Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 106, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1899 — FARM AND GARDEN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARM AND GARDEN

How to Feed Sugar Beets. When sugar beets are fully grown, which will be as soon as the first frost occurs, harvest them in this way: Take a hoe, ground as sharp as a knife, and go through the rows chopping off the tops smoothly, and doing so, so that the tops will fall from two rows into one space between these rows. Go up and down so that the right hand can do the work, throwing the tops to the left. Then, when the beets are topped, take a blunt hoe, or a prong hoe, and lift the roots out of the ground, throwing them into the empty rows, so that when the work is done there will be one row of roots and one of tops alternately through the field. Then gather the roots and put them, after one day’s sunning to dry them, in pits made in this way, dug eighteen Inches deep, iri dry soil, and three br four feet wide, and of any desired length for convenience.

Cover them with straw laid up and down the shed water, and then cover this with earth—a foot deep finally, as the winter’s cold may make it necessary to avoid freezing. But ventilation must be secured by putting wisps of straw every four or five feet to let the heated air due to the fermentation of the beets escape, otherwise the roots will rot. The leaves may be saved In the same way and will keep long enough to feed them before the roots are touched. Any kind of roots, potatoes or apples will keep in the best manner in this way, until the spring. There Is no other root grown that is so good for cows kept for milk as the sugar beet. And no other crop gives more actual food to the acre than this when it is well grown. Calf Weaners. The days of the old-fashioned weaners—made of an old boot leg or a strap full of nails—are numbered. While these were comparatively satisfactory as far as weaning the calf was concerned, the nails proved a cruelty to the cows and in many cases resulted in Injury. The “muzzle” weaner has for some time been familiar to those interested, but the “safety” weaner Is comparatively new. It consists of a piece of galvanized iron swung from a wire frame, which Is so constructed as to fit into the nostrils of the animal. The ends are made so they will not wear the nose or make it sore. The device

does not interfere in the least with feeding, but it is said to wean the most obstinate case, as it prevents sucking sidewise as well. Vnlne of Huy as Feed. The hay crop of this country is more important to farmers than wheat, as hay may be baled and sent to market or be used on the farm; but one reason why hay should not be sold is because it contains more of the mineral elements than does grain. More profit is made from hay than from any other staple crop, as it is the main reliance for winter feeding, and the manure from hay contains plant food that is more evenly balanced thgin that from any other source. To derive the most benefit from hay, however, is to feed it tn connection with less valuable bulky food, using bran or linseed meal to make the ration better and more acceptable, and espec ally should this course be pursued whe n there has been a short hay crop. nrulium ee'l a* Food. It is not generally known that a great part of the human race in partly civilized countries depends on the seeds of Kaffir corn and the various varieties of Sorghum for their grain food. The seed is easily beaten out, and when ground into meal and raised with yeast. It makes as good pancakes as buckwheat. Some like a mixture of this with Indian meal better than either alone. Where the seed Is taken from sorghum grown for making sugar, both the seed and the sweetness of the stalk are at their best just before the grain hardens. Fall Plowintr. There may be disadvantages in fall plowing, as It Is believed by some that the plowing of the land in the fall permits of the loss of soluble plant food In winter by leaching, but when the land J® y®** then

cross-plowed early in the spring there is brought to the surface the larvae of insects, which perish on exposure to cold at the surfaoe. To prevent leaching of the soil after plowing the work should be done early in the fall and the land seeded to rye. Cheap and Handy Wheat Bin. Build a house as large as you may wish for your wheat, oats and rye. Seal up tight by tonguing and grooving the ceiling; draw ceiling down tight and nail fast. Separate your bins from each other, then have a hole in the floor with small slip door and fix with a common sack nearly reaching the lower floor; when you are ready to sack up Just open the slide and let the wheat come down through the funnel of sack which has both ends open. When the sack is full shut off the grain, using a lever for the purpose. It is easy and cheaply made; or you can have a wooden spout to use Instead of a sack, which would be best, and about as cheap; 4%-lnch wide planks make a spout and have shut-off plank to fit in spout. It is a cheap and easy way to fill sacks.—H. A. Cooley. Grooming Farm Horses. Farm horses in summer usually show the effects of neglected grooming more than the lack of grain feeding. It is true, if the "horse has his run in the fields, as we think every horse should do some time every summer, he will partly groom himself by rolling either on wet grass or on plowed ground. Though this does not improve the horse’s looks, it cleanses the skin, and if the brush and curry comb are used after, the animal will clearly show his appreciation of the service that is being done to him. Wintering; Stock. The farmer who simply “winters” his stock until spring loses valuable time, unless his object is to gain in weight of product. Many farmers are satisfied to have the stock come out in the spring in as good condition as the animals were in the fall, but something more should be expected than for the stock to “keep” over winter. Every animal that does not make a gain causes a loss, as labor is required, and the most profitable plan is to feed liberally and endeavor to gain as mnch as possible. Turnips Among Potatoes. We have always found that turnips sown broadcast among potatoes succeeded better than among corn. The leaves of the potato die down earlier than those of corn, and the roots cease to draw from the soil the moisture that the turnip needs. Of course, the potatoes must be dug by hand, but this helps the turnips by the stirring of the soil about them and by the destruction of the weeds that hinder their growth. Handling; Apnles and Potatoes. One must often handle barrels of apples or potatoes alone. In such a case

a device like that shown In the cut will be of service. An old buggy wheel Is fastened between the ends of two handles, which have a cross-piece and a “sling” of boards, as shown In the cut. The frame Is pulled up to the barrel, which Is tipped up to one side, and the “sling” slipped under It It can then be wheeled away with each.—Orange Judd Farmer. Pigs as Scavengers. Every family can keep one or two pigs, using as food refuse from the table and the parings of potatoes and other vegetables cooked for food. This will, perhaps, need to be supplemented by a little grain, but the expense of this will be more than made up by the thriftier growth of the pigs. If one breeding sow is kept its pigs will supply the family with meat for the year, at much less expense than buying It In the city markets. Weeds Rich in Nitrogen. The common chickweed and pigweed, that start up In gardens in midsummer and make remarkable growth within a short time, are both weeds that rank very high in nitrogenous compounds., Not even second-growth clover will furnish as much nutrition for their bulk. Hogs and cows are extremely fond of both and will eat them greedily. They are excellent not only for breeding sows, but for hogs that are being fed grain and need more succulency in their ration. How to Load Stock. To load hogs or sheep easily, quickly and without Injury, we use a chute 2 feet wide, 10 feet long, 3 feet high on sides; fasten an old horse shoe under each corner at upper end so the heel calks will rest on rear end of hog rack. Have sliding gate to open at corner of yard. Place slats crosswise in bottom of the chute to prevent slipping.—Leslie Ashcraft. Hints for Fruit Grower* Watch a sod orchard. It win begin to faU before you know It. Good drainage, natural or artificial, Is essential to success. Tree® are impatient of wet feet. Good tillage increases the avertable food supply of the soli and also conserves Its moisture. Potash Is the chief fertilizer to be applied to fruit trees, particularly after they come into bearing. Probably nine-tenths of, the apple or chards are to sod, and many of them are meadows. Of course they are failing. The remedy for these apple failures Is to cut down many of the orchards. For the remainder, the treatment is cultivation, fertilization, spraying-the

A POT OF ROOTS (END VIEW).

SAFETY WEANER. MUZZLE WEANER.

A BARREL WHEELBARROW.