Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1895 — REALRURAL READING [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

REALRURAL READING

WILL BE FOUND IN THIS DEPART MENT}<’ " Plnn for a Model Hairy Barn—Choose a Fast Walking Team for Farm Use How to Cure Smoky Chimneys— Agricultural Motes. Hairy Barn. The bafo Illustrated herewith waa bullt'Wlth this purpose in view by Kdwin Parsons, on his Riverside dairy farm of 100 acres in York County, Maine. The frame work of the barn is shown in the first picture. The main barn is 42x72 feet, the cow stable on the south side being 30x30 foot. There is a cellar un.ier me whole eight feet

deep; the bottom is cemented, and the wall is entirely built of split granite, the entrance being under the driveway to the main floor at the east end. The frame, says the Orange Judd Farmer, is one of the best pieces of work of its kind ever put together on ft farm, nnd was designed by Mr. Parsons, who made the working plans, laid out the work, and personally superintended its construction. The frame is supported throughout by iron rods and bolts; thorp are no mortises to the frame with the exception of tho plates, which are mortised to the posts. In the base of the tower is a water tank having a capacity of 5,000 gallons. This tank is filled, by means of a windmill force pump, from the river, and a stand pipe is supplied with tire hose. Thoroughly built in every detail, thlß barn is also well furnished in every particular. Water is supplied to the mangers of the cow barn and to the horse Btable. Patent adjustable stancheons are provided, and the latest liny fork and carrier. Great attention has been paid to ventilation, which Is regarded as very nearly or Quite perfect In its operation. The silo has a capacity of 175 tons. A ground plan is shown

In the second Illustration that explains Itself, the detulls of which will form an Interesting study to all Interested In barn architecture. A Convenient Bag-Holder. The accompanying illustration, taken from the Ohio Farmer, shows a cheap and efficient contrivance to take the place of man or boy In the work of putting grain Into sacks. It is made by taking a igood sound wooden barrel hoop and closing It to the desired diameter. To the hoop attach ftireo legs, which should be of light wood which will not split when the hoop Is nailed to the tops. The tops of tho legs are beveled from the side next the hoop In order to give spread at tho bottom.

The legs may be of any length that will suit the fancy, but should be a little shorter than the sacks. It is not necessary that the hoop be so small as the diameter of the smallest sack, because If the sack Is small It need not be hooked ont'o all the small nails that are driven from the Inside of the hoop. The materials cost almost nothing and the - holder can be made In half an hour. A Team for Country U*e. Choose a fast walking team; or, If you own a good young team, teach.i them to walk by rarely trotting theme: There Is double advantage In a rapid the Massachusetts Plough-' man. Time Is saved in cultivation and harvest, and wagons last much longer when taken at a fair rate of speed such as seen In a rapid walk than if driven more rapidly, whether loaded or not. The slow-walking team Is made to bang the wagon at fnequent Intervals to make up for the time lost while walking. Many horses can be taught to walk four miles an hour. Notice the difference In the hayfleld, whether you can afford a slow, moping horse. A free-walking horse can easily cultivate seven acres of narrow rows In a day; many slow walkers will not cover four acres. Which Is preferable? A fast walk. If it be steady, will not cover plants more than a slow walk—ln fact, it Is not so likely to, because the earth falls at the edge of the furrow mellow and fine. Lime as a Fertilizer. From many tests made upon land la various parts of the State, it has been found that much of the plain land of Rhode Island is, perhaps, more acid than it should be for most profitable cultivation, says the Agriculturist Upon land that is acid the application of alr-slnked lime in quantities of one to three tons, evenly spread and thoroughly worked into the soil after the land la plowed for a crop, hfls beenproductive

