Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1899 — AGRICULTURAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AGRICULTURAL

To Get Rid of Stumps. Frederick O. Sibley describes in the New York Tribune a method of getting rid of stumps which, although not nearly so “fast” in its operation as dynamite, giant powder and the like, is perfectly safe to handle, but little more costly and, when rightly controlled, much better than any explosive Substance mentionable, for ftie reason that it leaves, on the whole, no fragments to be gathered up and disposed of in the end, but reduces the entire stump to ashes, which for encouraging growth, are not easily to be surpassed. The way to do it is to dig a hole between the roots, or at* one side of the stump, and partly under it, large enough in which to start a fire. This much achieved and the fire once nicely

got under way, slip over the stump the big cylinder shown in the accompanyillustration, adding to it the “smokestack.” As to this cylinder, have it made of sheet-iron (any blacksmith or tinsmith ought to be able to do the work of riveting it together), and be stare the drum proper is of ample diameter to go over any stump which you may wish to get rid of. As can be seen, the upper part should taper, like a cone, and terminate In what will readily accommodate ordinary six-inch stove-pipe, three or four lengths of which are sufficient to make the whole arrangement act similar to a stove and so “cremate* ’successfully almost any kind of a stump. Of course, the more pipe there is added to the cylinder the fiercer the draught will be. It will not do to have it too strong, however; otherwise the drum part might collapse. Therefore, when the fire is first started and the “crematory” has been placed in position, the operator should watch it closely to see that it does not get too hot Provided it should begin to turn red, earth ought to be applied around the bottom of the cylinder until only just enough air can gain admittance to keep the fire going inside as desired. In this way a field of stumps can be cleared out quite easily, and that to one’s complete satisfaction. Shorthorn Bull. The Shorthorn bull, Star of Dawn, is a roan exhibited by Mr. C. Home Graham Stirling, Crieff, Scotland, at the

show of the Highland and Agricultural Society at Kelso, lh 1898, when he won the first and championship prizes. He has since been exported to Buenos Ayres. ‘Length of Cotswold Wool. A Vermont farmer, recently showed to a wool dealer in that State wool from one of his Cotswold sheep from which a thread was taken that when brought out to full length measured almost eight feet It is probable that Cotswold sheep give wool with the longest threads of any, though all wool, being curly, is much longer than it looks to be on the bodies of the sheep. The growth of wool continues from one shearing till the next and any sickness or indigestion of the sheep during this period results in Injury to the wool grown at that time. ■Value of Sheep on the Farm. The old farms in Canada that command the highest prices are said to be those on which sheep have been kept from the time they were first occupied. The pastures on them are comparatively free from bushes and weeds, while the soil is firm and productive of the best sort of grasses. A farm* on which a large number of sheep have been kept for many years is very desirablefor dairy and other purposes. The lesson of the value of sheep is one that farmers seem to learn but slowly. • „

bination of moisture, air and soil makes the conditions right for rotting. Often both ends for two and a half or three feet will be found sound enough to use. Such posts can be made serviceable by cutting away one-half of each post, leaving a flat surface, and putting two or three bolts and nuts through to hold them together, and. then setting the posts in the ground again. A post thus repaired will often last as long in the fence as It did when originally set and new. In most places, unless a man is very handy with tools, the labor of splicing two old posts would be worth as much if not more than the cost of buying a new one. sweet Peas. Sweet peas will grow anywhere, but will give best results on clay soil. A good method is to select your bed the previous fall, enrich with thoroughly rotted manure and spade deeply; this will leave ground in nice shape for early spring planting. Do not spade ground in spring, as a stiff, firm soil is best. Never use fresh manure. .Early in spring, the earlier the better, sow your seed in double rows about ten inches apart. Hollow out drills, so they will be about two or three inches deep in stiff clay, or four or five inches deep in the light, loose soil; firm soil in the trench with the foot; this is important; on this sow your seed twice as thick as you want them to stand in row to be sure of a full stand; cover seed about two Inches deep and firm soil. Do not hill up, as it is better to' have a slight depression so as to catch most of the water after rains. Thin plants to two inches apart before they commence to vine. Hoe only shallow between plants. For support use poultry wire or brush. For a long season of bloom, mulch and water in dry weather, and pluck flowers freely, as they soon stop blooming if you let seed form. Movable Pigpen. The accompanying illustration, from the American Agriculturist, needs but little explanation. When pigs are turned out to pasture in the spring or fall, they should have some protection from bad weather. A pen like this is easily made and is very inexpensive. A bundle of straw placed inside will keep them, comfortable, and they amply rfepay the care required to keep them warm and dry. Being built like a sled, it is easily taken from place to place by hitching a horse to the iron round in front, with a chain. A similar arrangement could be used for chickens if they are kept in a number of

yards. It can be made as large and as long as desired, and all in all is very convenient for such use. Seed Corn. Seed corn can be selected in the winter or when the corn is being husked. A box should be placed near the point of operations, and every perfect ear (selecting only the best) should be thown Into it while husking. It is possible that but few ears may be selected from among a large number, but if care is used in selecting and the seed corn put in a dry place it will be found, next spring, that more grains will germinate and a larger yield will result. F«rm Notea. Failures on the farm are often due to the use of Inferior seed or too much economy in that direction. A dollar saved In seed sometimes causes a loss of a hundred times the cost of the seed. Always sell the Inferior stock, but before so doing it will pay to pnt as much fat on the animals as possible, not only to secure extra weight, but also because a fat animal will bring an extra price in market. - - Early cut hay Is to be preferred to a late-cut crop on the ground of quality. The dry matter of most, if not all, crops is relatively richer in protein In the early stages of its growth, and ta carbohydrates In the later stages. Late-eut bay is not an ideal food for dairy stock, owing to the large increase of indigestible woody fiber which occurs as the crop approaches maturity. The early crops are quickly destroyed if neglected. Onions require careful watching, as the early weeds may get ahead of them in forty-eight hours should the weather be warm for a few days, which doubles the work of the farmer. The best time to destroy weeds Is when they are germinating. Whenever the wheel hoe run* between the rows it not only admit* warmth and causes the' seeds of weeds to germinate, but kills those that are just starting. But few farmers would consider hay as a suitable food for hogs, but the Kansas Experiment Station reports better results from a mixture of alfalfa hay and Kaffir corn than from Kaffir only. The hay was tod dry In forkfuls. cheaply. |

THE STUMP “CREMATORY.”

STAB OF DAWN.

A DESIRABLE PIGPEN.