Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume], July 09, 1907, Image 5

About Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916

Image provided by: State Historical Society of Iowa

                
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Fm Workers on
Farm and Garden
1 1
tiood Western Feeders Consider hance
rhis Method a Profitable One
ing com I will give my expert-
}o neglect of details many had losses,
some care, and It hae been found that
the practice in itself is not at fault,
but only the lack of attention to the
right things at the right time. Now
hiaay of our most intelligent and suc
cessful raisers fatten their hogs in
thlB way, and so well convinced are
they of its practicability that they are
bot afraid to uphol it in the press.
jDur own experience dates back ten
Shears, We had a few losses at the first
fj*»nl causes which will be specified.
5Phe present year, on September 13, wo
.|urned 122 hogs weighing from 50 to
860 pounds Into a field of 10% acres
by drill measure. The total weight on
that date was 15,698 pounds.
The field produced probably sixty
bushels of corn per acre, and with the
Corn was a good growth of pumpkins.
IThe watering place was in an adjoin
ing .five-acre lot of clover aftermath
following the seed crop. There was
sufficient natural shade at one corner
to keep the hogs In comfort on the hot
days. The field was cleaned up on
October 11. The bunch of hogs were
weighed and showed a net gain of
6,552 pounds,
"the field hogged down was disked
three times and sown to wheat with a
disk drill. When the fields are cleaned
up to. late for wheat we sow rye in
the same way for early pasture In the
spring. This saves loss of droppings
from washing and provides a growth
to be plowed under for another crop
of corn.
Hogs should not be turned into corn
jntll the ears have matured sufficient
ly to prevent their souring when left
nly partly eaten. Smaller hogs or
pigs follow advantageously the larger
»nes to pick up much of the corn that
may be down. A good supply of
pumpkins in '"i field is excellent for
variety in the diet, and we believe they
pay well. Do not attempt to hog
down corn unless shade and water are
.abundant. Drive the hogs to the
water.
This allows us to turn the corn into
meat at a time wheh it is most readily
assimilated*-^ It makes it possible to
fatten the hogs during the finest
Weather of the year and fits the most
»f them for market before the price
Reclines materially. This means an
idvance of from $1.00 to $2.00 per
hundred weight over later prices.
NOTES OF THE FEED LOT.
Tankage is all right for hogs, pro
vided it is fed with corn or other
jraln. It will not do to feed alone, be
cause It contains too much protein.
A correspondent of Tama county,
towa, writes to know whether he
should feed fattening cattle barley in
Itead of com. We should say not,
unless he raises barley and does not
raise corn. Even then, it would prob
ably pay better for him to sell his
barley and buy corn. In some states,
where barley is easily grown and corn
Is not, the former is fed to good ad
vantage.
A strange dog in a bunch of cattle
will run off many pounds of flesh in
a few minutes.
Feeding cattle are simply flesh pro
ducing machines and they should be
disturbed as little as possible. Keep
them in good order and prompte lazi
ness as much as" possible.
A better plan is to keep salt where
Cattle can get at it when they want
It instead of mixing it with the feed.
A. steer generally knows what he wants
better than the feeder himself.
Always feed fattening cattle to the
minute as near as possible. To keep
them waiting an hour after the reg
ular feeding time causes a loss of
weight.
Mud is not a flesh producer.
A tiled drain feed, lot is a joy for-
tever.
1,6,
Why is it that so many farmers lo
cate their feed lots in the lowest
ground on the farm?
Now that the big western rangers
,are passing away, the supply of the
beef for the future must come from
the farms. Better get ready to supply
the demand.
Hogs, sheep and cattle may be
.forced to live upon the same rations,
.but they will not all thrive alike.
f,
SOME HINTS BY UNCLE SILAS.
•i' I heard yesterday that our neigh
bor on the hill road bought some fine
currant "trees" from a traveling agent
tor $2.25 a "tree." If he -had read
the American Farm World he would
know he can make "trees" of currant
bushes by pruning. He was badly
swindled. The only safe way is to
Seal with reputable firms that adver
tise in high-class farm papers and
iet the dog on the tramp agent.
I got a good pointer from" seeing
le lawn at our state experiment farm
last week. The lawn was not orna
mented with flower beds, but was as
clean and even as a lawn mower
could make it. The flowers are all
planted in beds near the house or at
the sides and back of the big lot.
