Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1904 — FARMERS CORNER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARMERS CORNER

Buff Orpington Breed, For many years the one desire of the practical poultryman has been to obtain a breed which would equal the Leghorn In egg production and the Plymouth Rock as a table fowl. It is claimed that the Buff Orpington is that breed and certainly it has done wonders since its introduction into this country from England. The fowls are exceedingly attractive and the pullets begin laying when five months old, keeping at it without the break usual to pullets of most breeds. An average weight for a bird at maturity Is nine to ten pounus, hence it Is evMeht that aa a table fowl they will closely approach the famed Plymouth Rock. As layers they equal the Legjiorn and they make excellent mothers. They appear to be quite as hardy as the Plymouth Rock, hence

will do well in cold sections. Both fowls and eggs are scarce in this country and consequently high in price, but if the breed keeps up to tho reputation it already has more breeders will handle it, so that In a year or two eggs and birds will be within range of the poultryman’s pocketbook.—lndianapolis News. oSorghum Culture. It is scarcely worth while to say anything to farmers west of the Missouri river on the importance of growing sorghum. The uncertain character of the corn crop where there Is less than twenty inches of rainfall forces farmers to seek a substitute. They have found admirable substitutes in cane and Kaffir and other varieties of sorghum, saccharine and non-sac-charine. The farmers in the humid area, speaking generally, at some distance west of the Missouri river and eastward, have been slow in appreciating the value of this great forage crop, and it is to these that we particularly address ourselves. Sorghum, or cane, is a warm weather plant, and hence should not be planted until about ten days after the time for the first planting of corn In any locality. To plant it earlier is to Invite failure. It can bo sown or planted for two months after the time for planting corn and mature, if the earlier varieties, such as Early Amber, are selected. It is especially to be recommended for lands which for any reason cannot be put in corn within three or four weeks after the oak leaves are the size of the squirrel’s ear, which is the proper time for the first planting of corn.

Protection from Sun Scald. Snn scald kills thousands of newly set trees. The wind also whips them unmercifully unless supported. Kill two birds with

one stone by driv 1n g two sharpened strips of board on the sunny side of the tree, as shown In the cut, tying a bit of cord about the top, advises American Agriculturist This guards against both sun and wind, and the tree

will have a much better chance of getting safely through the critical first season. This protection can be left on during the winter and will prevent effectively Injury from rabbits, mice, etc. Renew as often as necessary until the tree has passed the danger period. Moving Large Trees, A French expert on tree planting reports great success in moving large trees at night He takes them up late in the evening after ten o'tflock, moves them ns rapidly as possible, and waters the soil and the branches bearing the buds. The results were excellent, only two of the large shade trees dying, although a number of the species considered hard to transplant For the first fifteen days after transplanting he advises that the boughs and leaves of the tree be abundantly sprinkled. Butter la Argentina. An English dairy expert, who has been on a visit to Argentina, states that from the Argentine were sent last year no less than 9,076,000 pounds of butter, made by the best modern scientific methods and the finest machinery that could be supplied from Bu-

rope. He visited one factory ondei the management of Argentines, which turned out twenty tons of butter a day. He saw another center where the milk of seven thousand oows was handled. Pork Making. One of the features of the pig, which Is not sufficiently appreciated, is Its prolificacy. While the horse, cow and sheep, as a rule, produce but one or two young annually, the pig may produce from sixteen to twenty-four, an enormous percentage of Increase. To make the most out of. pork, the old style of keeping pigs eighteen months or so before slaughtering is and the animals are being fitted for the block at six or eight months. The first one hundred pounds of gain are made the cheapest, the second one hundred pounds cost more, and so on increasingly, as far as one chooses to go. Economy would dictate, then, that certainly when two hundred pounds are reached the animal should be disposed of and a fresh start made with younger stock. The best breed Is one which matures early, provided it is of good size. Care of the Farm Horae. During the busy months of the year farmers are anxious to get all the work possible out of their horses, which is proper enough. Food alone will not do the trick. A horse may be fed the best of rations, but he needs care In addition, so try these things which may seem simple, but which will do a great deal toward making the horse contented and more valuable to you. Keep his coat clean, not only by brushing and the use of the comb, but use water on him freely, especially during the warm period. When his work for the day Is done take a sponge and wash each part of his coat where the harness touched. If his muscles are sore take equal parts of iodine and sweet oil, mix them and rub the mixture well Into the joints and tendons. Wash out his mouth occasionally and take care of his feet. Above all, in warm weather see that his stable Is well ventilated and that screens are placed so that vermin are kept from annoying him. In watering the horse let him have it before eating and also a small supply between meals, even if he Is warm. It will not hurt him unless you give him too much.

Farm Notes. There is no single breed that possesses only good qualities. A cross-bred animal should never be chosen as a breeder. Nothing so surety impoverishes the farm as the selling of hay. With improved stock, to .insure success, must come improved'treatment. Any kind of live stock will depreciate in value when cut short in their rations. In hot weather especially* horses subject to colic should be handled with great care. Always sift coal ashes before putting them In the dust box for the use of poultry. All things considered, the best place to put manure is on a freshly plowed soil. Haul out as fast as made. A little care iu the matter of watering and feeding horses will prevent much sickness and consequent loss. In breeding, other things being equal, the more vigorous animal tends to impress itself upon the progeny. Every grower should know what is the paying weight with him, what weight he can sell to bring him the greatest profit An animal of a fixed and long-in-herited type will control the type of the offspring when coupled with an animal of ordinary character.

’ Circumstances and management have about as much to do in making mutton-growing profitable as In turning the scale toward profit iu any other farm product. That kind of husbandry In which sheep of some kind do not figure Is lacking in a most substantial means of sustaining fertility. After the harvest work is finished up is a good time to put in- drainage where needed- This is something that should be done thoroughly and well, and not hurriedly. , . In buying a horse reject one with scraggy hips. They never do credit to feeding, particularly if also slack in the loins. Reject a horse with forelegs not straight They will not stand wear. Stand behind the horse as he walks away from you and you will be able to notice these defects if they exist. ■ * * Poultry Pointers. Apoplexy and egg-bound are the result of excessive fat. * Use no deformed or weak fowls for breeding purposes. In mating always endeavor to use active, vigorous cocks. Never undef any circumstances allow other hens to molest a sitter. Cooked food fattens quickly, probably because it Is more completely digested. When It can be done, the poultryhouse should have two rooms—one for laying hems. While sour milk Is relished by tho hen*, it should not be made a substitute for water. Dust the sitting hens with Insect powder to prevent the little chick* having lice bn them. Hem* will rarely eat their eggs If they are supplied with plenty of broken bone, oyster and clam shells. Healthy, thrifty fowl* ate Invariably early risen and should be fed as soo* as they fly down from the roost*.

BUFF ORPINGTONS.

TREE SHELTER.