Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1895 — FARMS AND FARMERS. [ARTICLE]

FARMS AND FARMERS.

FOOD COST OF MILK. Much valuable work has been done during the~past four years at the different experiment stations in regardtb the feeding , "df cattle, la or*’- - der to determine the cost of the production of meat, milk and butter, one of the most valuable experiments having been conducted at the New York station with the view-of determining the food cost of one quart of milk. Seven different breeds of cows were used, and a record was kept during the seyerakperjods of lactation. . Such a test combines so many details and the individual characteristics of the animals differ so widely as to cause a great variation in the results, and as the experiments have extended oVer a period of several years, and must necessa rily be somewhat incomplete, the results can only__Jbe accepted as an estimate or . arbitrary limit. The experiments will, however, be none the less valuable, and will prove useful to many. The actual cost of milk is shown to be greater than the selling price at delivery’ points in some sections. Nearly all kinds of foods were used, both coarse and concentrated, and with the seven breeds, no two of them are the same proportion or gave the same yields. A cow that produced at a low cost the first year, would largely increase the cost at another year. The actual cost of the food, taking the average for all periods of lactation, ranged fro m $37.52 to $50.73, and the average yield of milk per cow for all periods of lactation was from 3,984 pounds, a quart is about 2.15 pounds, to 7,918 pounds, the Holsteins and Ayrshires leading in yields. The actual average cost for each quart of milk was, for the Holsteins, 1.39 cents; Ayrshire, 1.58; Holderness, 1.63; Shorthorns, 1.68; Guernseys, 1.85; Jerseys, 1.95; and Devons, 2.02 cents. The average yields of milk solids were, for the Holsteins, 936.5 pounds; Ayrshires, 869.4 pounds; Shorthorns, 866.2 pounds; Guernseys, 804 pounds, Jerseys, 775.4 pounds; Holderness, 724.1 pounds, and Devons, 577.4 pounds. The average per cent, of milk solids in milk varied from 11.83 to 15.37, cows in their second, third and fourth years appearing to yield more solids than during the first year. The actual cost of one pound of milk Solids ranged from 5.34 to 6.50 cents, and as the solids are those portions other than water, they represent what is taken from the soil or from food procured elsewhere. The final result to seek is the profit. Estimating the value of the milk sold at 1.28 cents per pound, the Holsteins produce $101,35, the totals varying with the breeds, the Ayrshire coming next, with $87.24; Holderness, $73.22; “Shbrthorns, $72.50; Guernseys, $68.93; Jerseys, $64.58, and Devons, ssl. These pums are gross, from which the cost ■must be deducted, and, of course, (the totals will vary according to the prices obtained and the markets fought for the milk- The cost of the Inailk is not in the- food only. The ! capital invested in land, buildings uid stock, the labor employed, the ertilizers purchased, and the transportation to market all add to the expense, the manure from the aniinals, however, possessing a value. The experiments plainly show that tosucceed the dairyman must depend on the best breeds.

PEED IN WINTER. All through winter the heaviest feed of every kind of farm stock thould be at night. Enough should be given at each meal, but in the evening it may be of richer quality and more tempting to the appetite. This is needed in cold weather to keep the animal warm, as the process of digestion is slow combustion of food which furnishes heat for the body while it provides nourishment for the blood. As the process of digestion goes on with less interruption during sleep a heavy meal at night is less likely to injure the stomach than if given at any other time. Besides, unless a farmer feeds after dark and a good while before daylight in the morning the interval between feeding is longer through the night than through the short days of our Northern winters. A better feed at night is, therefore, needed on this account PROFIT IN BLACK WALNUT. There is profit in black walnut timber aside from the fruit they bear. When planted on good ground i tree will become, in a single lifetime, a valuable piece of property. Seventv-five years ago Thomas L. Walker, of Tennessee, planted four walnut trees, and before he died these trees had grbwn to a diameter if three feet, and worth S4OO each. A Tennesse paper remarks that if Mr. Walker had gone through Tennessee planting walnut trees, as Tohnny Appleseed, ninety years ago, went through the Northern States planting apple seeds, Tennessee would now be the richest State in Union. It might, however, have broken the market for walnut timber. When everybody goes to doing the same thing for profit the experiuent sometimes results tha£ WATERING HORSES. The good horseman will water his lorse before feeding hitn, especially n the morning. French breeders dways water their horses before ceding, and in all the large stables if horses in this country that prac-

