Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1905 — HINTS FOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

HINTS FOR FARMERS

Moner In Sheep. An official report of the department of commerce and labor declares that for years to come there will be more money in sheep than In any other agricultural product aud that the American farmer, above all others, is in a position to profit by this condition. The reason why sheep raising Is to be so profitable is to be found in the fact that the flocks of the world are declining at an alarming rate. In a little more than thirty years, or since 1873, this decline shows a loss of no fewer than 93,000,000 head, an average of more than 8,000,000 a year. Aahes For the Orchard. On every farm where wood is used for fuel and the ashes are not needed for some other special purpose they ought to be used on fruit trees. Any one who by accident or otherwise has applied ashes to a fruit tree has, of course, seen that It hnrl a marked effect on the growth of It. Potash Is required by fruit trees to a larger extent than the other elements of growth, and as ashes contain a large per cent of potash it is just what treqp need. But It requires no reasoning to know that what comes out of one tree Is good for another. Fattening the Lamba. The lambs should be put In the feed lots at three to six months old and forced to an early market at eight to nine months old, says Farm Journal. A ration of corn and wheat bran, equal parts, with roots or ensilage with clover or alfalfa hay, will give good results. A ration of two parts oats and one part wheat bran, with sugar beets and ensilage, will also give good results. Whole wheat gives better results in sheep feeding than when ground. Sheep as a rule do better when they grind their own grain.

Breeding IIor»en. The item that absorl#» the average profits in horse raising is the raising of “plug” horses. Many farmers seem to think a stallion Is a stallion aud can sire colts as well ns any other and so employ any horse that is in reach without regard to quality. Of course the sire has as much to do with the colt as the dam, and a “scrub” stallion will be liable to sire a “scrub” colt even with a good mare. The mating of horse and mare must be studied and understood to secure the best results and most profits.—Farm Progress. Needs of Poultry. By this time the temperature at night makes it necessary to provide comfortable bousing for the poultry. Remember the three great necessities for suc-cess-dry floors, dry interior, plenty of fresh ulr without drafts or currents blowing through the houses, attention to cleanliness and sanitary conditions to insure good health. Those who arrange in advance for the comfort of their poultry gain the profitable egg returns during the winter.—Country Gentleman. * Improve the Flock. Always try to improve the flock. Good care all the time is the main thing, not necessarily coddling them, but giving them a plenty of what they like. Next to this is frequent infusion of new blood. Don’t buy u cheap ram. Better pay a good price for a good one. The vitality of the flock Is often impaired by breeding Immature ewes. Many excellent breeders say the ewe should be two years old when its first lamb is dropped. fruit trees have made too much growth the last season, and there are many useless branches that will be In the way of the best results next year.

No one who has even a small number of trees can afford to neglect them. It takes a little trouble to prune trees, bat it pays. It should not be done radically If one has not had much experience, but a little common sense Is about all that Is needed to do the work right LIBRARY NOTICE. Please look through your old magazines and it you have any of the following, send them in, or notify the librarian and they will be collected. If your volumes are not complete, no matter, as some one else will have the missing numbers: American Monthly Review of Reviews, vols. 1 to 4 Atlantic Monthly, vols. 1.2, 5 to 20, 29, to 34, 69, 82. Centurv, vols. 37, 38, 56. Cosmopolitan, vols, 2 to 4,7.8,11,14, 16, 23, 24, 26, 38. Educational Review, vols. 1 to 17. Forum, vol. 1 to 4, 6 to 10, 31 to 33, 35 to date. Harper’s Magazine, vols. 1 to 53, 91. McClure’s, vols. 1 to 7. North Americon Review, vols. I to 131. Outing, vols. 1 to 36, 38, 39,42 Popular Science ivlonthiv, vols. 12, 13, 20, 22. 34, 36, 37, 42, 56 to 68. St. Nicholas, vols. 1 to 6, 8 to 15, 20 to 56. Scribner s Magazine (not monthly) vols. Ito 4, 12. 16, 17, 18, 33. Sale bills printed while you wait at The Democrat office. Advance clearance sale of overcoats, entire stock to be closod out at 15 per cent discount. Rowles & Parker.