The Sunray Pine.— Here I found the pret¬ 
tiest specimen I have yet seen. It is rather 
flat-headed and about four feet across and in 
excellent vigor. It is the most beautifully 
and distinctly variegated-leaved of all conifers. 
I find that it dislikes an open exposure and 
full sunshine. 
Alcock’s Spruce. —No wonder the Rural 
thinks so highly of this Japanese conifer. Its 
specimen is a comely, vigorous tree and well 
branched from the ground up. But Alcock’s, 
like the Colorado Blue and some other spru¬ 
ces, differs a good deal in variety, and the 
Rural plant is one of the greenest. We have 
the same sort as the Rural’s, as well as forms 
much more silvery. But the poorest are 
good. 
“The Araucaria of the North” is what 
friend Trumpy, the originator, calls Picea ex- 
celsa, var. elata, which, in my opinion, is the 
handsomest of all varieties of the Norway 
Spruce. Left to itself, it becomes one of the 
most grotesque and ungainly of evergreen 
trees, partaking of the form of the variety 
called Monstrosa. But with a little timely 
pruning and regulating it becomes an admira¬ 
ble, well balanced specimen. The Rural’s 
plant has enjoyed unrestricted freedom. 
Cercidiphyllum Japonicum, a nice plant, 
stands upon the lawn. The Rural cannot 
see much beauty in this stranger. I like it 
very much. 
The Purple leaved Plum (Prunus Pis- 
sardii).—The specimen here is now in fruiting 
condition. It blooms beautifully in spring. 
Its foliage is dark purple, and unlike, the 
beech, oak, hazel and maple, its leaves get 
darker as the season advances. 
Geraniums (Pelargoniums).—Some years 
ago the Editor of the Rural got together 
all manner of geraniums, every kind he could 
get both at home and abroad, and devoted 
two years to cross-fertilizing and raising new 
varieties from them. At one time he had 
2,500 of his seedlings growing in his experi¬ 
ment grounds. And he frankly admits that 
not one of them was superior to sorts already, 
at that time, in cultivation. 
The Golden Oak (Quercus Concordia).— 
Here is the finest specimen of this beautiful 
Japanese tree that I know of in the country. 
We have some fine specimens at Dosoris, but 
the Rural oak is larger. Planters should 
not overlook this tree. Its leaves are yellow 
and they retain their golden hue well through 
the summer. 
farm (i crpks 
PAINTING. II. 
BY AN EXPERIENCED PAINTER. 
PRINCIPLES OF COLORING. 
I ellow the strongest and commonest primary 
color ; red next ; blue last; colors for out¬ 
side of buildings ; blue generally untaste¬ 
ful except in its modijications; endless 
combinations of the three primary colors 
with black and ivhite: three secondary 
colors ; no colors absolutely pure ; harmon¬ 
izing and contrasting shades. 
Volumes have been written merely on the 
principles of coloring by application of scien¬ 
tific rules, which can be worked out to a 
great length. No pei-son can commence 
painting, even in an ordinary way, on the 
outside or inside of a house, without first hav¬ 
ing some idea of colors. I will endeavor to 
lay down as briefly as possible a few of the 
principles governing colors and contrasts, 
which it will be necessary to remember 
through the rest of these chapters; not that 
I have any new principles to enunciate; but 
very old ones condensed down to a small 
space. 
Of all colors yellow stands first. It is the 
most enlivening, bringing out objects in 
stronger relief than any other color, objects 
being brought apparently nearer as the yel¬ 
low predominates. On account of this quality 
it is the color best fitted, in its various modi¬ 
fications, as a body for general outside paint¬ 
ing. No other color enters into so many var¬ 
ious compositions. We have yellow in all 
shades of green in all its various tints, also in 
drabs, buffs, oranges and most browns; even 
in the fine buildings of Philadelphia brick, 
there is a strong tinge of orange. Many 
kinds of stone have at least a tinge of yellow. 
Red is the next strongest color and enters 
largely into the ever-varying shades of 
browns, drabs, buffs, oranges and some green 
tints, and, like yellow, in a purer color is ap¬ 
plied to prominent parts, or small members 
of a building to bring them out distinctly and 
relieve the monotony of the ground color. 
Few people realize to what an extent these 
two colors enter into such a vast variety of 
tints as well as strong colors, especially for 
outside painting, modified, of course, in most 
instances by white or black, or both. 