tice.js.XoHowed. Yet many of the horsemen and farmers never think of the advantage and necessity of it. If the horse could talk, or if man could understand him, he would ask fcradrinkthefirstthing~eve~gy morning, and you will be surprised how eager he is to get it, Whether the weather is cold or hot. I wonder how many farmers ever think ol watering their horses before feeding them in the morning or how much they tosei by not'doing it. The horse comes from work al night, gets a drink, then is fed mostly on dry grain, eats hay part of the night, and in the morning another dry feed, and by this time is very dry himself, so when he reaches water be fills l his,-, stomadi-sa lull that undigested food is forced out ol the-stomach, and is a damage instead of a benefit to a horse. Now try watering one horse before feeding in the morning7thus;"slaking his thirst, and at the same time washing the stomach ready to receive the morning feed, when, being properly "moistened with saliva,-it -wd+ remhinuntil thoroughly digested, Your horse can do more work on less feed and will bo healthy much longer; besidesj humanity demands this care.

HAVE A FEW LUXURIES. Why should not the farmer raise luxuries under glass for his own supply? It is true that but few ol them do so, but they possess the opportunities and advantages for so doing and allow them to pass by. There is but little that the farmer could not have if he will. He may not secure much profit, in the shape of cash, but he can have more enjoy* menfs if he will devote more labor to supplying his own table. - A FEW SUGGESTIONS. Make a reputation as an honorable packer and shipper of fruit. Divers weights and measures are a hindrance.to progress as wel las “an abomination to the Lord.” Have true barrels, crates and berry boxes and put in them no unsound fruit. If you do,blame no one else for your losses. Pack your seconds separately and mark them so. It usually pays best to kill pigs by the time they weigh 150 pounds, and from that up to 200. If allowed to grotf much heavier than this the cost of foou in proportion to the gain is increased except when the hogs become too sluggish and fat to take exercise, but after that the grain is at the expense of healthfulness of the meat when killed. If a horse balks do not 1 whip him. but let him stop and think it over. After a little reflection and a few tosses of the head he will often start of his own volition. Talk to him kindly, pet him, loosen a strap or a buckle and he may forget his oostinate spell. An apple or a bunch of gruss from the roadside may win him. “ , . i Just now, while’the price ob eggs is high compared to last summer, and steadily rising, the food should be diversified. Corn alone will cause masses of fat to form on the internal organs and the-eug supply will be stopped- Corn fed, or too fat hens can be detected by their slow, sleepy and sluggish movements. If eggs are desired, stop .the corn,, except in small quantity at night, Feed grain, and give a daily ration of meat in some shape—raw is best, and green cut bone is still better.

DAIRY DOTS. Farmers Voice. Every moment spent in -properly making and packing butter for market is a good investment. When a kicking Knau and a kicking cow get into action, we never care which whips, though our sympathies are with the cow. w If it were not for the bard work in the dairy, it would be a pity that women did not always have the practical work of it on their hands. It is the cow that does good business every dav, with ordinary fail' care, and not the cow that is macle to perform wonders under pressure, that the farmer wants. We are asked if it is advisable to have a few Jerseys in a herd to increase the richness of the milk. Some esteem them very valuable for that purpose. Their cream adds to the color of the butter. Much of the butter that comes to market is a mosaic, composed, of variegated work of the country storekeeper. Snch butter is a detriment to the best interests of all who have anything to do with it. It is pretty difficult accurately to judge the quality of our own butter. We are prejudiced witnesses. somebody else pass judgment on it. The farmer who makes plenty of 10 cent butter in summer and no 25 cent butter in winter, will never be much in love with the dairy bus'ness. The teeth ,of cattle often become diseased and are the cause of swelling on the jaws. When such swelling appears always examine the mouth.