Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 May 1909 — HINTS FOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

HINTS FOR FARMERS

Lime Not a Soil Food. Always bear in mind that lime in no way takes the place of manures, fertilizers or green manuring. It simply remedies a sick condition of the soil and should be considered rather as a medicine than as a food. Its use without the use of manures or fertilizers would be much like trying to sustain the human body on stimulants alone without the use of food and would result only in the greater impoverishment of the soil. On the other hand, when'a man is sick he sometimes needs medicines to get his system into condition so it can again assimilate food, and in the same way a soil which Is sick with acid must have that acidity cured with lime before it can make use of the plant food in the manures or fertilizers. Perhaps my simile is a little farfetched, but I think the read er will appreciate the point which the writer is trying to make—that lime is a corrective and not a food.—Alfred Vivian, Ohio State University, in New England Farmer.

When to Stop Churning. Different buttermakers have various ways of ascertaining the proper time when the churn should be stopped. It has been the general rule in the past that a churn should be stopped when the granules are a little larger than wheat kernels. If the churn is stopped when butter is gathered to the size of wheat kernels, the buttermilk will strain out very easily, will wash better and cleaner and aid in keeping the moisture at a more even percentage. Overturning should be guarded against as well as underchurning, for butter that is overchurned will retain a large amount of buttermilk, which is very difficult to remove by washing. Consequently the butter will in time take up a rancid or buttermilk flavor directly from the buttermilk that is retained.—A. H. Wilcox Before Wisconsin Buttermakers.

Poultry Not**. Pumpkin or squash seeds are apt to kill ducks. t Have roomy coops for the chickens so that they will have a chance to exercise If compelled to stay indoors during stormy weather. Guineas do not scratch like other fowls and therefore are safe to have in the garden. They should be given their freedom, as they do not thrive in confinement. One of the best feeds for breeding turkeys is oats and should make at least one-half of the snpplied ration, especially during the next three months. The early hatched cockerels will sell in July and August at a good profit and the pullets will supplant the Inferior old hens. With good care the pullets will begin laying as soon as matured.—Farm Journal.