Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1895 — FARMS AND FARMERS. [ARTICLE]

FARMS AND FARMERS.

Inter Ocean. The grain weevil has done considerable damage to the wheat in many of the granaries throughout this section of the country. Several inquiries have„been received regarding the best and simplest method of eradieating this pest. Professor Clarence M. Weed* of the New Hampshire Experiment Station, has the follow?, ing in an Eastern exchange: - •> The best remedy for these pests is aisulphide of carbon, a volatile, explosive liquid, the- vapor of which is »ery destructive to animal life. In handling it care must be taken that 10 fire in any shape comes within reach of the fumes; and the vapor must not be breathed. But though dangerous in the hands of careless people, it is safe if care is taken, qnd it is by far the best substance to destroy grain weevil. Bisulphide of sarbon can be ordered through druggists, when it costs 20 to 25 pents a pound; but the better way is to order direct from the manufacturer.

“There are various methods of applying this bisulphide, the vapor of which is heavier than air, and so goes downward instead of upward. One of the best ways for an ordinary wheat bin is to saturate a quantity of cotton batting tied to the end of a stick with the bisulphide, then thrust it down through the wheat about half way to the bottom of the bin and leave it there. The carbon will evaporate and penetrate the kernels, killing all weevil in its path. In case of a large bin several such balls should be put down in different places. If the bin is not tight above horse blankets or something similar should be thrown over the top of the grain. It is usually estimated that one ounce of bisulphide will suffice for each 100 pounds of grain. “Another way of- applying is to take a hollow tube (a piece of gas pipe for instance), plug up the lower end tightly with a cork, and push the tube down through the grain till its lower end is about half way to the bottom. Now take a slender rod, and by pushing it through the tube knockout the cork at the .bottom of the latter. You now have an opening into the middle of the grain through which you can pour the bisulphide to good effect. This is a simple method. The tube of course san be withdrawn as soon as the bisulphide through it and inserted in another part of the grain. The quantity poured in each time will depend on the number of times you insert the tube and apply the carbon, remembering that an ounce to a hundred pounds of grain js sufficient. The wheat may be left covered about twenty-four hours, and then be aired for the vapor to escape. If the granary has windows, they, and also the doors, may be opened after this time for a day or io. Exclude all light till the odor has gone.

BUSHES AND TWIGS FOB. SHEEP. When food is scarce in the winter time, early spring and late fall there is no substitute so valuable as the jocalled “browse,” or more simply Speaking, twigs of the maple, basswood, beech, birch and ironwood. There is more nutriment in this browse than in many grasses, and sheep can be kept in excellent condition by feeding it to them in connection with cornstalks. If the animals ire turned loose in a brush lot where there are plenty of young twigs and bushes it will be seen how readily they enjoy tnis kind of fooler. In addition to being a good food for fattening and strengthening the animals, browse is a splendid bowel corrective for sheep, and fed to them through the winter they keep in excellent health. There is very little woody material that is taken into the system with this food, is one might naturally think, and upon analysis a large percentage of the food contains the essentials that the animals need. In parts of Europe the small twigs tnd buds of the birch and beech are eoasidered very valuable by the flock masters, and very often tons of these twigs are gathered in the winter time to make up the quota of food necessary to carry the animals through the cold weather. When feeding material is very short and iear the owners of sheep go to the woods and gather large quantities of the twigs, many almost depending upon them for their food supply. The twigs of the trees that are less than half an ineh in diameter are sometimes crushed by a machine into a loft pulp and then steeped thoroughly in hot water. The tenderest and most nutritious part of the trees ind bushes are contained in these small twigs. If a little malt is added to this steeped pulp, fermentation will soon start. Sliced roots, chopped straw and hay, and soft meal are often added to this pulp, and the resulting food is not only very nutritious but is eagerly eaten by sheep, lows and horses. The twigs are rich in sugar and nitrogenous substances, and they can form a good part of the mixture. There is consequently a saving of over one-half by making such a mixture. These twigs of -trees and bushes are the natural food of sheep. When turned loose in an old pasture lot they do not confine their eating to the rich grasses, but they pull off the tender buds and twigs of all bushes, brjars and weeds. This all adds spice and variety to their diet. If permitted to get near the woods and brush they will leave the grass to V\. . *

eat the leaves and tender twigs oJ the trees. If green branches are thrown in to their pen they will often leave their food to eat them. .The browse in the spring of the year tones up their system, gives them new vigor and strength, and regulates their bowels. More nutritious than bay, it is also cheaper in most parts of the country. Where woods, sprouts and young forests abound, sufficient browse can be gathered in the autumn to last until green grass .comes again. It is a food that has been neglected too much. E. P. Smith.

FEED WHEAT. The' Ohio Farmer strongly urges farmers to feed their surplus wheat, and says: It is a cheaper feed at present price than corn or oats. Feed it to your horses; they will thrive upon it. Feed it to your hogs; the£ will fatten upon it and furnish the best of pork. Feed it to your cows; it will produce milk secretion. Feed it to poultry ; it will make them lay eggs and eggs are profitable. Mix wheat with onefourth corn or withone-fourth corn and one-fourth cats and take it to to mill and have it ground coarse. Feed your wheat. There is an enormous crop in the country and it is selling too low.' Feed your wheat. It is selling at Cleveland to-day at 53 cents, while corn brings 62 cents and oats 42 cents. Reducing these to common terms and you can express it in this way: 1.680 pounds of oats are worths22,os 1.680 pounds of corn are worth 18.60 1,680 pounds of wheat are worth 14.58 Feed the wheat. Turn it into pork, mutton, beef, poultry, milk and eggs. If every farmer in this country who has raised a crop of wheat could use half of it in this way it would effectually settle the surplus question and the cry of overproduction and the other half of the crop would command a decent price. Corn farmers will make money by selling part of their corn and buying wheat, and the man who has a crop of oats to feed never had such a chance to increase its feeding value as now. Don’t sacrifice your wheat. Intrinsically it is worth more than present market price, and besides, you can’t afford to sell it at that price. We learn of an Illinois farmer whose corn crop has been used up by the drought, and he has nothing to fatten off a large lot of pigs. He borrowed money and sent to Chicago for a car lot of wheat. His head is level. According to Prof. Henry, a bushel of wheat will make nine to fifteen Bounds of pork; that should be an average of twelve pounds, worth 68 to 70 cents in this market, i while wheat is worth oply 53 cents, ■ and in the case of growing, thrifty ■ shoats, the bushel of wheat would return 80 to 85 cents. Feed your wheat and cheat the speculators out of part of their profit at least,'for wheat will advance in price, and the more sold at present prices the greater the profit to the buyer.