.They set off the lawn like a frame to
picture and I realized as I had never
•tiefore that a well-kept lawn cannot
be Improved by flower bods.
hogged down some corn, but owing h»unicated to human beings through
th® m'lk
r-,j .hog was given the treatment of the sumption in children being largely at-
JUT £RH19 Wi
MILK GOATS COMING UPi
Recently scientific Investigations
nave brought out faets that greatly ert-
nave Drought out faete that greatly eri-
the
at te an
«•**»«, oc IUU wjuciy AIIUWU
and the importance of which eannot
be overestimated
The numerous inquiries that have
about turning hogs into stand- keen conducted of late years by seien-
t,sts
have elicited what is now pretty fore
me care, and It ha* been found that the ab 1 for the use of thus^ found hia ^n supply'pretty
mfllr In rha llMllrnfiil t*aai(na- a# nhlM.
milk in the healthful rearing of child
ren. such a revelation is simply appal
lng?
What makes matters worse, how
ever is that a cow may be suffering
from the malady in its earliest stages
without the disease- being detected.
In view of such a state of things
who will not experience a sense of be
lief on hearing that goats' milk is en
tlrly free from this element of dang
er? Professor Nocard states that out
of over 130,000 goats and kids that
are brought to Parts for slaughter at
the shambles of La Vlllette every
spring the meat inspectors of that city
have failed to discover a single case
of phthisis.
THE DEADLY POTATO BLIGHT.
This is a fungus disease, which
causes growers immense loss every
year. The experiment stations have
worked hard to find a means of con
trolling it and their experiments show
that the effects of the disease, particu
larly In early blight, as shown in the
first picture, may be greatly reduced
by two or three sprayings with Bor
deaux mixture. This treatment also
works well with the late blight, as
shown in the second picture, and if
faithfully adhered to will in most
cases save the crop.
Early Blight.
Late Blight.
NOTES OF THE HOG LOT.
Build the fence around the hog lot
so the pigs cannot wriggle through.
Once they learn the trick nothing
short of a bull proof fence can stop
them.
If we are going in for hog raising
let us plan our campaign in advance
and then stick to our work. A hap
hazard, go-as-you-please method is
sure to end in failure.
A pig rises up today only to be cut
down tomorrow. He Is with us but a
short time, but during that period he
is either making or losing money fast
It all depends upon his owner.
A chicken-eating sow is an abom
ination and is not worth her keep un
less she can be confined in a hen tight
enclosure.
Give the hogs shade and plenty of
air with it. A tight, dark pen is a poor
place for hogs in hot weather.
While a hog will drink dirty water
clean water will make better pork.
If a pig is allowed to wallow in a
barnyard pool he will never ret ovor
the habit, but will always return to It.
Hogs must live on the ground to
thrive—particularly In summer time.
A pig catches cold very easily and
should always be protected from
draughts at night. Pneumonia carries
off thousands every year.
It is the pig's nature to root in the
ground and it is necessary to his state
health.
Hogs should be changed from one
pasture to another whenever prac
ticable.
Do not disturb the sow for at least
a day after farrowing.
Teach the pigs to eat corn as so
u—
possible. Crack It for them at first.
STIIOI
'Thirty years ago nearly every farm- thfet tufeereuloeis can be* and is eom- numbef of^cattle6' foi^'tho Ph/intmw^!0c*
aeiaus many nad losses, "»u »t uatvie araicieu nce -ni1
especially so when the w«U *»proved with that disease, the increase of con- took to finish an animal fn „„j th»m
jiS JrAzor-bacfc Eventually the practice trlbuted to the use of tuberculosis arrived, if,
h( I was largely abandoned, However, in He had foollshlv t,1.11
was largely abandoned,
recent yean the practice has been re
vived.
ved, hand, the terrible character of this In- the start thinking/that h» on
Now when we consider, on the one
marketl He
and flesh of cattle afflicted nce and not knowing how |nrtf
especially so when the w«U tmoroved with that disease, the increase of con- rt„i„u i_r, may filled with rubbish that will
The matter has been studied with stdtoua disease, and on the other hand he would finish them rn'ntrtlv nnrf fV6.U rolling
half finished.
