Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1908 — HORSE SENSE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HORSE SENSE.

Some Sensibls Ad vies In Regard te Collars and Their Use. The closely padded, 111 fitting, soft collar means suffering and shortens the life for the horse. “Years ago I gave up the hot, sticky pad,” said an intelligent farmef, “and have used only the close fitting, hard leather collar, which we have endeavored to keep clean. This clean collar, with a good washing of the shoulders noon and nights, has generally sufficed to keep them free from soreness. Still, during the constant use of the riding cultivator in our cornfields the necks sometimes get sore, caused by the weight and the moving of the collar across the skin at each step of the horse. We are all Inclined to" use collars too large for the horse. Much pains should be taken In the first fitting of the collar, and If It Is thoroughly soaked and placed on the horse while still wet It will usually shape Itself to the shoulders. Another thing, we try to avoid a too low draft. The way double harnesses are usually made all the weight comes on the horses’ necks, and there is a constant tendency to lower the draft even until it comes nearly to the point of the shoulder. This should be overcome as far as possible. The draft should be high enough to insure an even bearing the entire length of the shoulder, and nel : ther should the girth be buckled tight enough to cause any draft on the top of the neck. In fact, a girth is unnecessary and need never be used except where the traces are attached to the load above a right angle to the horse’s shoulders. Steel collars are In use near us, and I am going to try a pair this spring. I think the principle is right, and they strike me as being very convenient.”

DWARF APPLE TREES. They Are Useful to Owners of 8mal! Plots of Lands. The sketch was made from a Red Astrakhan tree set two years before. This was only one of a hundred simi lar trees of the same variety planted by George T. Powell of Columbia county, N. Y., who has taken up the culture of dwarf apples. These Astrakhans were propagated on Paradise stocks, which make trees that If pruned properly never grow more than eight to ten feet high. They can be planted ten feet apart each way and when a few years old will bear a bushel to a barrel each. The owner of a small lot who wishes to have several varieties of fruit and

will give the trees good culture Vill find both pleasure and profljt in dwarfs. In a commercial way the apples on Paradise stocks have not been grown extensively enough to test them. It is generally considered that they require too' much care to be profitable when grown on a large scale. Some leading fruit growers believe, however, that the Doucin stock has great commercial possibilities. It mjdtes trees eighteen to twenty feet high. 'They can be set from a rod to twenty feet apart each way and can be given the best of attention owing to their moderate size. Th* Fruit Patch. The government horticulturist says many persons with small lots may plant what are known as dwarf fruit trees. In proportion to size dwarf trees are more fruitful than “standards.” They come into bearing sooner and are therefore of special value for use In limited inclosures or fruit gardens. Besides the advantage of dwarfing, grafting may be. turned to good account, enabling the owner of trees to increase his variety of fruits. Single trees have been made to bear as many as 130 varieties of apples. If you set out a fruit garden, take advantage of the space nnder and between the trees by planting strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, currants or some other small fruit Vegetables may also be planted about the trees.

Renewing Fenceposts. Do not throw away old fenceposts Just J>eeause the ends In the ground have rotted away. You can patch these out and the posts will last as long as new ones. Take a piece of an ordinary post two feet long and smooth down one end with an ax so as to fit on to the end of the post, which should likewise be smoothed down. Now get a half dozen spikes and nail the piece to the post. Reverse the post, leaving the patched end at the top. v On* Man Spraying. For an area of less than one acre a .small compressed air or knapsack sprayer will be very satisfactory. Where fruits as well as potatoes are to be sprayed the iJkrrel spray pump outfit will be most economical. By mounting the barrel on a one-horse twowheeled cart, at the rear of which a three-quarter inch pipe of sufficient length to cover four rows and provided with, nozzles Is attached, one loan can do the spraying unassisted.

DWARF APPLE TREES.