Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1905 — HINTS FOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

HINTS FOR FARMERS

Protect the Potato Crop. The use of blighted potatoes for seed should be avoided, particularly if they rotted to any extent in storage, says Professor Stewart of the New York experiment station in American Agriculturist. The blight fuugus passes the winter in partially rotten tubers. In planting such tubers one takes some risk of communicating the disease to the new crop; hence care should be taken to reject all seed pieces showing any sign of decay. But in spite of the closest sorting some affected pieces are sure to be overlooked. However, the planting of diseased seed is not so serious a matter as might appear at first thought. Blight spreads with such wonderful rapidity that one is sure to get it soon from neighboring fields if the weather is favorable, no matter how much care is taken to plant healthy seed. Spraying must be doue anyway. My opinion is that blight free seed should be used as far as possible, provided it can be obtained at reasonable prices. But for protection against blight spraying with bordeaux must be the chief reliance. Government Wlillewkih. This whitewash is said to be equal to oil paint and will not rub off: Whiting, five pounds: skim milk, two quarts; fresh slacked lime, one-half pound. Put the lime into a stoneware vessel and mix in sufficient milk to make as thick as cream without lumps and add the rest of the milk. Sprinkle the whiting on top and allow it to sink without stirring. After this it must be well stirred, and it is ready to use. Apply as paint, using as many coats as necessary. This has a great tenacL ty when applied to wood jjf ; has very little odop-*#ben wet and when dry recipe is well Indorsed. Allklfk For Swine, ytfwine breeders are beginning to recognize the great value of alfalfa. Tws, strong addresses were made on subject An acre of alfalfa will k %p three times as many bogs as an a fre of red clover. Hogs like alfalfa V&y during winter. Alfalfa meal is a wood food, but too expensive—123 per Ron. The protein in a ton of alfalfa almost equals the protein In a ton of bran. Both are too expensive. The breeder must procure something cheaper: hence grow alfalfa. Feed green in summer and the hay in winter,—A. Bhirer in National Stockman. Select the Sect Berne. "No matter how much room you

have, you have no room for puny, sickly chickens,” stated Professor J. F. Jeffrey of the North Carolina experiment station in a recent bulletin. “Do not make the mistake so commonly made on the farms of breeding from all the hens—good, bad and indifferent—but select only the best to breed from if it be only half a dozen hens. You will make more progress In this way in one year than you would in the hit or miss method in six.” Weuliii the Colt. Colts should be weaned all the way from three to five mouths old, says George McKerrow in American Cultivator. A three or four year old colt should not be worked hard, because he is shedding teeth and is likely to get iuto a feverish condition that requires careful feeding, including some roots or oilmeal and such laxative hays as part clover and part alfalfa. If the colts get badly run down in condition a little fiaxseed will be good and turn him into a good pasture. Cere of Nursery Stock. When nursery stock arrives unpack from the bale or box, wet both tops and roots thoroughly and set in a cool, shady, moist place. Protect the roots from sun and wind. When carrying to the field and until set in the ground keep covered with wet straw or moss. If planting cannot be done as soon as the trees arrivfjAeel them in and keep well they can be set—Americas Agriculturist The Am* Flock. The farm becomes clear and fertile where flocks are kept on It and suitably pastured. If the ewes are kept too fat before lambing, they will secrete too much milk, and this will cause caked beg. When there is plenty of good pasture It Is the best and cheapest time tup prepare sheep for market In the avert age merino sheep the best fleece can b! expected at three or four years, aft*n which deterioration naturally follows. Fodder For Skecp. When clover hay is fed, one quart a day of the mixture is a liberal ration for ewes and half of this quantity for lambs. Redtop is excellent for sheep, but it must not be too dry or woody. This grass if not too rank will make hay next best to clover or alfalfa. Improve the Ftm. Sheep through the peculiar nutritiousness of their manors and tbs facility with which it is distributed are found to be the most economical in renewing the productiveness of the land. ftaul Th® Democrat for news.