HUB
mm
value of goats' milk, tod leaden Should Plan Months Ahead
Immeasureable decree, a for the Bale of Their Fat-
in Start Cases. that cannot be too widely known tettiitg Animals,
in Stoat Oasesi
(Ri L. Deant Iowa*)
~"T—' When soils are likely to wash, an
AVINO observed some discussion The numerous inquiries that have
tettiitg
N a number of instances last winter
A
Ltnf *he
faI)u"f i9 mal
t^ey
•tace in the line! generally admitted by medical ineft ™an. for ™nfi iLtZ 1 Ration of gullies on hill
that tuberculosis can be, and Is eom- "ISL, TS'*
H*5?*
oU^i „,.n hfi tl
not
unflt for the market wh'
H. h.a afch.' Thi
same. The inference to be drawn is
that one who proposes to feed cattle
This is appropriately termed the
preliminary feeding period and should
cover from 7 to 14 days, the longer
period being preferable. During this
time very little grain need be fed
Just enough to accustom them to its
use and to get them to relish it. Give
them good corn fodder or silage, but
do nbt feed lavishly. The attempt
should be rather to teach them to ac
quire a liking for the new food.
Animals will sometimes not take
readily to new kinds of foods for sev
eral days. Examples of which are
sometimes seen in the case of silage
and cotton-seed meal. After they
one® acquire a taste, however, they eat
these foods ravenously. The "putting
on feed" process should therefore be
slow and'deliberate.
A violent change of foodstuffs! re
quires a new adjustment of the diges
tive system, and many people make
the mistake of trying to rush cattle on
a heavy grain ration in the beginning.
with the result that the appetite soon
becomes cloyed and the animals go
"off feed," something little short of a
disaster to the feeder.
With new foods and forced feeding
from the beginning the digestion of the
animals Is likely to be upset, so the
February 14 there were sblnnni
head. These came from the great beet
pulp feeding grounds an were
tlned for the Chicago market
Dakota farmers bought butter
and even potatoes and cabbages' at the
village stores, but they were not real
farmers, merely wheat raisers They
equal to those of any other northern
state. This educational movement was
COPYRIGHTED 199T BY THE ASSOCIATED FARM PRESS,
STOP SOIL WASHING.
Cftvef Crops Should Be Grown Every
Year for Hie Purpose..
(Ji G-. Hosier, Illinois Experiment
Stations)
ounc® of„
U°ked
rr
wtll exhausted before his cattle'were Th.ls
He had also i«d them about twice mZK
as much grain as was necessary to ™,a®
secure a good gain, and henct. with 7. P" ,wUh'
to a heavy grain rat,nn. h« n-ni-
to a heavy grain ration, he could not
crease the supply of meal and con- T.a!.lefV
tlnue to feed for several months in
price. The experiment, so far as he
was. concerned, was a'financial fall-
in results and the cause was almost the
may
cloying of the appetite and "getting off
feed" Is often not a simple matterfbut f°"ld
something whose effects mav be felt
sold 10,000 head of sheep, 1,320 acres 'orinlnS
of land and a farm outfit for $80,000.
Mr. Leighton started ln the sheep bus
iness on a small scale 15 years ago.
The Angora goat breeders of Oregon
say that the annual clips from their
flocks amount to nearly $150,000,
while the value of their yearly :n
crease approximates $350,000.
Prof. Arthur H. Howell, of the De-
on boll weevils a-d it is hoped that
Prevention wbrth many
CUre'
commended fendin*cvn« Fw« »ene' .. applies especial-
by
wh'
verv little exoTrU v®!
a
h,en
n»a5\be_
aftW 38 we,K
washing
secure a good gain, and henca with vl m*
half finished cattle on his hnnrtB
thln top
tracts
tracts
let down on the amount of meal food much more liable to wash than
There was no recourse but to In-
saiidy ones
be
matter
of
the first essential and might appro- The granules thus formed are too 5"?
partment of Agriculture, has dlscov- *hf, year-particularly if we have
ered 38 varieties of birds which feed Jailed to do the thing that might have
bee.n
done by incorporating organic
them. The partially
must kftow what he is trying to do °ayei material cements the soli par-jtoTwood
and then proceed in an intelligent way t'd08 into grar.ulos or grains, giving It I
if he hopes to succeed somewhat the porosity and looseness
Formulating the plan' Is therefore
hazard gait. mated that ten inches oi loose soil T^11
After the cattle are secured many I will absorb two" nches6 of °rainfan.
persons make the mistake of putting
them on feed at once. Animals
brought off the grass will not readily
take to a fodder and grain ration.
