Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1898 — THE FARM AND HOME [ARTICLE]

THE FARM AND HOME

MATTERS OF INTEREST TO FARMER AND HOUSEWIFE. How to Raise Chickens Successfully— The Packing of Frnit for Market— When to Cut Corn Fodder—General Notes About the Farm. Mrs. W. S. Sherd, in Practical Farmer, tells how she manages chickens to make them profitable. She says: “Before setting my hens I cleared the nest of the old filling, threw in two or three handfuls of fresh slacked lime, put in fresh straw and sprinkled more lime all through the straw. I dusted each hen well with lime before placing her on the nest; again in about two weeks I dusted both nest and hen, and at hatching time not a louse was to be seen. Kept hen cooped for a week, feeding ehicks table crumbs, scraps of bread soaked in milk, curd and occasionally corn meal moistened, but not sloppy. When a week old I let them out on pleasant days after the dew was off and fed on wheat screenings mostly, though 1 fed some curd and corn meal, keeping milk or water near the coops at all times. I never had chickens thrive and do so well, and I think two very important things in giving them a start were their freedom from lice and the feeding of proper food. First get rid of the lice, then give proper food, and you will have no trouble raising chickens. For winter feed raise plenty of beets, carrots, turnips, cabbage, squashes and potatoes, and depend less upon grain, as the roots are so much cheaper and relished so much by the fowls. You will get more eggs by this plan of feeding. If yon feed oats for a change, cook them. I cook the roots, chop them up fine, then stir bran into the water they were cooked in, sailing and peppering well. This they enjoy, and pay me well in eggs for my trouble.” 1 hipping Fruit. Those who -ship fruit to market may net be fainUlar with the methods of handling fruit by the carriers and merchants. Fruit started from the farm may bo apparently well and properly packed, and yet arrive in the market in poor condition. The packing of fruit for market requires judgment and experience. There is something to learn and every grower should give some attention to securing information in that direction. One of the most important points is to have the fruit uniform, and of the same quality at the bottom of the basket or box as at the top, buyers always making close examination.

Cutting Dowa Corn Ftalks. When cutting down corn fodder one point to observe is to cut when the corn is bright. Do not delay until the fodder begins to turn yellow, but cut when the blades are green. The ears will be dry and be as valuable when fodder is cut at the green stage as to leave the corn standing until the blades begin to change. It is sometimes inconvenient to get into the field to cut the corn when it is ready, which causes a delay of a day or two. If the weath- < r is dry and warm the delay may greatly affect the valu? of the corn fodder. The stalks should be shocked in a manner to prevent being thrown down by the wind, as dirt is not conducive to its appearance or quality. The fodder should be removed to an open shed as soon as it can be done, so as to protect it against rain and dampness. If fodder is carefully preserved it will be more readily accepted by stock. The Asparactu Bed. The soil for an asparagus bed should be made rich before planting it. In the first place, the bed should have good drainage, and then it should have dug into it a heavy dressing of old manure. Do not use fresh manure, as this will be filled with weed seeds, and, besides, it is not so well adapted to plant nutriment as old rotted manure. Having the soil properly prepared, trenches should be opened about six inches in depth and the plants set in these trenches, spreading out the roots on the bottom of the trench in every direction. This done, commence to fill in the soil, which must be fine and capable of sifting down closely among the roots. After filling in two or three inches of soil, tread it down firmly on the roots, and then finish filling it in. Never allow any weeds to grow among the plants. To maintain the fertility, supply a coating of old manure, two or three inches in thickness, over the whole bed every fall, letting it tie on the surface, where the rain can soak it and wash it Into the soil. In the spring, what is left can be lightly pointed in so as not to disturb the roots. Range Cattle for Feeders. We have referred to the determination of cattle feeders to either buy their feeding stock at lower figures than last year or restrict their feeding operations, which suggests a lower scale of prices than a year ago for thin cattle. There Is another feature of the trade, however, that is likely to modify this tendency to some extent, and that is the condition of the range cattle. 1/ast year the average condition of the cattle from the northern ranges was far from good, and a great many of them went to the feed lots of the corn belt to again appear on the markets during the winter months. Unless oil signs fall, there will be quite a different state of affairs this year. The ranges are unusually good, and have been all along, and the cattle promise to come to market in excellent condition for the slaughterer. Moreover, the market promises to require them, as the supply of corn-fed natives is apparently running low. The feeders who bought cattle from the northern ranges last season will have to look else-

