Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1895 — AGRICULTURAL NEWS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AGRICULTURAL NEWS

A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR OUR RURAL READERS. Rake for Clearing Off the Corn Stub-ble-Neat Design for an Ice House— Fifty-five Experiment Stations in the United States. Clearing the Corn Stnbble. The neaf farmer who loves to see his fields clean and free from trash that Is unsightly (and it may be said that whatever is thus disagreeable Is equally undesirable in other ways) always objects to the appearance of the cut corn stubs in the land in which the oats are sown as the first of the spring crops. They are not only unpleasant to look at, but they are in the way of good culture of the land. The Illustration, from the American Agriculturist, shown an implement for gathering this rubbish and getting rid of It so as to turn

it to immediate good use. A bar of strong oak timber six Inches wide and three thick has a tongue fitted into it in the usual way. and is furnished with a number of curved teeth made of halfinch steel bar. The teeth are sharpened so that they take fast hold of the stubs below the surface of the ground and tear them out, and also gather them as they pull them out of the soil. As a load is collected, the rake Is lifted by a pair of handles fastened to the bar. The bar may be made as long or short as may be thought proper. Farming at the Stations. From the Kansas State Board of Agriculture comes a very Important and exhaustive summary of the methods and ways of feeding wheat and low-priced grains to animals. At a time when many farmers are feeding wheat, and others considering the advisability of doing the same, this report is of special value. The report covers detailed experiences of farmers all over the country, and the conclusion is that farmers are justified in feeding their animals wheat when so cheap, and that despite some unfavorable reports the practice {is a g<?nerai thing is wise. In many localities it is the only profitable disposition of the low-priced grain this year that can be made, and when wisely and intelligently fed It makes money for the farmer. All reserves of low-priced grain should be thus disposed of rather than sending it to market at a positive loss, which is frequently the case. From abroad come the reported results of experiments with sugar beets that should be of value to those engagaged in tills industry in this country. At the Halle Experiment Station, where everything relating to beet sugar cultivation is carefully studied, it has been demonstrated in recent experiments that kainet tends to increase the sugar contents of the beets, while nitrate of soda has the opposite effect of redueng the amount. It is said that the beets get sufficient soda from the kainet, and the potash which they especially need is then readily absorbed.—Germantown Telegraph. Mandarin Ducks. These are among the most beautiful domestic aquatic fowls and as the name indicates they are of Chinese origin. They are very highly prized on account of the beauty of their plumage and numerous good qualities. A few have been domesticated and kept ns IWts. Like all other flying ducks, It has a small body and its feathers are of many colors. The crest of the drake droops on the neck, but he has power to raise it at will. The sides of the head are of a whitish corn or canary color and the under feathers around the neck

of a rich chestnut The breast is light red, the back a light brown and the under part white. The fan feathers of the wings are chestnut with brilliant green tips and four bands over the shoulder black and white. The bill is crimson and the legs pink. The female is a strong constrast to the male and is half gray and brown. These ducks are easily tamed, and though the males are sometimes quarrelsome when first confined, they soon accept the situation. Shoeing Horses. The feet of the horse should receive special attention. No two horses require shoes alike. Ignorant blacksmiths, who know how to make a shoe and drive in a nail, but who know nothing of the structure of the hoof, destroy or injure more horses than all other causes combined. The frog is cut away, the hoof is burned, and the rasp is freely used where it should not even touch the hoof. This is a very important matter to those owning horses. Horse-shoeing is now a science. When to Sell. A potato grower of long experience, discussing the question of whether it was better to sell or hold'the crop says: “My opinion is that it is undoubtedly best to sell at 50c per bushel at digging time, even if one were assured of double the price four months after storing. Handling, shrinkage and decay in four months usually reduce the amount stored about one-third, and I have never found out when to Market a well-grown crop.” A Look Ahead. The windmill and the brook water wheel are yet to be harnessed for eleei tricity, and the grain threshed, the wood ! sawed, feed cut, water pumped, house lighted and heated without extra cost

The water power on or near every farm will transmit Its force over a wire to every field and building, and will save untold labor. Experiment Stations. There are, not including branches, fifty-four experiment stations in the United States, forty-nine of which receive the Federal appropriation. In 1893 the stations received $950,073, of which $705,000 came from the National Government, the remainder from State governments, private individuals, fees for fertilizing analyses, sales of farm products, a’nd ’other sources. In addition, the office of experiment stations at Washington has an appropriation of $25,000. There were 532 persons employed. 298 bulletins issued, and forty-eight annual reports. The act of Congress making appropriations for the stations for the year ending June 30, 1895, provided for the first time for the sui>erviston of the station expenditures by United States authorities. Administration of the funds is left, as before, to State authorities, but a statement of how they are expended must be made to the Federal officers.

