Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 107, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1899 — AGRICULTURAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AGRICULTURAL

Lnadins: Live Stock. The accompanying Illustration shows a device, for loading hogs and sheep that are too heavy to lift. The figure represents one side only. The bottom fe a two-inch plank one foot or sixteen inches wide, or as wide as the wagon box, If you want it, with slats nailed crosswise on the bottom to keep the stock from slipping. The ends are both of the same angle so that when set up on the hind end of the wagon it will fit the box, and the end on the ground is perpendicular. By means of a few portable panels we can load stock almost any place where there is a fence for one side. The device can be adjusted to suit the wagon, unlike one that is stationary. We have scales, and a breeding pen for pigs, and it comes

bandy to unload sows, and at the scales for loading fat hogs and sheep.— A. S. Foreman, in Ohio Farmer. Farmers’ Boys at College. Some Interesting figures as to the proportion of farmers’ boys among college students have been gathered by the American Agriculturist It has returns from 178 universities and colleges, reporting an attendance of 62,000 students, out of a total of 97,000 in all the higher educational instituttoins of the country. In its analysis of the figures the Agriculturist reduces the number of students considered to a little under 52,000, for some unexplained reason excluding, it says, a few city colleges, like Harvard, Pratt Institute, University of Rochester, Fisk University and others. Out of this total of about 52,000 it finds that nearly 21,000 are from the agricultural classes, or a percentage of 40.2 from the farm. This percentage varies largely In different sections of the country. It is 50.9 in the South, 45.8 in the far West, 40.1 in the central West, 29.4 in the Middle States and 29.1 in New England. “In no other nation will any such condition be found,” comments the Agriculturist. “It is a wonderful tribute to the general intelligence of our American farmers’ families, and to the high hopes and deep aspirations oftheir sons and daughters. This exhibit mightily to the dignity of agriculture, at least in the eyes of the masses in other vocations.”—Exchange.

For I>re<aintr Fowls. The tilttag table here shown is just big enough to hold a fowl firmly between the side boards, with Its head or neck down through the opening, so that no blood will get upon the table or the feathers. The latter can thus be kept elean and sold. Even at a low price, the feathers from large flocks make not a little addition to the profit side of the account. This method permits the

feathers being saVed without any soiling whatever, consequently the highest price is obtained.—American Agriculturist. Unnecessary Fences. In every wooded country the first impulse of the farmer when he clears the land of timber Is to make much use of it for rails and posts to fence the farm thoroughly. No doubt for those early times plenty of fences to divide the farm into small fields was a convenience. It enabled the firmer to pasture his stock without all > wing old and young to herd together. There was more labor in plowing and cultivating these small fields, but so much of the work of weed killing was done by band labor that this did not much matter. That era rather than the present was when “The man with the hoe,” as described in Mr. Markham’s poem, would best apply to American farm workers The great improvement in cultivating and harvesting machinery has enormously lessened the labor of the farmer. One of its best effects is doing away with allseed for most of the fences that were formerly deemed essential to good farming. pT„V.n Oreh.rd.

roots by the time spring opens. If pre ferrod, the manure may be harrowed in and rye sowed, which may be turned under in the spring and the land then limed as a partial protection against disease and insects, and also to neutral? ize the effects of an excgss of acid generated by the decomposition of the green material. t’xtr-ctinsr Honey. One very essential thing in extracting honey is a good sharp honey knife, as a dull knife will break and mutilate the combs. Shave off the cappings as evenly as possible so as to keep the combs of a uniform thickness. After removing the capping from both sides of the combplaceit in the basket or reel of the extractor with the top of the frame toward the outside of the extractor. When both frames are put in this way the machine will run evenly without jolting or jarring. Be careful to put in combs of equal weight, as near as you can judge, as a light comb on one side and a heavy one on the other will cause the reel to wabble and sometimes jump out of the socket. Turn the crank slowly at first if the combs are very heavy. Only throw out part of the honey from the first side, then reverse the combs and turn fast enough to throw out all the honey from that side, then reverse the combs again and rim the machine fast enough to throw out all that remains. A little practice will soon enable any one to tell how fast to turn the crank; If turned too fast the first time when the combs are heavy it breaks the cells.—Farm, Field and Fireside. The Farm Garden, For a farmer to begin gardening with several varieties of each kind of vegetable is to fall with some, as farmers do not, as a rule, give much attention to gardening. About one-half of the varieties in many seed catalogues could be eliminated with advantage. If the garden is to be a specialty next year mow off the grass and weeds, and plow the land in the fall, applying manure liberally, and then harrowing it in. Next spring plow the garden again, and use only a few varieties, of each vegetable, selecting such as may be supposed to be the best. The fall is the time to prepare the garden plot, so as to expose it to the action of the frosts in winter. ' aptures Fir«t Prizes. The Jersey cow, Happy Girl, sire Perry Farm Bosy.’s Boy, dam Lady Gordon, wae ( bred and is owned by his grace the Duke of Marlborough, Bien-

helm Palace, Woodstock, England; she has frequently appeared in the showring and has invariably been most successful, carrying off a large number of first prizes at the leading English fairs. '1 he Beat V* ay to. Drench a Hoc. Get an old shoe and cut off about an inch of the toe. Slip a loop of halfinch rope over upper jaw, and have assistant to hold, or tie to a post so that the front feet barely touch the ground. The hog will open mouth to squeal. Thrust shoe toe in and pour liquid into shoe and down it goes. Never hold a hog upright to drench, as he will choke to death In that position.—J. S. Sargent. Peach on Plum ?tock. There is no particular advantage in budding the peach on plum stock. The peach can be grown on heavy soil as well as can the pluim and is nearly as hardy during winter. The hardiness of the plum stock will not save the, peach limbs and buds that have been budded on it, so that if a severe winder came the fruit crop would probably be lost? either way. Form Notes. Freshearth gives poultry great pleasure and plenty to do. Poultry that Is kept busy always pays Its way. A good ration for laying, hens must contain nitrogen and phosphate of lime, and these are more cheaply supplied in clover than in any other form. Any farmer who may not be posted as to the use of fertilizers should write to bls experiment station, that Is, the experiment station of bis State. These stations are maintained for the purpose of giving farmers just such information. A durable screen for concealing certain portions of the premises may be made of gas pipe for the framework and implanting this In wooden blocks which are firmly set in the ground. Along the framework draw poultry netting and secure it by wrapping with small wire. This screen makes an admirable support for vines of every description. If the strawberry bed has been overrun by grass and weeds the best thing to do is to burn the bed over late In the fall, and next spring the strawberry plants will get a gobd start. The weeds and grass will render any strawberry n^ fl |

LOADING LIVE STOCK.

SLOPING TABLE.

JERSEY COW, HAPPY GIRL.