They must be given several days in
which to become accustomed to the
changed food and surroundings.
done
on oou weevils a" a It is hoped that heen done iud.) a.uu
this discovery may ln some way result real money these days.
In clearing the southern cotton fields The total sales at the Chicago Auto
of the pest. It is urged that laws be mobile Show ln February v.-ere $10,
passed to protect the birds. 000,000 in round numbers. A pretty
A new species of thornless cactus good proportion of this vast sum was
produced by Luther Burbank, has spent by farmers for road carriages
properties as fodder for cattle which a..d traction nglnes. The auto is here
Mautt ui mw ^tuiiornia univer- associations to reguiate speeu ana
sity says this plant carries nutritive punishment for the criminally reck
powers equal to three-fourths that of 'ess driver, the better for us.
alfalfa. Boys, better a job on the home
On January 1 there were 19,741,000 farm with small but sure gains every
'he United States valued at year than a clerkship, $10 a month
$93.51 per head. This Is a substantial and shiny pants ln the big city
in re a a a 1 1
over 1905. The boy who leaves a good home
wor]d
\V
may be com-
a
^arm
may
be
a Very feW
yearB'
these ditches are small tney
„_. ^«hen these ditches are small they
ed w,th
rubbish that wll
chrlatmiui ft® current of water and causc
sed'ment
plaGe
to be deposited there
resu,t
!n the filling of the
fr,01}Vthe
surface of all hilly and
land
should be
removes the best soil
,owerB the
Productive capacity of
ltU?!,.,area!
of
lan?
In
Illlno,s-
not of the
best to
a.nd_ th«
removal of the
so^
con®6quently
crease the supply of meal and con- consequently more easily
C{T
®d
by xvater:
order to get rid of the cattle at a fair absorb the rallfall readily, because I
ure, though men in the vicinity where
thiB happened fed cattle at a profit.
The other, instances referred to, ^PPrac'&ble-'cntent, yet they may be
while different in detail, were similar treated In such a way as to change
and'
ports
ar" 8ma11'
inorganic constituents of soils to any
appreciable c::tent, yet they may be
the
de.
tn May and June. Time is
win equal many of the desert grasses, to stay and the sooner we Join with sows months before they are able to
Prof. Jaffa of the California unlver- auto associations to regulate speed and stand the strain put upon them A
01 the farm t0 seek a soft Bnap ,n tke sufflc,ent
from Greely Colo 84 carina rt city very quickly has his opened, that age she is immature, and her pro
sheep and lambs "containing
20 000 H,^ging
"&P
i"aeyes
bas
°ar
t0
hUman
be,?B*
cattle car so
*?, "eVer
Packed:
ev_er se®n
llkely to
morse
*n
most
oys*
Its a w,Se man who
measure
folly of that kind of farming, and to- the farm will supply with work may
day the state's diversified crops are
depended entirely upon one crop and business In which he does not rattle to build up her constitution before she
when that -ailed distress followed around. ,1s burdened with the strain of a
James .. Hill quickly taught them the
The man
be
of
sure that he 18
who has more boys than second
mak,ng
not that Mr. Hill had any love'for the that. The wise feeder will not care much
farmers then, nor has now, but he had There Is money in raising fancy about the ancestry of a steer so long
a big railway to feed and was forced
r°ad
to teach tit* farmer how to produce farmer Ks an expert trainer, compe- sired.
the freigM. Now the experiment sta- tent to fit his stock for the show ring. Cattle have four stomachs, while
tions are carrying on the education
If he ,s
not-
commenced by Mr. Hill'and are doing to heavy horses a:.d mules. stop to think about It you will readily
it better
UNCLE HENET, obwt»i "*»at both cannot be fed alli*«.
PUCES FBI 01116 Mill
Stock Raising Presents Good Oppor
unities in Nearly Every Sec
tion of the Country.
(Joseph E. Wing.)
THERE
h^i® best remedy is a
Is no such great difference
in localities as Is commonly sup
posed. Northern locations have
long periods of cold and long feeding
seasonsi yet they have fertile soils and
good crops. Warm and sunny climes
have very often severe droughts and
scarcity of food, Stock raising Is In
the long run more profitable where
stock must be fed In winter.