Hedge Fences ns Windbreakers. Land is much cheaper in this country than in Europe. Almost everywhere the outcry against hedge fences is that they cost too much to trim, and that they waste too much land. This depends largely on how the hedge is managed. A hedge allowed to grow at will may well exhaust the soil of moisture at least for a considerable distance either’ side of It. But if kept closely pruned every year the hedge roots will not extend far. Besides, a close hedge breaks the force of winds and holds the snow from blowing. This makes the soil where the snow has been molster than it would otherwise be. Storms and winds are more violent in this country than they usually are in Europe. The hedge fence Is an important protection against the blowing away of rich surface soil wherever the soil is light. It may even pay as a windbreak in locations where it is not needed to restrain stock from Injuring the crops. Design for an Ice House. Many small farm Ice houses have to stand out by themselves, and are thus exposed to the full effect of tlie sun’s rays. These falling directly upon the roof cause a good deal of heat to be generated within, to the.consequent loss of ice. The Illustration shows an Ice house with two roofs, with an air space between, which will very greatly obviate this trouble. Such an extra roof can easily be placed upon a small building, to the saving of no small amount of

Ice during the heat of summer. Every farm should be equipped with a wellfilled ice house, for ice Is a necessity, not a luxury. There are many now ideas in harvesting, storing and using Ice nowadays. Look to the Quality. That quality adds more to the profit than prices may be demonstrated almost every day by a visit to the market. Recently a lot of cattle averaging over 1,500 pounds each sold for SO.IO per 100 pounds, or 2c per pound more than the regular prices In Chicago, equivalent to S3O gain on each steer, as well as the advantage derived from the heavy-weights. Notes. Farmer Gibson, near Avona, Pa., has raised a family of thirteen squashes on one vine, the smallest of which weighed 117 and the largest 141% pounds. The corn fodder should now be gotten out of the fields while the weather permits. Every day’s exposure deteriorates Its quality and renders It less palatable to stock. Vicious cows should not be retained, as they are liable to do harm to the attendants or to the other members of the herd. They are at all times a source of danger. In 1889 Kentucky raised nearly onehalf of the tobacco grown in this country, the amount raised by that State being 283,306,000 pounds, on 323,409 acres, the product being valued at $21,247,000. The cost of production governs the profit and. not the prices received. Extravagance in feeding, waste of valuable food, and the use of stock that does not produce above the average, are the obstacles which entail losses. Skimmed milk or buttermilk answers as well for young pigs as the whole milk, especially if ground oats and ground wheat are added to the milk, so as to make a thin mush. With warm quarters, such food will make the pigs grow rapidly. When the Japanese wish to send grapes to distant friends they pack them in boxes of arrowroot. Light and air are thus effectually shut out, and the delicate bloom is also even though the fruit has been transported thousands of miles. A mess of cooked turnips given once a day will be found excellent in increasing the growth of young animals. They do not contain any great proportlon of nutrition; being mostly water, but they promote the appetite and serve a dietary purpose, being a change from the usual dry food. Drainage in winter saves plants from being thrown out by the frost. Whenever it can be done, a furrow should be opened with the plow to drain off water to the nearest ditch. This work will require but a few hqurs, and It will be of great benefit. It answers well where small fruits are grown. It has been demonstrated, says an Eastern paper, that tlie feeding of ! wheat is just what the farmers should have done long ago. Farmers who had intended to discard wheat now believe that It pays to grow it for stock. It is considered superior to all other foods, especially If ground or cracked.

RAKE FOR CLEARING CORN STUBBLE.

PAIR OF MANDARIN DUCKS.

ICE HOUSE.