Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1892 — REAL RURAL READING [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

REAL RURAL READING

WILL BE FOUND IN THIS DEPARTMENT. Bow to Keep Butter in the Well The Public Road Question a Serious One— Poultry Raising Clean Your Seed Wheat, Etc. Keeping Butter iu the Well. The Philadelphia Farm Journal suggests that Instead of planking over the well the pump pipe may enter the ground and slope beyond the curb, where the pump may be placed, and the wheel and weight may support a basket made of old wagon tire. In

this may be placed butter and other things that must be kept cool, including the milk from a small dairy. The balance weight must be placed on the rope so that neither it nor the basket will enter the water. Ibis plan is a suggestive one, and will no doubt be improved upon by some of our more Ingenious readers in the way of a cold box with a lid and shelves in place of the basket. The plan, however, just as it stands, Is valuable, inasmuch as readers who are not especially ingenious may avail themselves of it. This oj a similar device is essential on farms not provided witb-icehouses. The Bent of All Ration*. A correspondent in the Ibter-Ocean very justly saysi “The ration of all rations for the dairy cow is kind'Different'individuals, according "io their practice and success, are strong, advdedtes of roots, oatmeal, oil cake, clover hay, or ensilage as a good ration for dairy cows, and under favorable conditions either of them, or a judicious combination of them, would prove such; but either or all would go for nought with one unfavorable condition, and that is unkindness or harshness. Let a harsh, boisterous, ugly milkman have the care of cows, and the decrease of milk will fully offset any gain that would be effected by the use of special feed. A man of this character, who was accustomed to emphasize his commands in the farm-yard and cow stable by the use of his pitchfork, declared that “the devil seemed to be ia his cows.” Being expostulated with, and changing his course of treatment, he detected a marked improvement in the flow of milk, and finally acknowledged that he was satisfied that the devil was in himself instead of his cows. There is no sense In being boisterous and noisy in the presence of cows for the purpose of terrorizing them into obedience. An animal will recognize kindness as soon as a human being, and when a milch cow is treated kindly, will yield all her miik fully. If a young heifer Is inclined to be uneasy and to kick at the first milkings, if she refuses to yield quietly, adopt some compulsory means that will secure perfect obedience, but in such a quiet manner as gives no occasion for fear, but conveys the impression of a necessity for obedience. A Muscle Saver. As it is difficult to move the sleigh, grindstone, hay-cutter, etc., upstairs, says Farm and Home, why not make a door and hinge it so it will shut over the stairs and make a smooth surface for slidingthings up and down by means of ropes? This contrivance

Is ill common use in factories, and is a great saver of time and strength. When not in use it leans against the siding and is out of the way. Bags of feed, bales of hay, barrels of fruit, onions, etc., are thus quickly and easily put where they beloug. The Public Road Question. The entire country seems to be thoroughly awakened by the question, and the, subject Is receiving discussion i a the various periodicals and newspapers: That there is a necesisity for it no one can deny; but the best means of securing the desired end —good roads—in; a tnanner that shall equalize the burden thereof smong all those who receive benefits, either directly or Indirectly, Is a question quite difficult of isolvlngl In the sparsely settlied serious of the country, the taxpayers Teel that they are already burdened for the repair of roads to the limit of endurance, and yet the roada are .poof, . "Who can solve this road problem.—German - town Telegraph. The Agricultural Problem. The prohjem is one that has for years been before the public and had the attention of farmers. In working out this problem the result sought is success. Different modes of solution are attempted by different individuals and in very many cases no solution is reached, and it sometimes appears as though the errors could never be eliminated. One very important method of.solving this problem is to employ less acres and secure more on an acre, or ip other words, practice what is called Intense farming, that Is, devote more energy upon a less surface. When to Sell a Hone. The time to sell a horse after you have raised him and made ready for market is whenever a man offers you a good price. By holding for a fancy figure you are very apt to let the best customers pass by, and the expense of