I have abundant faith In one or two fj"'s
things, and should locate here they l/
should be had. First, if In the country !,,'8 ,,?er
not dependent upon irrigation, I would J1
enough lime in it to harden the well
Silt and clay soils UOB. are, good because of the excel-
lence
becaustTthe particles
water. I would get near to corn, if stand was obtained
rendered many Possible. Yet some northern loca-
worthless. Silt and clay soils tions are good because oi me excei- v- "7 "nYD
of
are
because barley, cats rnd wheat grow
more easily well- If possible I would avoid too
If
Poss
as .these soils 1o.flut a location.
80
water to run 0t
While it is impossible to change the
In
not
solng west of the Missouri river
there is more,1 would ask these things: As much
rainfall as possible land adapted to.
{alfalfa nearness to corn. I would
car®
eapeclally to
T""
in a few years. This**™*3
V, """"7
In 8et tltng ln the
wo"ld
WlPt?5*
a sandy soil. idoor' water and fertile valley lands
prlately form a feeders' motto. True, large to be carried r-adlly. When in pn^Tf f,
a plan no matter how well prepared, this condition water will be absorbed hi without an alfalfa field and the time required to handle them
cannot always be adhered to, but it is rapidly, and If deep plowing is rcc-l S .. !*°ney
easier to meet contingencies with one ticed the ground will be in condition then some young things on our little forty acre farm,
in mind than when going at a hap- to absorb a heaw rainfall It is esti- t"
A handy wagon for hauling milk. The bottom of the body Is Just high
enough to reach the level of the average railroad platform.
A large supply of organic matter
should be maintained, if possible, by
growing legumes and cover crops. In
fact, a soil that is liable to wash badly
never
without a
Pa8s through the winter
cover crop.
for se^ral months. The roots will hold the soil par
ticles together, and the top will p're
G. V. Leighton, of Fayette, Idaho.
vent rapid surfaco
currents from
ItAIL FENCE WISDOM.
Wat
1!,
and
herds are used( and
a
1,v,n*
that barely
Pays
the
mm
enough to
feno'nf
In the
mountain
grassy
mountain
WHAT ID "PATENT LIME."
A so-called "hydrated" lime, made
under processes upon which patents
the market under the claim that It is
a fertiliser and that, because of its
peculiar manufacture, it will produce
better results than ordinary lime when
applied to the soil. The price asked
for this lime Is usually about $10 per
ton.
1lime,
'm®
gr°und
to?'
settle where the blue grass and the ?. P^paratlon of the land and
white clover grow naturally. _,® being Identical for both
I would choose the land that has *lnds
of
med'
400
frow alfalfa, and, If possible, nearness ^rt' ?r
W,
NTER-
Wr,'
a me
a
S°
y0U
wlu
cost of a cheer- months will produce larger and strong-
less box of a hall bedroom at a cheap er pigs than one bred before that age.
MUST RAISE MANY CROPS boarding house without friends and The young sow requires the^most care
up against the fiercest competition the ful attention with the best of feed
Twenty years ago hundreds of North
these things are while carrying her first pigs and
Produce a serious case of re- should be bred the second time before
she is
Justified in moving to the country The best time to buy feeders is not
cheap lands, but he should be very when everybody else is in the market
easily
find work and better Jobs as soon -t
you have shown yourself competent.
WHEN TO BREED GILTS.
Too many farmers are iu such a
hurry to get pigs that they breed their
lo KeL p]ff8 mat tney breed thelr
sow should never be bred under ten
months of age and twelye months is
better.
By the time she is a year old she
will be fully developed, or nearly so,
and is then In condition to produce
pigs and care for them by providing
milk. But bred before
packed ln V,gor and
d0»bt a*out thl8'
on a salary A full grown sow of ten or twelve
twefyears old. She will have no
takes his chance tounake growth while suckling
and then fits himself to a her first litter and sue must have time
no mistake at bidding against you. Wait awhile,
and saddle horses, provided the as he possesses the conformation de-
he will be wise.- to stick the pig has but one, and when you
lbs L.V \"a' V.
his health. cannot refer any man
to any particular ranch.
It would not fair to friends in
the west to send them men of whom
I could know but little. I do not hesi
tate to say to the delicate young men
with as yet no real organic lung trou
ble that he should cross tha Cockles anger of the bees as to the amount of
and work at ranching in the great
outdoors and sunshine.
