Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1907 — HINTS FOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

HINTS FOR FARMERS

The Indian Runner Duck. This is the Leghorn of the duck family. It is small in size—four to four and one-half pounds—but is noted for its heavy laying. The colors are fawn or gray and white, fawn preferred. It matures early. It will thrive better without water, except for drinking, than most other breeds, hence is better suited for general farm purposes. The ducklings are more easily raised than chicks, as they are not troubled with lice or mites, are less subject to disease and require extra heat for a shorter time. They must have shade in warm weather and always water t« drink. The mature ducks are more cheaply housed than fowls, requiring only a dry shed or house with litter on the floor. They are great foragers, needing less supplied feed than other ducks or fowls. At the same time the home instinct is strong, so they are pretty sure to return to their quarters at night. The eggs are large and are said to be of firmer texture than hens’ eggs, hence better for culinary purposes.—Chicago Record-Herald. Feeding Corn to Cattle. In a test made at the Nebraska station last winter, where shelled corn was compared with corn and cob meal, it was found That the latter proved to be worth 65 cents per hundred pounds of corn as compared with 62% cents per hundred for shelled corn. The difference of 2% cents per hundred in faj»or of the ground corn would not pay for the grinding. It was noted during the experiment that the cattle receiving corn and cob meal did not eat as much as those fed shelled corn, no doubt because a full feed of corn, containing all the cob on which the corn grew, furnishes rather too much bulk for best purposes. This winter one half of the corn Is being fed as snapped corn and the other half as shelled corn. While the feeding has not progressed far enough to warrant any conclusions, the Indications are that half of the com fed as snapped corn supplies all the cob that is desirable. x Grinding Feed. The question Is often asked, Does it pay to grind the feed for fattening animals? The Nebraska station has found that it does not. Professor Smith, who has charge of the feeding at that station, in a recent article says: “In feeding tests that have been made at different experiment stations it has been found that while steers fed ground corn in comparison with whole corn make slightly better use of the feed it is also true that In all such cases the difference in favor of the meal is not great enough to pay for the cost of the grinding. At least this is true where there are enough pigs running behind the cattle to utilize the waste. It sometimes happens that later in the feeding period cattle become more or less tender In the mouth, under which circumstances it is a good plan to grind the feed.

Green Bone For Egg Layers. In recent years the practical poultryman has been able to double his egg supply in the winter by a careful study of egg producing foods. Prominent among these must be placed green cut bones, a food that is easily and cheaply obtained and that Is undoubtedly the greatest egg producer ever fed to hens. The bone when finely cut while It Is still green supplies that element of animal food so needed and so relished by fowlj, taking the place of the bugs and worms which the hens devour so greedily upon the range. Moreover, the bone supplies the mineral matter so needed for egg formation, the lime, the phosphate, the magnesia, and is In short an Ideal egg food.— American Agriculturist. Nut Growing. The American Fruit and Nut Journal says that there Is no class of people more favorably situated for nut growing than the farmers and suggests planting about farm buildings, along lanes and in odd corners. Nut trees may be planted for ornament and shade as well as for use. Hickory nuts will flourish in New England and the chestnut In the central and some of the southern states. In the central west walnuts will flourish, while In the south Atlantic and gulf states the pecan and other nut bearers thrive. And all will yield a profit. Lice on Hortee. Kerosene oil Is a very effective remedy for lice on animals, but requires to be applied with care In order to prevent taking off the hair. Pour half a pint of the kerosene In a bucket of water. Dip in an ordinary whisk broom and sprinkle over the animal and rub It into the hair with your fingers. Sponging the skin with benzine Is perhaps better. But the following Is better than either of the foregoing: Rub In either sulphur ointment or four ounces of sulphuret of potassium dissolved In one gallon of water or with tar water.—Atlanta Constitution. Don’t Coddle the Turkey. Of wild ancestry, the turkey doesn’t need coddling, and the more freedom it has and the nearer to natural conditions it Is kept the better It thrives. While there have been many failures and losses, the scarcity and high prices render It worth while to experiment In raising turkeys in new localities.— Farming. Shelter the Hen*. The man who compels hte chickens to roost upon the wagon wheels In winter need not be disappointed If the nest is always empty, for there is no particular affinity lietween a round egg and a round wagon wheel. Farmer.