Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1906 — HINTS FOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

HINTS FOR FARMERS

. Farm l'»e« of Tar. This substance is commonly used as a repellant by dissolving in water and sprinkling the plants with the solution. It is also sometimes smeared in and about the,nostrils of sheep to prevent the bot fly from depositing its eggs. Painted on paper bands wrapped around the bases of fruit trees and renewed before coming dry it will entrap the wingless female cankerworm mothg in their attempts to ascend the trees , for the purpose of depositing eggs. I Pine tar is preferable to coal tar, but I neither kind should be applied directly to the bark. A prepared grease, known as Insect lime, is now generally employed instead of tar.—American Cultivator, ■■ - ■ ■ ■ ' U*e of Farm Manure. In his lecture, “The Use of Farm Manure,” Professor Henry Snyder at the national dairy show said that composting of farm manures was not generally advised. Direct application of the manure to the soil was considered more advisa'ble. The use of composted manure for special purposes was noted. When manure was composted the importance of excluding the air from the manure piles and regulating the moisture supply was pointed out and also the losses from making a number of small manure piles in fields. It was shown that the use of the manure spreader would obviate the necessity of making numerous small piles In the field. The Milk Strainer. The cause of many of the most objectionable troubles in dairying, such as early souring, ropy milk, bad odors • and all sorts of abnormal fermentations, have been traced to the filthy condition of the milk strainer. The strainer Immediately after use should be thoroughly rinsed in cold or lukewarm water, then washed In hot water, freeing the fine meshes from all foreign substances, then rinsed in boiling water, sterilized by steam or boiling in clean water and dried In the sunlight or in a clean room.—American Cultivator. The Age to Wean Pig*. The pigs should remain with their dam until eight weeks or two months old before weaning. They will by this time lie able to eat enough to keep them growing and thrifty and the sow bred again for a fall litter within a week or ten days after the pigs are weaned. This keeps the old sows from getting too fleshy, as they will often do when let run during the summer time on good pasture. Young sows should be left unbred after this first litter to-let them grow and mature before farrowing their second litter.—Wisconsin Agriculturist. The Breeding Ewe. Whatever breed is chosen, it Is Important. that tlie ewe be selected on her merits. She should not be less than two years old. so as to have plenty of miik to bring the fambs along rapidly. She should not, ns a rule, be over six years old, and by all means have a perfect mouth. She should be short legged and large liodied, with a clean face and a bright eye. She should have a good sized udder and sound teats. It is not the largest ewes that always bring the best lambs.—J. S. Woodward lu American Agriculturist. Diseases of Hog*. Scaly diseases of hogs are produced by excessive heat In the summer and cold in the winter, gays American Agriculturist. These are greatly benefited by providing sheds during the hot weather and comfortable quarters when it Is cold. If the pig is fat give it from one to two ounces of sulphate of magnesia dissolved In one-half pint of water. Then give It one-half dram of acetate of potash three times a day. The diet during this time should be of a cooling nature. Poultry Note*. Cleanliness is next to godliness in poultry culture as much as in anything else. Clean quarters keep down the lice, prevent sickness and add to the good returns. Lice soon weaken the strongest fowls, check egg production and make the business unprofitable. Good sharp grit prevents indigestion. A neglected case of indigestion will lead to liver trouble; then the fowls go light and die. i Legal Batter. i The United States government has ruled that butter which over 16 per cent of water is subject to the internal revenue taxes on adulterated butter. This means that makers must pay a license fee of S6OO per year and a tax of 10 cents a pound on the product and that dealers must pay a license fee of S4BO a year. National Stockman. Beef Cracklings For Fowl. Beef cracklings may be fed to either chicks or adult fowls. They should be ground rather fine and for chick feedlug the coarser particles should be sifted out. They should be fed In the same manner as beef scrap.—Reliable Poultry Journal. Age of * Heifer. In a heifer at three years of age three pairs of broad teeth should be fully up and In wear, and the corner milk teeth may be shed or shedding, with the corner permanent teeth appearing through the gums.—American Cultivator. ——: V-. ... ; Sell the Gelding*. As a rule, geldings will prove unprofitable to keep on the farm. Sell them when matured and either use good brood mares or growing colts to do the farm work.