Blue is the weakest of the three primary 
colei’s, and is retiring in its nature. For this 
reason it is least adapted to the outside of a 
building which requires to be painted in a 
way to give it prominence. It is owing to 
this principle that the taste is displeased at 
the sight of a house with much strong blue on 
the outside; yet how few people can tell why 
it is not pleasing. It is as much out of har¬ 
mony with the sense and with good taste for 
such a purpose as a jigging tune would be at 
a funeral, or a dirge at a dance. In spite of 
this, however, blue forms an important color 
even for outside painting, as it is combined in 
all greenish colors with yellow, and in some 
grays. Except in strong greens, it is usually 
more shades of the same color, lighter and 
darker, are used, and on some small members 
of the work deeper or strong contrasting color. 
Deep red looks well on such small members 
when the body and trimmings are of green, 
drab or brown. Orange also combines in 
small parts on greens, reds and browns. 
Another style of painting is by contrast, 
when, instead of using several shades of the 
same color, several different or compliment¬ 
ary colors are used, such as orange and green 
on the broad surfaces and dark brown trim 
ming. This fashion can be carried out with¬ 
out limit, but it requires more care in select¬ 
ing colors that are well balanced in their 
strength. 
(To be continued.) 
SA , .fa.-.■.■JMrC:. . 
MS-Sy-%. ; 
fifik 
St— 
PRINCESS LOUISE APPLE. From Nature. Fig. 2. 
tempered with red, and for dark greens, with 
black and yellow. In its purity, lightened 
with white, it makes a good ceiling color for 
porches and piazzas. 
Of the many thousands of shades which the 
three primary colors, with black and white, 
can produce I need say but little. There is no 
end to the combinations and effects, but it re¬ 
quires some natural talent and experience to 
bring out effective or delicate work, but witn 
ordinary taste and a little practice, aided by 
these hints as a ground-work, many persons 
can do good work. 
Of the three secondary colors only two are 
generally effective for outside painting—green 
and oraDge. Purple and indigo in which 
there is no yellow, are seldom used with effect 
on outside work; indeed the least inclination 
to a purple tibge seems offensive. Indian red 
mixed with white in any degree has a very 
sickly effect on account of its purplish hue. It 
must be understood that there are no colors 
fyoxtsman, 
CARE OF FARM TEAMS. 
Ten hours' * 1 labor a fair day's work for man 
or beast—five in the fore and five in the 
afternoon; a day's routine; good , com¬ 
mon-sense care , but no pampering. 
Following my criticism in a late Rural 
on an article on the care of farm horses,came 
the question, “Tell us bow you care for your 
own horses.” The question is a fair one and I 
will answer gladly. 
My theory is that a horse, like a man, is not 
injured by reasonable labor; that he should 
perform that labor when the business of the 
farm demands it, and, lastly, that the comfort 
of the family shall not be sacrificed to pam¬ 
per any animal on the premises. So much 
for theory; now for practice. 
PRINCESS LOUISE APPLE. 
Half Section. 
Fig. 3. 
perfectly pure; all borrow a little of the next 
color, as we find to be the case in all the col¬ 
ors we can procure in their purest state. For 
instance, take light chrome yellow, and the 
tendency is to a slightly greenish tinge; deeper 
yellow has an inclination to red. By taking 
light chrome and adding a little vermillion a 
deep yellow is produced. The same is the 
case with reds—all incline to purple or yel¬ 
low. Deep vermillion tends to purple; light 
vermillion to orange. Prussian blue inclines 
to green, and cobalt to purple. This is quick¬ 
est seen by adding white to any of the prim¬ 
ary colors. Even black and white are never 
pure; they are always found of bluish or 
brownish tinge. It will be seen by studying 
combinations of color to produce harmony 
that there is a wide field for displaying taste. 
Painting has a pleasing effect when two or 
I believe that 10 hours of labor in the fiel 
are enough for men or horses, and even i 
harvest I and my men leave the field at sii 
A five o’clock supper and a rush of work i 
the “cool of the day” will do more to brea 
down men and teams than any other practic 
of the farm. 
During the working season I feed from fou 
to six quarts of oats, according to the size c 
the horse, and the best hay I have—all h 
wants, if he is not a glutton. I aim to kee 
him in good flesh, but not fat. 