I think it safe to say any intelligent
al}d b.e
Planting corn in ground that has not
been properly made ready is like go- 'a ronewea neaiti ___
ing duck hunting without ammunition.
and
=. De- J»l» ••.«».«. bu.i..t month ln|)0UGr0n CO. „a
g°r mlnd
sh a, eoum£°
der where Mextcan vaqueros
N
t'mbers. 400 1bJ ffirHiil^ i".
Helpful Suggestions
in Home Life
ptuuttssea upon wmcn patents -11
are claimed, is being pushed upon Must Bo Cut. When Coining Tnto Hloom
thfi mnrlrnt «Via
(K
nln
A sample of this llmo was pro*
cured direct from the manufacturers 'n'° blossom,
k.. i.1. ni_ I Tan Vl n#
by the Ohio Experiment Station and 4?n^ ^bo Plants are it
used at the rate of a ton to the' acre
used at the rate of a ton to the acre
on land that was being prepared for
lnto a
the
U8ed ,n the same
a
adjoining plots of
1,me-
In
the spring the whole
was sown t0
t."7
clover and a good
!e,nfr
klnda
ase
0
nnf plots)
«row
corn on
my own land lf 1 could buy 11
own
The results of this test has been
the grasses and clovers, and wheat than those not
bft1l,ttle
ylelda'
difference
Bushels
per acre.
®r» no lime (average
I
easlIy- 9r,
country of short P"t)
shelt er from
-V
.10.81
hydrated lime (1
ot
-.
^llls «°0 lbs. ^Haer. no lime (aver-
14-82
hydrated llme
regions, seek ™.
_fert#tU»«*.common lime.
ranges at your back (average 2 plots) .....26.08
,WOULD ^TTLE BEE PAYS,
Grr OPP
EARTH
aize~~no
26-78
th!
bees
^est"rn cattle or sheep some farmers w^l say. The acres are
I uio uuoi- wuv uwuig to tne quality or tne
|ness and at the same time bujld up soil and the orops ra4aed, this little
farm glveB steady employment to two
lan.le^rn .bust-1 few, but owing to th^ quality of the
am0Unt lnve8ted
the most profitable
where he can Forty acres a farm? How small!"
men and summer work for two and
sometimes three more, aside from' the
manager.
In raising bees I use one and one
half story dovetailed hives with Hoff
man's self-spaaing frames. Th® brood
frames are wired and filled with brood
comb foundation. This insures a per
fectly formed comb and is a great
saver of time In getting a colony In
shape for a honey flow.
In the upper or top story I use one
pound sections, plain, with fence sep
arations, and foundation starter nearly
nearly the full size of section. These
hives have double covers and reversa
ble bottomboards by which the slse
of the entrance to the hive ihay be reg
ulated.
The hives cost oomplete, ready for
a colony, about 18 each and will last
ten or more years it kept well painted.
I have some I have used thai long and
they promise good for as many more.
My bees are on the southeast side of
a tall board fence which serves as a
windbreak.
-v WM-rf iiikClllgOllt, ..
young man who will work and not $10.50 in a good season.
grumble, who will use his common At present I have twenty-four colon-
The entrance to the hives faces the
southeast, a very important point in
bee keeping, as it gets the little fellows
out to work early before the sun evap
orates the nectar from the flowers.
I use a bee veil and a Clark's cold
blast smoker. A little spurt of smoke
will aggravate the bees so I always
tap gently on the side of the hive an
puff in a little amount of smoke at
the entrance, then as I carefully raise
the top I puff in more smoke. One
has to be governed by the degree of
smoke to use.
My bees net me on an average $5 per
cheery and helpful, and ies, but would advise anyone starting
who will not expect to be waited upon in the business of bee keeping to begin
may find work .'n almost any part of with a few colonies of pure Italian or
the west, and may id renewed health hybrids and study up on the business.
and body by a so- After some experience one cannot help
and
C*™""
Wesley Griffin.
Eastern duck growers have formed
a trust to control the market. They
plan to grow special breeds and de
clare that the common duck will here
after stand a poor show in the big
markets.
Do not some farmers make the mis
take of putting too many cattle on
their pastures ln the spring. Instead of
allowing the grass to get a good, vig
orous start?
Skim-milk with ground corn and a
little bright hay will make calves
hump.