of good results. If the land referred to by your correspondent is ovtuam with mess, “worn out,” or fails td gfow clover Vhen sown, I should not "hesitate to apply one or two tons of airslaked lime per acre, and thoroughly work it into the soil by repeated harrowing. The lime will probably hasten the decomposition, and make the fertilizing material In the soil more quickly available, which would be desirable for any early crop. The application of the lime Is especially desirable if the land is to be seeded to clover in the near future. , Smoky Chimneys. Few things will rulse the ire of the housewife or kitebeh girl quicker than to be obliged to burn gteen wood, or to endure the evils of a smoky chimney. But the chimney affair should l>e easily disposed of. Most smoky chimneys are not built to the proper height, and it is usually the kitchen chimney that fails to give a proper draft to the stove, or discharge the smoke at the top in a satisfactory manner. The revolving patented appliances to bo attached'to the top of chimneys do not always give satisfaction, and to obtain a proper draught the chimney must often be extended to the level of the ridge of the main building. This renders in, most cases a structure of brick quite impracticable, hence resort must bo had to a galvanised attachment that any tinsmith will furnish. It should set down over one course or layer of brlc}4). Put it in place some still day, first coating with mortar tho sides of brick to be covered by the hood, that a close Joint may bo had. If not more than two

lengths of pipe are added two stays of Wire' attached to the rfege will prove sufficient; If the distance is greater, use three stays, which will hold It securely. Windbreaks for Poultry. On windy days tho hens will resort to any kind of shelter qr break that protects them from the wlndfe- As they prefer to be t in tho open air as much as possible, says the Prairie Farmer, the necessity for some kind of shelter often arises. It need not bo a covered shed, ns clear, sunny weather induces tho fowls to forage, and they prefer to be In the sunlight. All they need is a close fence or wall. Thls,should prompt those who contemplate making poultry yards to have the lower part of the fence, to the height of about two feet from the ground, close, so that tho hens may be protect*.' ed from the direct action of strong winds. If they are exposed to the full force of tho wind, even when the weather Is not very cold, tho result will bo catarrh, and eventually roup. Kffccta of Dehorning' On June 7 about seventeen cows were dehorned. Some of tho animals appeared to suffer conslderbale pain and quite a loss of blood, while others did not appear to mind it a grent deal. There was little, if any, less milk on the days after dehorning, though tho percentage of fat fell off to soino extent The average per cent of fat in the milk of twenty-two cows, says F. J. Slelghtholm, of the Ontario Agricultural College, most of which were dehorned. for the three days previous to dehorning was 3.0, while (or the four days after dehorning it was 3JW. Tho uwerage per cent of fat of tho four cow’s not dehorned was four for threo days before, and 4.3 for the four days after dehorning.

Gardens on Heavy Boil. It used to be thought that only on sandy soil could good early gardens be made. It Is true that the sandy soil is easily permeable to the air and is soon warmed, and It Is also well drained. But it has too little vegetable matter, and the sand dries out in hot weather, so that however promising the vegetables may be In early spring they prove a failure. Well drained, heavy land, thoroughly cultivated to a fine tilth, Is best for most garden crops. There are a few, however, that do best on sand, but it requires heavy and frequent manuring to make such land produce Its best results. A Good Breed of Swine. The Duroc Jersey will pay as well, or better, than any other breed for the feed consumed. They will fatten at any age. They are gentle and easily, .panaged. They are at home everywhere. They are the most prolific breed. They raise as large a percentage of their pigs ns any other breed, and*.their good coat of hair protects them from the heat of summer and the : cold of winter. v; 1 w'Pasturing Woodland*. It is not worth while to turn cows into woodlands early for the pasture they wlil' 1 get. Shaded as the ground is under the trees the grass is very lnnutritlous until the season is well advanced. There are besides in most woodlands many weeds like wild garlic which spoil the taste of milk, and make the woodlands unsuitable for pasturing with cows at any season. Agricultural Atoms. Keep a close account of the cost of crops. Transplant without moving the dirt from the roots. Use a shovel. Sulphur, salt and sulphate of iron in equal parts is good for worms in lambs. Hens relish a bit of charred corn once or twice a week and it Is healthful. Irregular feeding Is thought to be the cause of many disorders among fowls. Agriculture cannot be kepi; In the background; it is the heart of tbe-pa^, tion, which forces the life blood throughout the body politic. ujl-n.'i Better stock and better feeding and management will do for American farmers what it has done for English farmers to make farming more profitable by stock growing.

FRAMEWORK OF BARN.

FLOOR PLAN OF THE BARN.

A CHEAP BAG-HOLDER.

IRON CHIMNEY TOP.