Here is a programme of a day in summei 
Fed at 5.15 a. m. with oats and hay; the 
groomed. Leave for the field at 6.30, recen 
ing water, of course. Leave the field at 11.3( 
allowed some drink and, if warm, the harne: 
is removed and the necks are washed. Th 
horses are then fed a small allowance of hay 
and after our own dinner, or about 12 30, they 
have their oats. The teams leave for the field 
at 1, receiving water if desired, and remain 
till 6. On coming again to the barn, the same 
care is given as at noon, the grain being fed 
after our own supper, when they are rubbed 
off and left for the night. The morning, noon 
and night feeds of hay are in about the pro¬ 
portion of two. one and three respectively, 
and it is intended that each shall be eaten 
clean. 
It will be seen that I keep a horse for his 
work, and work means with me ten hours of 
labor. I never hurry or worry, nor do 1 allow 
long stops. If the weather is oppressive, or 
the work very severe, I give rests short and 
frequent, taking care to raise the collars from 
the necks. The article I criticised said a horse 
should work from sunrise till noon; then no 
more till after 4 o’clock, evidently seeking the 
“cool of the day.” Thus we lose the animals 1 
labor in the most valuable part of the day; 
besides, the forenoon is too long, and few 
horses could endure the work. As I work 
teams, the horses endure the afternoon fully as 
well as the forenoon. 
I will say, in defense of my system, that it 
does not subject a horse to great physical 
strain; nor is there the consequent danger aris¬ 
ing from overfeeding. I never lost a horse, 
and mine are never sick. Often in winter, 
with little work, I change the diet to com 
with corn fodder or oat straw. In brief, I 
aim to treat my horses well, give them all 
they need to eat, comfortable quarters and 
good care; but I do not conduct the farm for 
their benefit, nor dedicate our lives to their 
pampering. e. davenport. 
WATERING HORSES AFTER FEEDING OATS. 
A writer on page 790 of the Rural for 1887, 
in urging farmers to feed more carrots to 
horses, says: “Horses that work in our lum¬ 
ber camps suffer severely from colic.” I hap¬ 
pen to know the cause of that trouble in one 
camp. When the teams were stabled at dcoh, 
each horse, thirsty and weary, found half-a- 
bushel of oats in his manger, and plenty of hay 
in the rack. None of the horses were watered 
until they were taken out for work. No bet¬ 
ter recipe for producing colic could be found 
than thus putting two pailfuls of water upon 
half-a-bushel of undigested oats. Such as es¬ 
caped death were ruined. I, a visitor at the 
camp, informed the proprietor that his stable¬ 
man was ruining his fine horses. Common 
sense might teach any one that horses should 
not have water in less than two and a half to 
three hours after oats. b. e. 
Orion, Wis. 
Remedy for Breaking Down in Horses. 
—Among the new remedies employed to stimu¬ 
late and strengthen horses that are showing 
signs of breaking down in their usual work, is 
the arsenite of strychnine. This administered 
in small doses—the hundredth of a grain per¬ 
haps—produces wonderful effects by promot¬ 
ing nervous activity, increasing animal heat, 
and strengthening the organs of nutrition. 
The remedy is given in form of granules just 
before the horses go to work, and these are 
continued for two or three weeks; then with¬ 
held for a week and given again. The remedy 
is not a safe one except in the case of animals 
that are employed in regular daily work. 
B. F. J. 
CARDING STOCK. 
The farmer who desires to excel and make 
his business as profitable as possible must not 
only endeavor to enrich his soil so that he can 
grow large crops, but he must have in view 
the care and improvement of his live stock. 
He must not only breed so as to improve his 
herd in general, but he must give such care 
that he may make the most profit out of 
every individual member of that herd. There 
is nothing that will pay better, for time and 
means expended, than to card your cattle 
every morning. Any one who has fed stock 
with the idea in view of making large gains, 
knows that it helps to lay on fat; it promotes 
the health by keeping the coat soft and oily, 
and in case of milch cows, the milk is more 
pure and healthy. Besides all this, a herd 
that is kept in this way is more pleasant to 
look at; they become tame by the handling so 
that one can approach them in the field or 
yard. Not only cattle, but hogs are 
pleased to receive such treatment. I give 
them frequent brushings which tend to keep 
them clean and promote their general health. 
In addition, by giving them prQper shelter I 
aim to keep away disease, which is easier 
than to cure it. I have so far found it a good 
investment to give half an hour each morn¬ 
ing to this kind of care of my stock. 
Berrien County, Mich. o. c. howe 
t 
V 
