Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1908 — HINTS FOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

HINTS FOR FARMERS

Shredding Corn Fodder. Some of the advantages of shredding the corn fodder may be enumerated as follows: The husking is done in a short period of time, eliminating, the long, tedious task of hand busking, sorting, hauling the corn and stacking the stalks. The fodder is in better shape for feeding in the manger, where each and every individual can get its share of the feed, both good and poor. The stock will eat more of the stalk after it is slit up than whole, thereby making the fodder go farther. What is left of the fodder can be utilized as bedding to good advantage, and it will not be disagreeable to handle in the manure. This point of the value of the shredded cornstalk butts for bedding is too often overlooked. It not only makes a good bed for the stock to lie down on, but it is the best absorbent of the liquids yet found. It not only takes up the urine, but it holds it, and It is carried along to the field and is plowed in with the manure, where it will benefit the crops that follow. As is well known, the urine is rich in both nitrogen and potash. If handled judiciously it is worth for this purpose alone all that it costs to shred the fodder.—B. A. Clapp in Orange Judd Farmer.

At Farrowing Timo. Sows that farrow in March or anytime when the weather is cold should be watched closely and an attendant should be on band to remove the young pigs as soon as they are farrowed, says an lowa farmer in Farm Progress. Place them either in a box or basket and take them to a warm place at once or have a jug of hot water set in the box so that the little pigs, getting warm, will gain strength. Just as soon as they are all farrowed place them back with the sow and see that every pig sucks. Then again put them back into the basket for two hours, after which they should suck again. If the weather continues cold the pigs should be handled in this way for twenty-Auir hours. After that time they can be given to the sow. and if they are fairly strong they will require very little attention except carefulness In feeding the sow. She should be given light, sloppy feeds for two or .three days until she and her litter get active and strong.

Car* of th* Colt’s F**t. If the colt Is allowed to run on a dry pasture the feet or hoofs will naturally wear even and develop along the proper lines, but where the colt is kept in a stall, as in the winter time, there should be plenty of straw bedding and the stalls should be kept as dry as possible. .The proper care of the colt's hoof while young often decides the fate of the horse when it is grown. Sometimes the hoof will not develop straight—it will grow “awry,” making it difficult for the colt to run. The uneven surface should be rasped off and the wall trimmed slightly round to prevent cracking. Too much use of the rasp is not advised, but a judicious use of it will go far toward correcting natural or acquired defects in the growth of the hoof. It is essential that the hoof l»e kept symmetrical and well proport loved. Farm Wisdom. Holes in metal roofs may be stopped by lumps of putty and paint. A leak in the winter means wet litter, canker, colds and roup. Not only oil the farm machinery when putting it away, but paint the wooden parts. It doesn't take much paint, but it makes the‘machines and tools last a good sight longer. Don’t leave the tools out to warp and rust in the winter storms. One winter's exposure will hurt them more than two or three years' use. Clean them up and put them away in the dry. If you have no tool house put them In the packing shed. A coat of pafnt applied now will add several years to the life of the woodwork of tools.

Lice In the Henhouse. Do not put too much value on the statement that lice do not multiply in winter. Look your hens over as you go through the pens and see how many lice are troubling the birds. Watch the underside Of the roost and the bottom of the nest for red mites. Take measures to get rid of lice and mites. They may not spoil your winter egg yield, but they will certainly reduce it. A good dusting powder and a liquid lice killer are needed on every poultry plant, no matter how small. Fertilizing (jetton. Three years’ fertilizer experiments on reddish prairie land at the Alabama experiment station showed that cottonseed meal and nitrate of soda were applied to cotton at a decided profit, either alone or in combination with acid phosphate. The use of acid phosphate was usually profitable, but the use of kainit was almost uniformly unsatisfactory. To Rout the Flea. Fleas in outbuildings may be routed or killed by whitewashing the walls and drenching the floors with scalding hot soapsuds or by spraying the interiors wit li strong kerosene emulsion. The insects may be driven from dogs or other animals by dusting them with pyrethrum or Persian insect powder. Hog Paralysis. , When the hog seems to be losing the use of its limbs, feed less com and more bran and oats chop. If the trouble is very bad, give eight or ten drops of nux vomica in the feed twice a day. An abundance of green feed should also be given.