Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1896 — FARMS AND FARMERS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARMS AND FARMERS

Partitions in SilosWhere several silos are desired, or *rhere two kinds of silage are to be, stored so as to be fed at any time, one large silo with one or more partitions yvlll be cheaper than separate silos. In the illustration shown herewith will be seen how a partition may be pnt in a round silo. By running a second partition at right angles to the first the silo may be divided into four pits, but it is always best to avoid partitions when possible to do so. If a partition is made it should be air-tight, but if the filling takes place on both sides at the same time, it need not be as strong. In the round silo the partition should be put in aiter the lining. To make the partition, two thicknesses of inch boards With paper between may be used. These should be nailed to studding made,out of 6xC’s sawed in two diagonally, using two pieces at each end of the partition, placed so that the sawed face fills the. corner formed by the partition. With the intermediate studs the boards should be nailed to the sawed or wide bide, so as to avoid forming square corners. If a rectangular silo is built, then two layers of matched fencing paper between should be used for the lining. To lessen the spoiling of silage at the corners, these should be trot off with one layer of inch boards about 18 inches long. This should then be lined with roofing tin soldered, together into a strip long enough to reach from near the top to the bottom, and wide ensmgb to nail to the lining and to completely cover the two ends of the short boards by as much as two inches

on each side. The tin should be kept painted with coal tar to prevent rusting. Felectinir Seed Corn. Selection of seed corn and its care afterwards are of much more importance than many realize, until bitter disappointment faces them with perhaps . one-third of a stand, and then it is too late to recover for the year And still farmers go right on and do the same thing another year. A careful and painstaking farmer who makes a success of all his farm operations says upon the subject: ‘•While I always go into the field and select early a% least a part of the seed, I do not plant such selection unless I have failed at husking time to gather such as I'Mesire. I can select just the size and shape that seeems best to my mind at that time and I cure it in the chamber over my kitchen gtove and leave it there until wanted in the ear. 1 would not shell any I did not use for the year, and during my entire life I have never so saved corn that 98 per cent, would not grow, and seldom ever fails even at three years old. While the early ripening will always grow and will make very early corn, after a number of years of such saving I am satisfied that variety grows small by*so doing. I prefer to sow the largiest and best of its kind. At husking time, either from stalk or shock one can make the selection. Leave enough husk on the ear and throw to one side of. the wagon and in this way the corn can be selected with‘‘little or no hindrance, unless there has been a very hard freezing with corn damp there is very little danger of its not growing if properly cared for after picking.”

A Good Cement. An excellent cement for mending almost anything may be made by mixing together litharge and glycerine to the consistency Of thick cream or fresh putty. The cement is useful in mending stone jars or any coarse earthenware, stopping leaks in seams of tin pans or •wash boilers, cracks and holes in Iron kettles, etc. It may also be used to fasten on lamp tops, or tighten loose nuts, to secure loose bolts whose nuts are lost, to tighten loose joints of wood or iron, or in many other ways about the various kitchen utensils, the range, sink and in the pantry fittings. In all cases the article mended should not be used until the cement has hardened, Which will require from one day to a week, according to the quantity of cement used. This cement will resist the Action of water, hot or cold, acids, and almost any degree of heat. Hovr to Cure Meat. After killing and dressing, if In cold weather, bring the hogs into some building where they will not freeze, as pork which has been once frozen Is more difficult to cure. To commence cutting up—after the animal heat is out of the carcass—cut off the head just behind the, ears. If cut in the right place the head can easily be twisted off. Cut off the feet an inch or a little more below the hocks; then cut down the middle of the backbone, lay the two sides flat and take ouLthe lard, beginning, at the kidney. It lo not a bad plan to take oat the lard while the pig*

are hanging, and before they are quite set. Cut off the hams, cutting with a sloping cut Trim them neatly, the trimmings will all come in for sausage meat and be more profitable than If ugly corners are left on, which are also wasted when once cured on the hams. Next cut off the shoulder behind the shoulder blade. Trim shoulder* after taking out rib bones. Take back and rib bones out of sides, unless In case of light weight hogs, when it Is better to take out back bone only, leav-ing-ribs In. To take out ribs, keep the knife as near the bones as possible. This may be awkward at first, but experience will teach. Handling Haled Hay. It Is difficult to lift an ordinary bale on to a wagon‘more on account of Its unwieldiness than its weight The wrought iron hook presented in the Illustration will enable a man to handle

baled hay with much greater ease. The bale to be lifted should be stood on one end, then lean the upper end against you and reach over and place the near the other end and bring it up perpendicularly and then the whole bale may be easily handled. The hook should be made of 3-8 inch round iron, with a loop for a good grasp by the hand and may be drawn out smaller at the other end.-" Farm and Home.

What Counts. Some men will do twice as much work as others in a given time, and not seem to be working hard either. It Is steadiness and “know how” that counts. False steps and motions soon wear out the hardest workers. Take an Interest In what you do, and hire the v men that can get over work rapidly and well, even if they do cost a little more per day. It will pay in the long run. Caring for Sweet Potatoes. The old theory of pulling sweet potato vines as soon as killed by the frost is erroneous. The potatoes should be dug before cold weather and stored In layers in a dry cellar. If possible get them off the floor. Pack around the outside of the box or shelf holding them with leaves. They are quite susceptible to light touches of frost. The Live Partners, The live farmer is sure to be at the farmers’ institutes where experienced men come to relate the causes of success, and of their various failures, In attaining it. The live farmer Is awake to the importance of listening to men of his kind. Their experience Is the power which pushes on agricultural progress.

A. HANDY HAY HOOK.

PARTITION IN ROUND SILO.