Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1904 — HINTS TOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

HINTS TOR FARMERS

To Taa Sheepskins. Wash the hide In warm water, ra* move all fleshy matter from the inner surface and loose dirt from the hair side. Now wash in strong, rather warm soapsuds. The old time soft soap made from wood ashes is best. Eithei rub by hand or gently on a washboard. .As soon as thoroughly cleaned and rinsed press as much of the water out as possible. Add the following mixture to the flesh side: Common salt and ground alum, one-fourth ounce each, and one-half ounce of borax dissolved In one quart of hot water. When sufficiently to work with the band, add enough rye meal to make a thick pasted Spread the mixture on the flesh side, fold and let it remain in a shady, airy place for two weeks and remove the paste and wash. When nearly dry, scrape the flesh side thoroughly with a dull knife. Rub with the hands until the skin is soft and pliable. Lice on Chicks. A jßinall pinch of lard placed on the heads of chickens will knock lice stiff, and it will not hurt the chick. Lice are the bane of fanciers who raise pure bred fowls, and a great many ills can be traced to them. Bowel trouble, weaknesses of all kinds, going light, cholera, leg weakness in young cockerels, general debility and numerous others can all be credited to them. Lice revel in filth and there multiply and take the flock down in a hurry. The combs turn black, and their bodies get so light in weight that the owners think they are really “going light,” which is but another name for consumption. The only way to successfully combat lice is to fight them all the time.—Farm and Ranch. Caring Clover Hay. Last year I went into a five acre field of clover just about the time It was in full bloom and cut it down, says a West Virginia farmer in National Stockman. After noon the rake was started, and what had been cut before noon was raked up and put in shock. The evening's cutting was put up the next day. The hay did not look as if it was more than half cured, but as soon as I could I put it all in the mow. The hay heated considerably in the now, and I felt a little uncertain as to how it would look when opened up, but when I fed it out during the winter I found that only where It got air was there any dumage done. Nearly all of the hay was in good condition. Keep the Cows Clean. The cows should be kept just as clean as possible. There is hardly any necessity of keeping cows with filthy flanks, belly, udder and teats, says a correspondent of Hoard’s Dairyman. It costs barely nothing, except a few boards, a little time and energy, to fix the stalls or stanchions in any old cow stable so that the cows cannot get soiled. Of course some cows will soil themselves if they are obliged to almost break their necks to do it In such a case it might be better to give the butcher a chance to do the “breaking,” provided he is willing to pay a fair price for the privilege. More Ash and Protein. It has been demonstrated that in the fattening of young hogs a ration containing more protein and ash than does corn gives better results than does a sole corn ration. This is something new to most hog raisers. It has been quite generally recognized that in growing the frame of hogs much protein was needed, but niost people have as-, sumed that when once the fpame had reached a remarkable size a whole corn ration could be fed to advantage. Experiments made at the lowa station apparently show the opposite. Farm and Home. ’Worms In Lambs. . The greatest loss of lambs is due to tape, stomach and lung worms, and as these parasites are always most numerous In old pastures the proper plan is to frequently change pastures, says Wool Markets and Sheep. When attacked there are numerous remedies, but one of the simplest and best Is two teaspoonfuls of gasoline In four ounces of sweet milk used as a drench twice about ten days apart. Care must be taken to avoid strangling, and a good way is to use in a bottle with a lamb nipple. Little Profit la Cooking Feed. The utility in cooking feed for animals, and especially for pigs, was given most attention in the days previous to investigations by experiment stations, says American Cultivator. Cooking feed is no longer regarded as an economical practice for fattening animals. However, for breeding stock and sick animals and for animals which it is desired to put into the very highest condition cooking may be practiced with good results if expense is disregarded. Pigs so fed show marked thriftiness and health. Rape For Poultry. When properly cared for .-fowls will do as well as if not better in yards than when allowed the freedom of the premises, says a New York fanner In American Agriculturist. The care includes plenty of green food every day. Lawn clippings do very nicely, also clover, lettuce and weeds. -1 have tried them all and found that Essex rape is the best relished by the fowls and Is as easily raised as any other green food. Tbo Breeds os Pork Makers. Results obtained in Maine, Massachusetts and Ontario show the feed eaten per 100 pounds gain by various breeds to be as follows: Poland-Chlna, 407 pounds; Berkshire, 419 pounds; Tamworth, 420 pounds; Chester White, 500 pounds; Du roc Jersey, 522 pounds.