Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1907 — HINTS FOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

HINTS FOR FARMERS

Clipping Alfalfa. The information we have concerning the clipping of alfalfa during the first season Is too contradictory to permit of l maklng any geneful rule, says a receipt bulletin of the Indiana experiment station. It seems, however, that clipping has sometimes been overdone and that young alfalfa should rather be allowed to grow undisturbed so long as It is doing well and does not bloom. With early seeding one clipping In the latter part of August will generally be advisable. Otherwise clipping should only be practiced when the growth seems checked or the tops of the plants turn yellow. If not too heavy the cut material should be left on the ground'to act as a mulch. All growth after the middle of September should be allowed to die down naturally for protection to the roots over winter. Shsep Nssd Plenty of Water. It is a mistaken Idea that sheep do not need much water. The contrary la the case. A private experiment showed convincing evidence that sheep drink as much water in proportion t« size as any other farm animal. In August and September a flock of 150 ewes with the same number of lambs were put in a pasture, and they drank a trough of water every day that held 210 gallons, nearly 1.5/average per ewe. They can, however, go longer and do better without water than other stock, but thrive much better with an ample supply. Sheep are clean drinkers as well 4 s clean feeders and will not drink contaminated water unless forced to do It. The Egg Eating Hen. The most effective remedy for the egg eating hen is the hatchet and the block. When the habit Is once acquired it Is almost Impossible to correct It Sometimes placing a quantity of red pepper In the egg through a small bole in the end and allowing the hen to eat this will overcome the habit, but this will fall in a number of cases. Special nests are another remedy. As ’soon as the egg Is laid It rolls slowly out of reach of the bird. —Farmers Advocate. Mashes For the Poultry. - A mash fed the Maine experiment station is as follows in the proportion Two hundred pounds of wheat bran, 100 pounds of corn&ieal. 100 pounds of wheat middlings, 100 pounds of linseed meal, 100 pounds of gluten meal and 100 pounds of beef scrap. Another mash may be mixed as follows In the proportions indicated: One hundred pounds of cornmeal, 100 pounds of ground oats and 100 pounds of wheat bran. Making the Farm Pay. If the farm doesn’t pay, the most common sense remedy is to look at things as they really are. Make every crop and every animal give an account of itself, find what pays and what doesn’t pay and act accordingly. The most dangerous mistake a farmer can make Is to carelessly run In debt. Borrow to earn more, but never to procure what will not pay for itself. When yon can earn, then will be time enough to get things which you can do without.

The Average Yield of Grains. One year with another the average yield of wheat in this country Is about fourteen busilels per acre, hardly that; corn, twenty-eight or a little under, and oats, thirty-tliree. Canada Is producing about twenty bushels to the acre of wheat and Great Britain thirtyfive, but every Inch of England's farming land is thoroughly tilled and properly rotated. It Is also fertilized, of course, by every means known to the art of farming. Keep After the Weed*. Every land owner or worker should, keep a sharp lookout for the new and obnoxious weeds that have been recently Introduced—by accident, of course—from other countries and should use his utmost endeavors to keep them as well as familiar plant Intruder* from ripening their seed. Selecting Breeding Ewe*. Take note of the ewes that raise the good lambs. Often they are not the best lookers at weaning time. It is very likely that the round, plump ewes did not lamb this year. In making a selection for breeding purposes avoid those that do not return profit. Feeding Pigs. Don’t conclude that the pigs do not need grain because they have the run of a good clover or rye pasture. Yon can’t make rapid growth that way. Feed grain or mill stuff all the time, and then the hogs will make the best use of both grass and grain. The Profitable Sheep. You will find that the most profitable sheep are those that keep their hea4s close to their business of eating. They are not always looking around for trouble. but are making the best use of their time whether at the trough and rack or in the pasture field.

Fall Pasture For Hogs. » For late pastures for the hogs sow • mixture of rape, oats and barley on tiie earliest harvested grainfields. Besides furnishing a fine supply of green feed, the hogs will do a good Job la cleaning up the field. Change Bheep Pasture. Try to give the sheep a change of pasture every three or four weeks. They get tired of the same old pasture, and It checks the growth of the young stock, while the mature sheep grow thin.