Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1907 — HINTS FOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

HINTS FOR FARMERS

Scientific Rotation of Crops. Experiments show ns every soil should have a variety of crops or in a few years it will fall to produce as it did formerly. A shallow rooted crop must be grown In rotation with a deep rooted, crop; a cultivated crop in rotation with one that is not cultivated; a crop that tends to build Up the soil in rotation with one which is exhaustive. For this reason wheat, corn and alfalfa' or clover make an excellent rotation. The wheat is a shallow rooted crop, while corn and alfalfa are deep rooted cropeL. The corn is a cultivated crop,.while the wheat and alfalfa are not The alfalfa is a soli builder, while the wheat and corn are exhaustive crops. The alfalfa gathers fertility from the air and the subsoil storing it iu the surface layer, while the corn and Wheat take plant food from the surface layer without making any material returns.—Farmers Advocate.

Profit In the Dairy. Nine out of every ten men who are keeping cows and realizing a small profit therefrom are of the notion that more cows are needed if the profits from the dairy are to be increased, says Farmers Advocate. Most farmers have cows enough. In fact, many have more cows than they can accommodate as they should. But these farmers all have a low yield per cow. There lies the whole trouble. We have cows in abundance, but the yield is not what it should be. For increased profit in the dairy we must Increase the product per cow and thereby reduce the cost of production, which means greater profit Do not add to the herd a lot of coys which under your treatment will yield only one-half the amount of butter fat they are capable of yielding. Better feed, better carb and better cows are the only salvation. *

Pumpkins For Sheep. The seeds of the pumpkin have always been a safe and effective homo remedy for worms of all kinds, even the tapeworms being destroyed by its seeds, in which there is a special element that is fatal to them, says American Sheep Breeder. Thus these seeds are used successfully not only for animal parasites, but in diseases of mankind they are exceedingly valuable. Some experience with pumpkins during- the past season and indeed at the present time, when these are being used for feeding sheep, goes to indicate that a flock may be kept completely free from all internal parasites if the sheep or lambs are regularly supplied with a dally radon of pumpkin seeds. These may be used fresh or dried, and when dried they seem to exert a better effect than when they are fresh.

Fertilize the Orchard. After the apples have been picked an application of manure or other fertilizing material should be made for the future benefit of the orchard. A young orchard or one in bearing should not be expected to yield good crops of fruit without fertilization and proper care, any more than othdr crops on the farm. Where attention is paid to this and keeping the trees properly trimmed, then good results should be obtained. The entire surface of the orchard should be fertilized and not merely close around the trees. The roots extend a long way and the small fibrous,' ones are those that will make most use of the fertilizers. There should be no piles of manure left around the foot of the trees to afford a burrow for mice.—American Cultivator. ■