Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1895 — ALL ABOUT THE FARM [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ALL ABOUT THE FARM

HOW THE CORN CROP IS NOW HARVESTED. Latest Machinery for Taking Care of America's Greatest Money CropSubsoil Attachment tor Plows—Adjustable Jack for Farm Wagona. A Modern Corn Binder. The great American money crop la Indian corn. It Is without much doubt native to the western continent, where Its production is practically controlled, as no other country possesses the soil and climate suited to Its best development The fertile land of the central west Is its natural home. Here it brings wealth and prosperity. A loss or

partial failure of a single crop amounts to a calamity. Machinery for preparing the ground, planting the seed and cultivating the growing plant has been Improved upon from time to time; but the one great drawback Is the lack of a practical implement for husking standing corn. This has not yet appeared. However, the same object is being partially accomplished In a somewhat roundabout way by means of th<> com binder and the combined husker and fodder shredder. All corn cannot be husked by this plan, as It necessitates cutting, shocking and running the cured fodder through the husker, but improved corn binders have made this practice more common than would have been possible a few years ago. The greater appreciation for corn fodder as feed for all kinds of farm animals, and its wide use, have created a demand for better corn harvesting machinery. A good idea of the 1895 corn binders can be had by carefully studying the accompanying illustrations. Fig. 1 is a view of the complete machine as seen from the rear. Where the corn is very tall an extra set of packer arms is provided. Fig. 2 shows the ffont part of the machine tilted forward In order to enable it to pick up lodged or leaning stalks. As soon as they reach the elevator chains and packer, these stalks are easily taken care of. The whole machine is light, simple and easily

operated. Various home-made contrivances for cutting corn have been devised also. Have bnt One Breed of Chickens, It Is much better for the novice or amateur to keep one good variety of fowls than three or four, for the first year or two at least. It prevents the possibility of their becoming mixed, gives you an opportunity of studying the particular points in breeding to feather, size, etc., and, last, but not least, it does away with the many little details that are bound to be associated with four or five varieties. There Is no business that an amateur can take hold of and make a success unless he begins at the bottom, says the Poultry World, and learns the many little details. The chicken business is no exception. Start with one good variety, study Its wants and merits for the first year with care, and then, as you become familiar with the business, add other varieties. It pays to keep three or four of the most popular, and at the same time it is pleasure to see them. Adjustable Wagon Jack. This wagon jack is made of white oak, the sill (a) 2 by 4 by 18 inches, the post (b) IVi by 4 by 28 inches. One Inch must be cut out of the post (b) half way down for the lever. The Iron brace to go through the lever is 1 by 3 by 42 inches. The crescent-shaped and toothed iron (d) passing through the center

of the post connecting with the lever Is 1% by % aid 30 Inches iong. It Is crescent shaped with notches about inches apart. The notches rest In a bolt and three holes should be made in the upright (b), thus Insuring adjustability to almost any desirable height for oiling ordinary farm vehicles.—Farm and Home. The Flavor of Batter. The flavor and aroma of butter are caused partly by the direct Influence of the feed and partly by ripening of thfe cream. To some extent, says Hoard’s flavor may be secured by the feed. It would be difficult to produce fine-flavored butter from the cream of cows fed on straw alone. For fine flavor In butter, clover hay (properly cured), pea meal and commeal, with bran and a few mangels, would, in my judgment, be best feed, and proper ripening of the cream, together with the exclusion of all bad flavors. Hogs Need Fresh Water. ; No animal suffers more from neglect jof something to drink than does the jhog. The slop and milk which ore comdconly given to pigs confined In the pen

