Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1905 — HINTS FOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

HINTS FOR FARMERS

Merita of the Male. The average farmer probab'y Is not aware of the fact that an average mule sells for $lO per bead more than horses, says St. Louis Republic. Such Is the case, and the price has been gradually rising for a number of years. There has never been what would be called an overproduction of mules, while the market has often been'unable to fully supply the trade. The ability of the mule to endure great heat has brought it into most general use in the southern states, where large farms are devoted entirely to raising them. The mule matures more quickly than the horse and can be placed on the market from one to two years sooner than the average horse. This means a large profit to the producer and quicker returns for the investment. A well fed mule can be worked at two years of age with safety if proper judgment is exercised by the driver. They are much less nervous than a horse, thus not so liable to accident or blemish. A blemish that woo’d make a fine horse unsalable would take but a trifle from the price of a mule.

Potatoes u Sfoelc Feed. There is danger in feeding potatoes, as with other roots, in the fact that they may induce scouring. To avoid this the careful feeder will begin giving potatoes in only small amounts to his stock, gradually increasing the quantity as the animals become accustomed to this food. As soon as there are any signs of looseness of the bowels he will diminish slightly the quantity of potatoes fed. If scouring actually occurs It will set the nnimals back in gaining flesh or giving milk for several days or even some weeks if the attack is a serious one. Because potatoes are cheap the farmer should not be careless in feeding them to his stock. By using them Judiciously and accustoming his animals to this kind of food potatoes will prove satisfactory.—Professor W. A. Henry in "Feeds and Feeding." The Farm Work Team. The work teams of the farm should be the best of animals and provided with the first and best of the produce of the fields. When the farmer commences to realize that the horse is his best friend and commences to manifest this appreciation by providing better care, better stables, better harness and better treatment generally there will be a decided improvement noticeable In agriculture on the farm end the farm profits will be immeasurably Increased. The keeping of a better class of horses on the farm for farm uses is In the Interest of better farming, better farming is in the line of larger profits, larger profits lead to Improvements and developments in property values, which makes our farm homes the Ideal of agricultural ambition.— Inland Farmer.-.?"

Selecting Good Howl. In tbe selection of sows there are a few points which should be sought for In addition to those mentioned as requisite in the boar, says American Cultivator. Sows should be docile and have at least twelve teats of equal size, evenly placed and carried well forward on the belly. Large flat teats are invariably blind—i. e., they possess no milk duct. Young sows should also be of good size and quality. Care should be taken to ascertain if their dams have been good milkers, as this quality Is hereditary. A young sow should get plenty of exercise until she is ready for breeding, wulch is at the age of about eight months.

Spread Manure on the Land. Manure should not be dumped in the fields, but spread on the ground at tbe time of loading at the barnyards. If manure is dumped and a rain eOmes lH?fore it is spread the spot upon which was placed the manure will receive the largest share of the soluble portions. This may be noticed on all fields where the manure has been dumped, as certain portions were enriched, the growth of the crop, especially of grass, being very uneven. These enriched portions show the effects of the extra allowance of manure for years and give good evidence in favor of its liberal use.—Farm Visitor.

Water Used by Plants. Interesting work was done by the Wisconsin experiment station to determine how many pounds of water It required to produce a pound of dry matter In some of the leading crops. With barley It required over 400 pounds, oats slightly over 500 and com about 800. To bring barley to maturity the station estimated that It required about thirteen Inches of water as rainfall, oats about nineteen Inches, com about twenty-six inches. Although less water la required to manure a pound of corn, the greater tonnage to the acre requires the larger total. Ftellag Young Pigs. The pigs should be got out on the ground as soon as possible, so that they will not become inactive or deformed. Hie feed should be Increased gradually. Foods rich In protein should be used, such as oats, barley, etc. As the pigs grow older a little corn may be added to the ration. It la often well to scatter some shelled corn on the floor of the pen, so that the sow will take exercise In picking up the grains.

Tkt PrsltsM* Brood Mors. Farmers who raise only one or two foals a year should always keep in mind the fact that there Is more profit In keeping one good brood mare and sending her to a well bred stallion that la a good individual every year than In a yard full of common or ordinary mares. The more that a man raises frqrn the latter kind the smaller his bank account will be.—Horseman.