Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1903 — FARM AND GARDERN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARM AND GARDERN

WINTER DAIRYING. Where the. conditions ere each that winter dairying can be successfully pursued, it can be male a profitable business. Prices for butter are usually better in winter than in summer, and there is more time to properly perform the work. Rut unless the conditions are favorable, it would be better to follow the older system of commencing dairy operations early in the spring. For both purposes, good cows, those best adapted to the business, should be selected and kept, so no more need be said on this point. The first thing to be considered in this business is the winter quarters. These should he made warm, light and comfortable. There should be room enough for the cows, anl to easily get around in caring for them. The floors should be constructed as to meet the requirements of the animals of all sites, and with the addition of sufficient bedding tend to keep them clean and comfortable. It should be remembered that the cows are to remain in these stables during the long winter, where they will require much care from the owner, hence the desirability of having everything made as convenient as circumstances will admit for the comfort of the animals and the saving of labor in caring for them.

After proper housing comes the question of feeding. If a satisfactory yield in milk is expected there must he feel to produce it, and It should be the most suitable for the purpose; for it will be quite different caring for cows giving milk and those ♦hat go dry at this season of the year. It is possible with proper kinds and combinations of feed —both fodder and grain—to produce as good results from cows in winter as with the average of summer pasturages. At least this Is the experience of the writer. For best results, the ensilage should certainly form a prominent part In the daily rations of cows, and the farmer who calculates to follow winter dairying will consult his own interest in providing this kind of fodder in sufficient amount for his use. I would also, if possible, have good clover hay, as these two kinds of fodder form the best combination for the purpose. The clover contains a la-ge amount of protein, necessary to properly balance the carbohydrates in the corn silage. With plenty of clover hay there will not need to be so much grain feed containing protein, as bran, the gluten feeds, cotton-seed meal, etc. With a sufficient amount of these feeds, fodder and grain; properly fed, there should be a good yield of milk rich In butter fat, provided the kind of cows for the purpose are kept. If the farmer has no ensilage then he must make as good a ration for the purpose as he can for milk and butter out of the fodders he has, feeding such kinds of grain as will best help to make a suitable ration. We do not feed at noon, not considering this best with two separate feeds morning and night.—American Cultivator. IMPROVEMENT OF CORN. Prof. L. H. Bailey In Country Life In America explains the wonderful manner In which corn is being Improved. The particular materials that give the corn kernel most of its value are the oil, the portein and the starch. For the production of corn oil—for which the demand is large—a corn that has a high oil content Is, of course, particularly valuable; while for the production of starch or for the feeding of bacon hogs, a relatively higher percentage of other materials is desirable. It is apparent, therefore, that races of corn should be bred for a particular content, depending on the disposition to be made of the grain. Equal economic results cannot be attained, however, in Increasing the content of any of the three leading ingredients, since a pound of gluten is worth cent, a pound of starch one and one-half cents, and a pound of oil five cents. Hie amounts of these ingredients in the corn kernel are amenable to increase or diminution by means of selection —by choosing for seed the kernels of ears that are rich or poor in one or the other of these materials. Fortunately, the oil and starch and protein of the corn kernel occupy rather distinct zones. Next, the outside hull is* a dark and horny layer that is very rich In portein; in the' center Is the large germ, very rich in oil; between the two la a white layer of starch. It is found that the kernels on any ear are remarkably uniform in their content; the dissection of a few kernels, therefore, enables the breeder to determine the ears that are rich In any one of the substances. Experiment stations, in the corn-growing states are already • making great headway in this new breeding of corn, and one large concern in Illinois is taking it up as a commercial enterprise. All this recalls ths remarkable breeding experiments of the Vllmorias in France, whereby tbe sugar-content of the beet was raised several points. It is impossible to overestimate the raise of nay concerted corn-breed lag work of

this general type. The grain alona of the corn crop is worth nearly one hi Won dollars annually. It is possible to increase this efficiency several percentages; the coming generation will see it accomplished. ' POULTRY NOTES. Every poultry keeper should bear well in mind tint a fowl house should not be a “foul” house. The most stringent efforts should always bo made to keep It clean. Fowls appreciate all that ij| done to keep them clean and comfortable. When you clean out the fowl house do It thoroughly, for it is no use doing things by halves. Take out everything that is movable and give a thorough scrubbing. Fowlb are good at eating up all Fcvaps from the house, nothing need te wasted. The pieces from the dinner plates are greatly relished by them, while they will readi.'y tlevour ail the vegetable parings if well boiled and mrted with meal. A little salt added to the soft food is very beneficial. Salt is as necessary for the health of the fowls aa It is for human beings. A little epsom salts mixed In the soft food once a fortnight does wonders to keep both chickens and stock birds in health; only remember that a little is recommended —not a lot If the' hens lay soft-shelled eggs give them a large heap of rubbidh or earth to, scratch over; soft shells Indicate that hens are too fat. cise and occupation will noon put them right again. It is a good plan when fowls are kept In small runs to place some straw or hay or even wood shavings in a heap and scatter some grain over it The birds will be busy scratching the heap over *the corn, and by thus working for their dinner they are getting exercise. Grit is one of the most important items In the fowl’s daily bill of fare. The birds need it—nay, they must have it—as it helps digestion and consequently tends to good health and vigor. The broods of young chicks should be closely scanned and all that are decidedly faulty should be put by themselves until big enough to kill. Both the good and the bad will thrive better If separated.

SUBDUING LICE. Some years ago the writer was visiting a friend who was a breeder of high-class dogs and found him treating the animals for fleas. His method was to make a mild kerosene emulsion, using either soap or sweet cream with the water, and scrub the dogs. One could see the fleas struggle out the hair in their efforts to escape. While more trouble to apply, this same method will rid cats of fleas. This year the idea occurred to us to try the emulsion on the pigs which were afflicted with the large blue lice which make the life of the pig so miserable. We used a pint of kerosene to a cupful of soft soap in two gallons of water, and with a brush scrubbed the pigs thoroughly and the lice were subdued. This plan is quite as effectual as the older one of mixing kerosene and lard and is not so disagreeable to apply. To make the job thorough, all of the bedding was taken from the pens and burned and the houses disinfected with carbolic acid. After a day or two kerosene was sprinkled over the floor and walls and new bedding put in place. These lice on swine must be fought or the animals will worry so that they will not take on weight.

GRUBS IN SHEEP. An authority on sheep says that grubs in sheep are as natural as hair on the tail of a horse, and the best way to care for them te to let them alone. Sheep raisers whose animals have been troubled with grubs in the head will not agree with this method, perhaps, but there Is no doubt but what there te too much unskilled treatmenf of sheep for this pest, and much of the treatment is cruel in the extreme. There te no doubt but what good care and proper food make the sheep strong enough to resist the attacks of grubs, and unless the case Is very bad little attention should be paid to grubs. There te no way of getting the pest ont of the flock entirely. If one has a bad case in the flock and the animal is valuable it will pay to put It In the hands of a skilled veterinarian for treatment Do not use the often advised method of running wires up the nostrils of the animals in a vain endeavor to pierce the grabs.—lndianapolis News.

A New Orleans ghirtmaker’s statement that he has discovered the longhunted yellow fever parasite te arousing some interest. The farms of the United States cover 841,000,000 aerqs and employ nearly 10,500,000 people. An Englishman has covered 417 miles la 91 hours and II minutes With his automobile. .