Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1908 — HINTS FOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

HINTS FOR FARMERS

Nitrate Fertilizer*. I The use of nitrogen as a fertilizer ■tarts a quick growth, as shown in the Igreener and more vigorous leaf. The jresulta are so prompt and noticeable 'that the value of nitrogen is often loverestlmated. Nitrate of soda on new •own grass land or similar crops acts Almost like magic, the difference In the fcrowth being seen a long way off. But fit should be noticed that the growth 'produced by nitrogen is weak and 11aIble to lodge , and that there is more water and loss nutriment In the product, also more liability to rust and other diseases because of the tender, unsound nature of the nitrogen forced jgrowth; Even the weeds arc more 'liable to mildew on land that has been made too rich in nitrogen. A single kind of fertilizer will serve a useful purpose for the time being, but its use :must l>e followed by a “square meal” In the line of plant food.—American Cultivator. —— . Farm Notes. Overstocking should be avoided under all circumstances. Fatten the undesirable sheep and turn them into money. Now the farmer with a good store of pumpkins laid aside is smilihg. If you buy whole grain to feed, be 'on your guard against weed seeds. Now you are wondering bow you did without the spreader so many years. If there is more than one place for .the same tool there Is almost sure tc (be confusiou and loss of time. This year’s failures will promote |next year’s successes if you are pro gresslve. Manure that is put upon the field promptly is worth twice as much as that piled up in the barnyard and spread six months later.—Kimball's Dairy Farmer. Keeping Up Fertility. ( The big income that every farmer (reaps comes from the products of the 'soil, whether marketed as such or In (the form of meal, butter, wool or whatnot, It behooves every farmer, then, to keep the soil just as fertile as possi;ble. Enrichment must l*e added to n soil every year to replace that remov led by the crop or else deterioration re traits. Sheep are valuable In furnishing .that enrichment. They are Ideal pasture animals, they deposit manure in the jield whore it’ Is needed, doing jaway witli the necessity of hauling Jl. [Their value as fertilizers is not to be .lightly considered, ns the man will soon find who has once had them and then got rid of them.

, Horse Wisdom. | Abuse spoils liimv .good horses than any other cause. An ordinary temipered animal nia.v easily lie transformed Into a perfect savage by, a tactless driver. Do not buy a horse with a narrow or shallow chest or whose fore legs are very close together. lie has not sufficient room for a set of strong lungs ami will qoi he long winded. 1 Fai'mei/s do well to purchase good mares rather than Inferior geldings. The gelding Is valued solely for the laibor he can perform, while from the rnare a reasonable degree of labor and a continued profit In breeding .may l>e expected.

Improving Poor Butter. The best way to treat butter with an Impaired flavor is to remelt It. air It. reripen i( and reehurn ft, Thih’ is called renovating, a process that is kept more or less a secret. The next best thing to d'> is to “ladle" it. whieli :tneans to thoroughly wash it in coil water, then result and rework "it. It is very often necessary to color the salt In order to get .the butter of a uniformcolor. Neither of these processes will jproduce goid butler from bad. but jboth will improve the flavor if properly done. Hoard's Dairyman. t ' i The Orchard In Winter. Winter is a good time to give the orchard some attention iu the matter of destroying insects. Insect pests live In all stages during the winter, and much can be done during the cold months to decrease the insect crop of the following spring and Increase the following season’s fruit crop. Clean cui around the apple trees and scrape off the rough bark to get rid of hibernating borers and other species. A •praying is claimed as a good thing by 'Professor Johnson of the Colorado experiment station. Stable Ventilation. In building or improving baraa or any buildings In which stock Is to be ftept provide ventilation. This is of ■Bpreme importance If you would have [healthy animals. There is almost as Mitich necessity In providing them with gpore sir as food.