are not good substitutes for water. The slop thrown Into the swill barrel from the table has too much salt to make a good drink, and the milk Is too solid to be a substitute for water Try the pigs at least once a day with clear fresh water, and you will be surprised to find how much they will drink of it. Hold inn Farm Produce. A correspondent of the Country Gentleman has found one advantage in prompt sales of produce. Every farmer knows, or should know, how much money he should receive for sales each year to meet the ordinary expense. If receipts are 4 eut down by small crops and low prices, he must plan to cut down expenses, or at least not to incur any extra expense. When a big crop is stored, in the expectation of better prices, one naturally figures receipts at the expected price, and if it Is not realized, there is disappointment, to say the least. By converting crops Into money as soon as they are ready for market, it seems possible to do a safer business. There is less care and worry. On the other hand, when convinced that any product is selling temporarily at a price far lower than conditions justify, the profit that is obtained by holding goes to the one most deserving it—the producer. An Automatic Gate. The ideal gate is one that will shut Itself and open each way. Such a gate was described in the New England Homestead as follows: A shows the irons for the upper hinge. B shows the lower hinge, which has double pinions, while C shows the catch driven into the post with the spring. To open and shut itself the gate must be hung about 4 inches out of plumb, having the lower hinge (B) project out Trom the post that much farther than the upper one. It shuts then just like a wagon rolling

down hill. The lower hinge (B) must be 8 inches from slot to slot. Picking Applen. Gather when the pips turn to a brownish color, and the fruit parts easily from the twig when turned to one side. As the fruit is gathered It should be laid lightly, not droppod, into a biisket, and be just as carefully removckl ftojq the basket to the storeroom. A," blow or knock will cause a bruise, which will be succeeded by rot. Store on straw on a dry floor. A bed of three inches of straw Will suffice. Lay the fruit quite thinly at first, and add another course when the first sweating is passed; later on the apples may lie three or four thick. When sharp frost threatens, cover up the fruit with straw, bags or something of that kind, to protect it from frost. A Subsoil Plovr Attachment. The accompanying illustration shows an attachment by means of which three, subsoil plows may be readily brought into use by the driver whenever needed. Suitable cranks, levers and crossbars serve to make the triplicate attachment conveniently adjustable, either vertically or laterally. The whole thing is controlled by a lever fulcrumed on the rear of the plow beam, a thumb latch being provided

which engages a rack on one of the handles. Farmers will all appreciate the advantages offered by this new device. Fertilizing Value of Wood Ashes. Hard-wood ashes from mixed timbers average, when fresh and not exposed to the weather, ten per cent of potash, three per cent of phosphoric acid and thirty per cent of lime, with some magnesia, soda and silica. They are an excellent fertilizer for every crop grower, lacking, of course, the nitrogen needed to make a complete food for plants. Ashes are excellent for grass and clover, all the vegetables grown in gardens, and for corn. They may be applied in any quantity up to forty bushels per acre, and at any time of the year. Peach Meringue Pie. Peach meringue pie. is delicious and is Line a deep earthen pie plate with a rich pie crust that has been rolled thin. Peel and slice enough peaches to fill the plate very full and sift sugai* over them. Crack half a dozen of the peach stones and take out the meat, blanch, chop fine and scatter among the fruit. Bake in a moderate oven. For the meringue use the white of two eggs beaten to a stiff froht and two tablespoonfuls of sugar. Spread over the peaches and return to the oven and brown lightly.

Potatoes aa Stock Feed. The farmer who grows potatoes does not have much time to spare in growing other root crops. But in every large crop of potatoes there will be a considerable portion that is too rough or too small to sell, and these can be profitably fed. No kind of roots is economical as the main feed. They are only used in small quantities as an appetizer, and for this purpose the small potatoes unfit for market are as good as roots of any kind. They Lack Persistence. Many amateur growers plant trees with enthusiasm and then grow discouraged over borers and rabbits; over spraying and pruning; over curculio and knots and lice and mice and grubrfj They are growers who will never glut the markets. They are a great help to the nurseries and give the progressive orchardist a chance to sell his superior products.

FIG. 1. THE IMPROVED CORN BINDER OF 1895—REAR VIEW.

FIG. 2. TILTED FORWARD TO PICK UP LODGED CORN.

FOR OILING FARM WAGONS.

A GATE THAT SHUTS ITSELF

FOB SUBSOIL FLOWS.