Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1908 — MINTS FOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

MINTS FOR FARMERS

Alfalfa Meal as a Dairy Feed. Within the last year alfalfa meal has gained a great deal of prominence as a food for dairy cows. While we have not been able to carry out carefully conducted feeding experiments with this product of the alfalfa mill, we do not feel it will prove to be as valuable for feeding for dairy cows as some other class of Jive stock. The dairy cow not only has room for but needs a large amount of roughage in her ration, and in view of the difference in price between the meal and the hay, which, by the way, must be practically the same in feeding value, we do not think that it is economical to purchase the meal except in special cases to be used in the place of bran for lightening up a heavy grain ration. We believe the cow can do this grinding cheaper and to better advantage than the mill. The Pennsylvania experiment station as a result of experiments conducted in feeding alfalfa meal states that the results of this test do not warrant the recommendation of alfalfa meal as a ( substitute for wheat bran for dairy cows at the present market prices.—From “Alfalfa,” by Kansas Experiment Station.

Ripening Cream. It is pointed out by an expert buttermaker in Hoard’s Dairyman that cream from a hand separator should be immediately cooled to a temperature of about 58 degrees and kept at that temperature or below until it is ready to ripen. The quality of the butter depends a great deal on keeping the cream cold and sweet. Warm cream should always be cooled before mixing it with the cold. The ripening process simply means the mixing of all the cream together at least twelve hours before churning. It should then be kept at a temperature Of about G 5 to 70 degrees, which will Induce proper souring. This matter of temperature is of the greatest Importance and necessitates the use of a good thermometer, as it Is impossible to make an accurate guess on a matter of this kind.

Animal Food For Hens. The hen seems to require more or less animal food to do her best in the way of laying eggs. The most successful poultry raisers are pretty well agreed on this point. During recent years, since a number of experiment stations have investigated questions pertaining to successful poultry raising, additional assurance has been furnished that a certain amount of animal food is essential to large egg production. A recent bulletin from the Massachusetts station says on the point. “Judging from our own results and from those obtained by Wheeler of the Maine experiment station, it seems 'safe to conclude that animal albuminoids as measured by production possess a much higher degree of efficiency than those derived from vegetable origin.”

Surplus Stock on the Farm. Winter will soon be along, and the farmer should try to keep only so much stock as the means at command will warrant, says the American Cultivator. There is no profit in undertaking to kbep more. All of the animals should **be well fed and cared for to Insure the most profit. But the farmer should be careful and not sell his best animals. Those should be kept on the farm. The herd of cows and young growing animals should be kept in a continually Improving condition by disposing of the poorest and keeping the best If this course is steadily pursued it will not be very long before the herd will become of such value that those offered for sale will be wanted for their real merit.

The Draft Horse. The typical draft horse of the present day must have sloping, massive shoulders, with a fairly high wither, says Farmers Advocate. His neck should be a fair length, with no appearance of thickness about the throat. The head indicates his disposition. It should be broad and flat between the eyes. The latter should be large, full and mild. In no case should there be any appearance of “pony head.” To raise such a horse the farmers must stop selling their best mares and use as good sires as can be procured, strong in character, masculine In appearance and yet of good quality.

Ths Early Molt. The Colorado experiment station has been trying the new system of making hens molt early. The hens are given three weeks pasturage on alfalfa in July, feeding them nothing else but dry bran. About the Ist of August they are given a liberal grain ration with meat. Under this treatment they begin to melt early and soon finish the process In time to begin laying the Ist of September, and they keep It up through the season of high prices. .This plan is essentially that adopted by some eastern poultrymen, a period of light feeding being followed by liberal rations. .

The Man and the Cow. ▲ good feeder and caretaker and a poor cow will accomplish a little, but pot much. A good cow and a poor (caretaker will yield results only a ■ttle better. But a good cow in the hands of a kind, affectionate and skillful caretaker win show astonishing resuits.—Henry Matteson.

Storing Apples. AB apples which are to be kept for any length of time should be carefully hand picked and at once excluded from the air as fully as possible. To preserve the flavor apples should be wrapped in paper, put in barrels and stored te a cool, dry place as soon as possible. ■ •