Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1908 — HINTS FOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

HINTS FOR FARMERS

Alzike Clover. In many respects alslke clover is net •o valuable a crop as medium red clover, but it may nevertheless be m&je very useful in many ways, says Farmers Advocate. If is the best clover for permanent pasture. A mixture of blue grass, timothy and alslke where these grasses can be grown successfully makes an ideal pasture. In time the blue grass will drive out the timothy, but It will not crowd out the hardy alslke unless the ground Is over-' pastured. Sown with red clover for hay alslke will increase the yield and the quality of the bay. If the ground is inclined to be wet, and even if It Is not, a good combination for a meadow Is timothy, medium red clover and alslke. No other combination will give more or better hay. It will be next in feeding quality to alfalfa. Alslke can be grown successfully on ground too wet or too sour to grow red clover or alfalfa. It wdll do well under conditions so adverse that other grasses would fail partially or entirely. It is a good mixer and adapts Itself to nil kinds of company and all kinds of conditions. It is hardy and useful and should be more generally grown.

Rats and Poultry. The most exasperating and one cf the hardest enemies the poultryman has to combat is rats. At times they become very bold and not only attack the chickens at night, but venture forth in broad daylight. Several methods have been tried, and some are very successful. Poison, traps and dogs are the most effective, but each has its drawbacks. To poison is probably one of the most effective methods in killing the rodents, but care has to be exercised when placing it out, as other animals are liable to get it. A few grains of strychnine placed on. a piece of toasted cheese or bread is one of the best. By placing it in the middle of a small draintile danger of other animals getting it may be avoided.—Arkansas Experiment Station. Care In Feeding Hens. There is a knack in the feeding of hens that must lie learned by experience. The hens must be well fed and yet should always be a little hungry during the day. They are not to be at any time satisfied, but in the evening they may be fed all they will cleau up readily. It is a long standing custom for poultrymen to 'eed hens a mash once a day. and this may be fed morning and evening, according to convenience. At the Kansas experiment station evening feeding has been found profitable. Where meat and green feed are well provided the feeding of a mash in. ..- be discontinued, fed at intervals o? dropped from the bill of fare entirely.—Kansas Station Biftletin.

The Poultry Yard. Never market.eggs found ir. the hidden nest. The pullets at first scatter their laying days, but once rightly begun they are steady egg producers. More caponizing is done in the west than in the east. Quick growth and clean quarters make tender and sweet meat. The preferred weight for capons is not over seven pounds each. The quality of breast meat determines the value of the roasting fowl. Poultry that have been having free range should be cooped at least ten days before killing.. Cheep Shearings. Every sheep pasture should have an abundance of pure water. If there is not a continual endeavor to improve the Hocks they will go backward instead of forward. Sheep are one of the best kinds of stock for saving feed on a farm tliat would otherwise go to waste. For rapid fattening a ration of corn in the morning and cottonseed meal in the evening give good results. Sheep will show results for feed put into them more quickly than almost any other animal we can raise. C(um of Colic In Horses. Colic in horses is generally the result of carelessness or improper feeding. The stomach of a horse is small and the digestion is limited, and if the horse is hungry and overfed or is allowed to gulp down a big feed colic is the result; also if musty hay or musty ■our feed is used or if fresh cut grass wet with dew or rain is hastily ••ten in large quantities colic is often the result.