where for their stock this year, aha the problem before them is to get enough cattle at a reasonable figure.— National Stockman. Care of Raspberries. Raspberry bushes should not be neglected at this season. The canes that bore a crop this year shonld be cut off and removed to be burned. If left standing they will require as much sap as ever, and thus lessen the amount that should be available for the new canes that are coming on to produce the crop of next year. The new canes should be pinched off as soon as they get three feet high to induce them to send out lateral branches on which the fruit clusters of the next crop are to grow. If proper care Is taken of the raspberries there will be no need of stakes to keep them standing, as they may be so encouraged that the canes will be strong enough to stand without help' and bear any load of frnit that may grow on them.—Farmers’ Voice. Late Pallets. Those hatched since June will not lay until next spring, but they will be among the first to begin laying in the spring, and will not moult until the fall of next year. Such breeds as Leghorns and Hamburgs, however, mature very quickly, and pullets of those breeds sometimes lay when only four months old. The early pullets—those hatched tiefore April—should begin to lay before winter begins and lay through the winter. If the flock is large it will pay to get rid of the cockerels, so as to afford more room for the pullets and hens. Where the birds are crowded lice multiply rapidly and interfere with the growth of the young stock. Very little grain should be given poultry during the prevalence of warm weather. Growing Alfalfa. In growing alfalfa the land must be plowed deep and harrowed fine. Manure and fertilizer should be applied liberally and lime applied on the land in the faU. Sow the seed in the spring, using from 10 to 20 pounds of seed, according to circumstances, sowing broadcast if the land is clear of grass and weeds. If not it will be an advantage to drill the seed in rows, close together, and cultivate the first year with wheel hoes. Once established, an alfalfa plot will last for years, as the roots go down to great depths and secure moisture. In this section farmers should sow a few rows by way of experiment in the spring and keep the plants free of grass and weeds. An Evcry-Season Crop. Eggs are the all-year-around crop Other crops have their harvest, wher they must be sold at once or stored at an expense. With proper care bens an like money on interest, work Sundays holidays and rainy days. A basket ol eggs carried in one hand will oftet bring as much money as a load ol straw. A neighbor hauled a cord ol wood to market for $2: his wife car ried ten dozen eggs the same day which brought $2.50. A crate of eggs which can be taken to market in a light vehicle, will fetch as much as s load of produce. The cost of producing eggs is nothing compared to the hard work and expense of producing the other. Combination Mixture for Spraying. Arsenic and soda solution, or arsenite of soda, is more safely used in combination with Bordeaux mixture that alone. When in combination it will not injure the foliage, but alone it is liable to burn the leaves. The same objection holds good, however, with reference te Taris green and London purple. It it better, however. In almost every case to use the combination mixture, as fungi are nearly always present and unless they are kept in check there it but little use of fighting insects. —Ohio Station Bulletin.

Irrigating Gardens. Ten years ago the cost of a windmill was more than the owner of a small farm could afford, but windmills are better, more efficient and cheaper now. being within the reach of all. For irrigating gardens or small fruit farms they have been found very serviceable, and are more satisfactory in this section than in the West, as they are not essential except when there is a dry spell. When rain is abundant the windmill stores water for use when the moisture is lacking, and the cost is but little compared with the advantages gained. The Pasture in Winter. Keep the stock off the pasture and spread manure over the surface, so as to protect during the winter and give the grass a good start early in the spring. Those who manage to have good pastures allow the grass to grow late In the year and broadcast with manure after the frost appears. In thy spring the land is harrowed, so as to fine up the manure, and wood ashes applied. In this manner a good sward Is maintained for many years. Some pastures are cropped too close. The Best Cantaloupe. Cantaloupes have been plentiful thia year and were very fine, but consumers do not get those of the best quality The Emerald Gem, a dark variety, anc of unsightly appearance, would be rejected In market, yet it is far ahead ol all others in quality. If some enter prising grower would give away sam pies, with a circular calling attentior. to the variety, he would be unable tc supply the demand the next season and could get his own prices for them. Early Onion*. To have early onions before the spring varieties are ready sow the seed of the Egyptian tree onion, and leave the plants in the ground all winter They are hardy, and if covered witk straw, and the covering removed la March, they will start off early in the spring and give the first crops to be obtained.