Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1898 — FARMERS CORNER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARMERS CORNER

White Wjandots. It is probably a fact that no variety of fowls has so quickly and so completely taken, captive the heart of the practical poultry keepers as have the White Wyandots. They are encroaching upon the popularity of the Barred Plymouth Rock, which for a decade has been the most popular breed of poultry, by far, in the list. The reason for the high estimation in which the Wyandot is held is not far to see. In the first place, it has a splendid market form and is, moreover, a most excellent lay-

er. The fowls are quiet and the hens make excellent mother's,—in fact, they cannot be excelled in this respect. When wanted for market, the Wyandot is always plump and fat, and this is a condition, too, that is true of them at almost any time after they are ten weeks old. Another point in favor of the Wyandot is its quick maturity. It can be got to laying in five months after hatching. All varieties of Wyandots are of great practical worth, but the white variety is accepted everywhere as being the practical fowl par excellence.—New England Farmer. The Guernsey. If there is what is commonly called a special all-purpose cow, that Is, one which Is excellent for the dairy and good for beef, it is doubtless the Guernsey. It belongs to the so-called Channel Island races, the origin of which seems to have been the cattle of Normandy, the nearly adjoining province of France, but being a part of Great Britain for many centuries. The cut is one of a prize cow which recently gained the first prize at the English dairy exhibition, and the Lord Mayor’s cup in a milking contest in London. She is an excellent type of this breed, which is noted specially for the high quality of butter, and its fine color, beating the Jersey in as regards the fine grain and high rich flavor of her product. This cow will surpass the Jersey, one half at least, in the weight of carcass, and still more in the quality

of the meat. In this respect this breed stands very high, and very nearly approaches the Devon. This cow gave 275% pounds of milk in a week, of which was made sixteen pounds of butter weighed before salting. The breed generally is noted for gentleness and good disposition. Batter Making;. Butterine cannot compete with good butter. There is no such thing as medium butter. If it is not choice it deserves no place in the market. Much of the butter sold is unfit for use, and the cause is ignorance in making it. In Europe dairy schools have been established for many years, the result being a rapid advance in the methods of butter-making. In this country dairy schools are beginning to be established and are well attended. Butter-making begins when the milk is drawn from the udder, the strictest cleanliness being observed. Filth and carelessness are the obstacles in the way of good butter. ‘'oil for Bulba Dutch bulbs are the easiest of flowers to grow. Those who have failed with almost every other kind may count on success with these. But even bulbs like certain things better than pertain other things. For Instance, in fertilizers, the Dutch gardeners long ngo showed us that rotted cow manure is preferable to any otaer. Where this is used some sand should be mixed with it to lighten the soil. Bulbs do not like a soil that Is either extremely wet or dry. Any soil that Is well suited to vegetable culture will. If it be rich, answer for growing flu* Dutch bulbs to perfection.—N ick’s Magazine. Hrntiini; Bench Tree*. It Is usually done in the spring, though It can bo done in the late fall, but with the liability of some of the branches being wl '.ter killed, thus necessitating cutting again in the spring. The best form is to leave the trees rather open in the center, so as to admit the sunlight and permit of free circulation of air. The peach tree can endure severe pruning and scorns to thrive when such is done. All dead limits, or those that are diseased, must be removed at ouee. bight Feedlnur. Little Milk. It has been demonstrated that a cow will eat as much as seventy-five imunds of given food In one day. This appears ns a large quantity, but such cows are also producers of more milk than cows which ent but lit tie. It is of uo ndvau

tage to have what is termed a “light feeder,” as it is impossible for a cow to yield milk in large quantities unless she consumes sufficient food from which to produce the milk. Do not reduce the food because of a scarcity, but buy bran and linseed meal. Economy in the saving of food means a loss in the product. Food brought on the farm is not only an addition to the. raw material to be utilized, but increases the manure heap. A Supply of Ladders. One of the most important things in harvesting fruit is to have a good supply of ladders. The modern methods of pruning trees do not require the long and inconvenient ladders that were formerly used by leaningthem against the tree and picking the fmit from the outside. This always had the effect of destroying many small limbs and stripping the bark from larger ones where the ladder rested. Light, self-support-ing ladders that can be set under trees, so that the picker need not climb through them, are what are needed. The saving in fruit by picking from these self-supporting ladders will repay their cost any year when the fruit crop is abundant. The Best Pays Best. A Canadian dairy farmer found out what the Babcock test would do for him. He had twenty-four cows and two hired men. He tested the cows and found that eight of them did not pay for their keep. He disposed of the eight and one hired man. At the end of the year he found he had made as much money as when he had kept the twentyfour cows and two hired men. He reduced his herd still further to twelve first-class animals, and from them expects to get as much income as he used to get from the twenty-fonr. For Mending Harness. Take two pieces, Ixs Inches, 2% feet long, trim one end of each to a nice edge to hold leather, and nail to block 4x5 inches, cut five inches long and champered off so as to bring points of board together at top. Saw one board off one-half Inch below top of

block, and rejoin with hinge of leather or rubber belting. Nail two strips Ix 2 inches and 20 inches long, one on each end of block to make stand up. Make hand lever, as figure 1, with a cylindrical roll at end, 2 inches in diameter and 2% inches long. Put hole one-half inch from upper side, fasten in place with two pieces of stray iron running through slots in clamp boards, and with holes in each end to receive sixteenpenny wire nails, one through hand lever and one on outside of opposite board. An old bed spring will do for spreader.—Practical Farmer. ** Temporary Fencing. The zigzag plan of building temporary board fences is recommended by a correspondent, who says: If the boards are 16 feet long, set the posts 7% feet apart and in a straight line. Put the boards on as shown in sketch, nailing one panel on one side of the post and the next one on the other, with the post in the center of the board on the opposite side of the This method of putting on boards bends them slightly, and the boards are inclined to hug to the post. In case an animal pushes a board loose from the post if it is not broken it will spring back to its place, making it appear tight, thus present-

ing no inducement to stock to jump. —Farm and Home. Hints for Beekeepers. Moth worms bother Itulian bees very little. Spring dwindling is the result of bad wintering. Bees require ventilation in the hive during the winter. I'he nourishment of the bee consists of honey and pollen. Honey will ripen just as well outside of the hive as in It. In wintering it is always best to take away all but one queen. With good care combs may be made to last a good many years. The size of the cells does not determine the sex by any means. A piece of ground takeu up with bee hives is of little value for anything else except fruit. Bees when building comb commence at the top ami hang lu heavy clusters to their combs. Keep the brood as near the center ns possible, and the honey nearest the outside frames. flood clinff hives are quite a protection to early brood rearing if managed pi o*erly. The queen, no matter liow prolific. Rliould be confined to the space occupied by the cluster. l>o not allow any drone comb to rcmnln In the hive except the colonies you wish to breed from. The pure Italian bees show three yellow or golden bands encircling the laxly when the bees are filled with honey. The hives should not l»e Mhlfted around from one place to another, as the bees will get confused and It wll| often Incite robbing,—St. Louis Republic.

WHITE WYANDOTS.

THE GUERNSEY COW.

HARNESS CLAMP.

ZIGZAG BOARD FENCH.