keeping the animal will begin to rapidly diminish the possible profit. The same thing will also apply to any stock produced upon the farm. By bolding after making ready for market, you stand as much chance of loss as of gain; the price may go against you In the end, the animal may die on your hands, and It Is sure to he an expense for further feed. Quick sales and fair profit is a better rule for the farmer than slow sales and the attempt to make big profits.—lndiana Farmer. How to Clean See«l Wheat. To properly clean wheat for seed, or to get the very best price for that for sale, it is a good idea to go through the field and carefully cut out all the rye, cockle and other plants of an objectionable character and burn them. This plan has been adopvied by many of our most successful farmers, who find it pays to do so. when their wheat is offered at the mills for sale. In going through the wheat, it should be done in a careful way, so as not to trample it down. A Cure for Crows. A correspondent of the National Stockman gives his method how to prevent crows from pulling up corn: “1 prevented these pests from pulling up and eating the corn when it is coming up by preparing the seed in the following ‘ way: Put one-half bushel of seed corn in a box and pour half a pint of common coal tar over it, first warming the tar till it runs easily, stirring with a garden hoe until each graip is coated; then pour over the coated corn dry wood ashes or plaster, and again stir until the seed is well covered, thus making it dry so it can be handled without tar getting on planter. Be careful not to use too much tar, as a little well warmed goes a long way. When corn thus prepared begins to show in the rows and a crow pulls up a stalk, he looks awhile then leaves in disgust, for no matter how hungry he is he will not eat the black grain Rest for Tired Feet. The footrest shown in the accompanying engraving is quite a novelty, as the foot may be supported at four

angles or elevations. The sides are'made from inch boards, cut in the form shown. The distance from the bottom at a, to the top of cushion, at c, is fourteen inches; the diameter of the cushioned Kills, c and n, is five inches. This makes an agreeable size for resting the feet or limbs upon, the width being fifteen inches. The cushions at c and » are conveniently located, while the intermediate cushioned space makes a nice seat for the little ones. The total length of the sides is eighteen inches, and when a higher elevation for the feet is desired, simply raise the end, at «, letting the point, at a, and the side of cushion, c, act as the base. By simply turning the side of this page upward, you will get the correct position of the footrest when reversed.— American Agriculturist.

Setting a Hen. It’s a bad practice to set a hen in the general fowl house. Nothing will breed lice so quickly as a setting hen. And one hen will soon Incubate enough vermin to infest the whole house. The farmer kills the potato bug to prevent It from killing the plant. Why hot kill the louse to keep it from endangering the life of the chickens? 1 ‘What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander!" Dots from the Dairy. With cement floors in the stalls you can feed bran profitably,'even If you do not get it all back in the milk. It does not pay to let milk get cool before being set. It means a definite loss of butter when it goes to the churn. An acre of dry corn fodder as usually fed will keep a cow about 100 days, an acre of clover hay about 200 days, an acre of good ensilage about 700 days. Does the silo pay? The dairyman must study the relative value of the different feeding stuffs if he would find which way success lies. A small amount of Wasted food will destroy the margin of profit. If a dairyman depends upon buying of much feed he must have a most excellent head to enable him to turn it into a profit. The farm should supply most of what the cattle consume. A good cow in a village will do much toward supporting a family. By a good one, we mean such as will give eight quarts of milk per day for 300 days. See what this will yield, retailed at 6 cents per quart. Live Stock Notes. Neighboring farmers should confer together regarding their crops and stock at every possible opportunity. It will prove to mutual advantage. The stock breeder, to be successful, must have suitable soil and climate, backed by good taste, sound judgment and a liking for the business.— American Cultivator. No man can handle live stock successfully unless he likes the business. He must be kindly bv nature, fond of aftimals and solicitous for their comfort as well as for his own profit. Mate your animals in breeding with reference to individual characteristics as well as known pedigrees. The pedigree alone will not always insure the greatest merit in the progeny. Stock-keeping is the beginning and end of profit in diversified farming. The beginning, for It enriches the soil. The it affords a profitable means for disposing of many crops. Fine-boned hogs must be selected if you wish to make them ready for market at eight or ten months old. The coarse boned will make heavier hogs, but they cannot be fattened too young. You know that your stock can make the best’ use of food only when it is properly prepared for them. The same principle will apply to crops. Cultivate thoroughly and make th« food available

THE BASKET IN THE WELL.

A NOVELTY FOOTREST.