Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1906 — HINTS FOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

HINTS FOR FARMERS

Bran For Dairy cattle. Twenty years' experience •in feeding dairy cows convinces me that at times and under certain coiiditions bran la a food and a medicine that cannot easily or safely be dispensed with. When the cow is dry and Is bagging up there la no feed equal to good wheat bran and really none to take its place In my experience. It is bulky, mildly. laxative and cooling, and it seems to contain just the elements that are needed <by the cow at this particular,and critical time. During this period and until she has her calf and is safely started on her next period of lactation I want to feed an abundance of wheat bran, but after that there may be feeds just as good that will reduce the cost of production, and if I find such to be the case I drop the bran or most of it out of the ration for the rest of the season.—L. W. Eighty in National Stockman. Keeping Up the Grana Land. Intelligent fertilization is an important factor in producing any crop, and grass Is no exception to the rule, writes a Vermont farmer in American Cultivator. Years of experience, observation, study and practice have confirmed me in the belief that a great waste of stable manure, which is in its truest sense the farmer's bank, has been going on among New England farmers by the application of too large quantities of it to the acre, half mixed with soil. Ten good loads of manure to the acre, or its equivalent in the best commercial fertilizers, thoroughly mixed with the soil, are all and in many cases more than it is profitable to use. Really it is all the crop requires or can economically utilize. More frequent application in smaller quantities will result in better profits. Guinea Fowl. One of the main reasons why the guinea fowl is so eminently suited to farms is that a free range is necessary in order to insure success. It is almost useless attempting to rear the chickens or to maintain the adult stock In confinement, says a writer in the Feather. Guinea fowls are wonderful foragers, and after the first few weeks they will obtain nearly sufficient food to support themselves. During seven months out of the twelve the adult birds require practically no feeding, as they are able to find a.plentiful supply of seeds, grubs and insects to keep them in a good condition, and it is only during the winter that they should be supplied with much artificial food, two small feeds a day proving ample.

Lime For Land. The amount of lime needed per acre depends upon the In nd, writes Alva Agee In National Stockman. I have used 1,000 pounds per acre on heavy clay with good results. This soil was too acid for clover, and the half ton Increased clover growth. I believe that one ton per acre would have done more good on this heavy soil, but the half ton cost less and gave quite satisfactory returns. Our Wooster station uses a ton per acre. All depends upon tbe amount of acid In the soil. Try a half ton on clay soil and even less on light sand. Feeding Straw to Honea. In feeding oat straw to horses it should first be cut, with wheat bran and middlings addgd to it More digestible nutrients are contained in fifty pounds of bran than In an equal weight of wheat since bran contains the greater part of the protein of the grain, which is worth more than twice as much as the starch, mostly contained in the wheat kernel. The same is applicable to middlings. In all these feeds protein may be bought at reasonable prices. Either combined with cut straw makes an economical feed. Mange In Dogs. Following Is a good remedy for mange of dogs: Wash the animal thoroughly with soap and water to remove all scabs and scurf. When dry rub well in on all affected parts au ointment made by mixing equal quantities of flowers of sulphur and lard. Apply once a day, but tbe washlug need not be repeated unless more than four applications shall be required to effect a cure. Or if preferred apply once a day a mixture of one ounce of oil of tar and twenty ounces of whale oil.— Atlanta Constitution. Fowl, For Eggfß and Table. That fine old English fowl, tbe Dorking, has long been pre-eminent as the beet table fowl. It Is a very fair layer, too, and Is altogether a most useful breed. Houdans and Creve Coeurs are excellent table birds, flesh white, well flavored and of fine grain. Those combining both table and egg producing qualities in fair proportion are Plymouth Rocks, Wyandotte*. Orpingtons, leghorns, Minorca*. Faverolles. Houdans, Langshaus and Scotch Grays.— “Poultry Keeping and How to Make It Pay” Shade Far Poultry. Natural shade is always the best protection for the growing chicks. Full grown trees or underbrush furnishes tbe best protection. It Is remarkable to note how the growing chicks will take to tbe shade of an aaparagus bed, gooseberry or currant bushes. This leads one to consider the advantages of a combination of fruit with poultry. —Feather. , Feeding the Stallion. Raw eggs afford a very nourishing, cooling nnd easily digested food for stallions when doing a large business In tbe stud. A half dozen may be broken and stirred Into the grain ration night and morning, with great advantage In many cases. The grain ration may be somewhat diminished whan eggs are fed.—Farm Progress.