manure to pay for the bone. By the use of ab- Borbcuts he may save a 1 of the urine, including the water, or by using plaster he may let the water go and save only the nitrogen. In any case it is just as much a mistake to let the liquid manure escape as it would be to throw a ton of fertilizer in<-“ the brook —Exchange. .