..ww vu ou ttvoiago 90 per vo^o tua ttu ttUHUiulQ
stand each season, some as high as cessity. After the alfalfa remains un»SsN
TO CUBE ALFALFA
tm tfen* tf 4a nn/l TTfinrllAjt ivitlt n«nn f«.«.«
and Handled "iVItli Great Cure.
A. Mooro, Wisconsin Exporlmont
Station.)
AVERY
Important factor to ob­
serve in alfalfa cultu-e Is the
proper time and manner In cut­
ting and curing the hay. For best re
sults alfalfa should be cut when com
ing Into blossom. When about ono
tenth of the plants are in bloom and
•er should be
weQther
fair the mow
started and
wheat. stubble at least one inch in length.
At the same time an ordinary build- alfalfa Is left until in full
•*s ground into a meal and cost- °,om *he "terns are woody and coarse
and the feeding quality much im
paired the leaves will then fall quite
me*1
deUve!6d
and
at
cost-
Wooster In caT lots,
the alfalfa cut, leaving
THE BLENDER-LEAFED BLUB WV"
GRASS.
readily, causing considerable loss of
the best part of the forage.
When out shortly after the first
blossoms appear the plants recover fe
quickly, and usually in thirty dayfS
from the time of taking the first cut-1
tf- from the field another is ready to T-
cut. Alfalfa should not be cut after r'
the middle of September, but thaj.
growth left for winter protection.
Alfalfa may turn yellow ,and loollj
sickly this may be due to an ovef
abundance of moisture or to a dU»"
ease known as leaf spot. When al-£
falfa is affected as above described It* {Z
is a good plan to out regardless of the*
stage of maturity. The next growtj}
often will show no detrimental effects,
The first cutting Is generally mads, V»i
in early June, and, as a rule, la th«
heaviest and hardest to cure. Has
reaps are found to be very essential In
curing the hay, often one-half the to-^ "V
tal value of the hay Is saved by thel*
use.
In good drying weather the alfalfa
?ut in the forenoon can be raked Into*
windrow* in the afternoon and put »'*V
into cocks containing not more than"'^
100 pounds of hay. These should be*--'.*
promptly capped and left for twofefc
days. If weather Is fair cocks be fifef
open to the sun and wind for a few
hours and then hauled to the barn.
In rainy and misty weather, It
somewhat trying to cure alfalfa nicely
into hay and cars are an absolute ne»
Dew and sunshine hurt alfalfa, av
well as rain, hence the use of the ha?
cap is urged as a necessity for making!^#
well-cured hay. At the Wisconsin Ex-***#
eriment Station farm four cuttings of
alfalfa were obtained during one sea«
son which yielded five and oue-hali
tons to the acre.
By comparing alfalfa, clover, timo
thy and brome grass for protein con
tent it was found that the alfalf
yielded three times as much protein
per acre as clover, nine times as mucj
jas timothy, and twelve times th(
amount obtained from brome grasa.
LITTLE NUBBINS OF NEWS.
In Denmark 70,000 farmers live \i"
30 to 90 acres and 160,000 farmen
make a living on smaller farms.
Agricultural laborers in Germany re
celve from 42 cents to $1 a day ani
women from 30 cents to «0 cents.
An experiment by a professor
dairying at the New York Exporimen
Station with
9.
5
in
a vl
if
W.VSj
&JI
aN
herd of ordinary dairj
cows showed that they had consum
ln one year r„8.50 each and product
$25 of milk. The farmer had IiU'
$8.50 on each cow in his herd In
ditlon to his labcr. A careful weeding
out according to the records kept mads
a difference the ney' y-.r. l^ach cow
consumed $28 of feed and produced
$38 of milk.
It's a big mistake to plow when th«"
ground shows up slick and oozy, as II
leaves the mold board. Too wet, and
that means clods and impairs the ex«
ture of the soil. We are al) too eager
to turn the ground over as soon as
the spring days come, but a little pa
tience and good sense will save trouble
,later arui add to the bulk of the crop*
1
mm-
der caps for two days ln moist weath*
er it is necessary to remove the cock*
of hay or the alfalfa plants under
neath will meet with certain death. 4|
If the cocks of alfalfa oannot be I"1 A
opened on account of moirt weather
they should at least be drawn from
the spot where standing. This oan b»,
done readily by sticking a pitchfor*
Into the hay near the bottom of tM1^
cock and by pulling dir-otly towards
you it can be moved easily. pt§
II
•j kg
JS
1