Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 111, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 October 1899 — FARM AND GARDEN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARM AND GARDEN

Black Minorca Fowl. Wherein these fowls differ from, the , Black Spanish, it Is difficult to say. They are noted for their fertility in producing eggs, a special feature of all the hens of this class existing in ■the Mediterranean, and including the Black Spanish, the Andalusian, and the Leghorns. The Black Minorca has but one fault, which is the looped comb of the hen •and large serrateu one of the cock. But it is an easy thing to cut these •combs low down, and so remove the, •only objection urged against it For while its native home is in a warm climate where frosts are unknown, yet when the large and tender comb is removed the fowl suffers no inconven-

fence from our coldest winters, but under good management, and especially when it is kept in a basement house so that the winds do not chill, this fowl has laid right on from November until May, and has taken a rest from laying eggs only during the hot weather in mid-summer. It is an excellent table fowl. It is doubtless the best of all hens in a small lo£ in a village or town where confinement is necessary. Half a dozen hens will then supply a small family with eggs. A ’’andy Hauling Crate. It is often convenient to have a crate in which to haul a single hog, sheep or calf. It is not necessary to have it so large or so heavy but what it can be easily lifted Into the wagon, or even taken in the light wagon, where the animal to be hauled is not too large and heavy. The frame should be made ■of 2X4’s, strengthened by rods and' bolts. FOur-lnch slats are nailed horizontal on the inside of the sides, and perpendicular op the end. Three slats, dropped from above and retained in position by the mortised end, will retain the animal when inside. The crate is about 3 feet wide, 4% feet high and 5 feet long. The three frames are mortised at top and bottom, and nave a rod (A) at top, and at the bottom two 2x4’a are bolted at' B. The floor is spiked down to these. The slats are nailed on from the inside to prevent crowding off. To give strength, substitute a 2x4 in place of slat (D) which snould be bolted to the frames. The slats for retaining the animal are made of 2x4’s. They are made to slip down between the rod and outside 2x4

brace across the top of the rear frame, the bottom of the slat (C) mortised to fit a square hole cut on the flo«r and the top held In position by a pin fitting into holes, bored through the top of slat and braces of frame (E). Fig. 8 shows the crate complete.—J. L. Irwin, in Ohio Farmer. Disease-Proof Grape Vines. The American grape vines are less subject to disease than those of foreign origin, and are wholly exempt from attack of the phylloxera on the roots. Some of the European vineyards have been grafting their wine grapes on roots of American varieties as the only way to save them from the phylloxera. To eat raw some of our native grapes are better than most of the European varieties that can here be only grown in bouses where they are sheltered from winds and storms. Furrow* in Wheat Field*. , After wheat is sown it is not advisable to run a plow through it, as is often done to make furrows in whirh to lead on surplus water. The deep furrow piles too much earth over the *‘« l - and tU. cau.es It to winter kill, .... > - . . , J •J*

r. as the germ starts too far below the surface and is broken off from its roots by the expansion of frosen soil in wfar ter. If the land is underdrained all the water win sink into the soil and go off through that If the land is not underdrained, and is likely to have water standing on’ it, running a furrow through the field can not do more than carry off a little ot the surface water, leaving the soil fully saturated and liable to become honeycombed with frozen earth so soon as cold weather comes. . , • Farm Wells. Those who pack away summer butter for winter use can scarcely do better than to make it into lumps, pound or half-pound size, and wrap 1 each lump ,in clean muslin or what is known as cheese cloth. Then prepare a strong brine, using only the purest of water and salt, and boll this for a few minutes, carefully skimming off any impurities that may arise. There should not be any, but one cannot always be sure of even the clearest of water or the most praisedealt Have as much and a little more salt than will dissolve in the water and pack the lumps of butter in stone jars or clean tubs as closely as they will pack. Pour the brine over it when cold so that all will be covered and put on a board with weight to hold it down. There need be no fear of the butter growing saltier by being in the brine, as it will not absorb salt from the brine if it is proper ly worked before packing. Makin* Mixed Pickle*. Much of the profit qf all manufacturing enterprises depends on using trifles that were formerly thrown away as too unimportant for consideration. The farmer, and especially the grower of vegetables, needs to practice the same economy. There are at this time of year about every farm many odds and ends That if saved in some way would be marketable when vegetables hte in leSh abundant supply than now. Etaking mixed pickles is, perhaps, the best way to dispose of onions, cauliflower and other vegetables that are too small to market in other ways. The farmer has an advantage in selling these mixed pickles if he has a supply of good cider vinegar, so that he can sell them already prepared for the table. In this way he can get good prices for his pickles, besides making a market for his vinegar at paying rates. Tie, for Bindins: Corn. Whenever rye and com are grown on the same farm, it is a common practice of farmers to save some of the* rye in .bundles and thresh them out with the flail. The rye straw thus securfed makes excellent bands to bind the tops of com when it is put up in a stack. But the rye straw is also in demand for other uses. A few square rods set with osier willow will furnish stronger and better ties than can -be otherwise procured, and at very little expense. The green com stalks commonly used for binding com are always brittle and commonly break before the stack is finished, thus exposing grain and fodder to injury from storms. Southdown

The property of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales. First and champion southdown ram, Royal Counties Show, England. Cost of Farmirjc. . The beginner on a farm usually estimates the cost of the farm as the largest expenditure, but a farm is an incumbrance if tne owner has pot sufficient capital to derive the most from the land. There is a heavy outlay to be considered for buildings, horses, cattle, wagons, seeds ahd labor. The cost for the first year may exceed the value of the farm Itself. It Is better to begin with a small farm where the capital Is limited than to undertake too much and lose all by going into debt Time to Cut Millet. There is a popular belief t|iat millet seed is very good for horses, and the desire to get it well developed causes this grain to be generally cut too early to make the best fodder. Even for horses we should cut it before the seed was fully grown. It will.galn some in size after the stalk is severed from its roots. For cows it should always be cut early, and as millet hay has to be cured when days are rapidly shortening, it should be put in cock and kept there until ready to be drawn to the barn or stack. t! Combntine Grasshopper*. The true remedy, according to Prof. Lugger, of Minnesota, consists in plowing. Turn over the soil containing the eggs during autumn, as by jo doing the surface of the ground becomes thoroughly compacted and the grasshoppers are unable to reach 'the surface the following season. Plowing in the spring, if well done as early as possible, will also be successful, though it is not as practicable as fall plowing. ' ■* Succulent Fool for Sheep. If the shepherd desires to bring his flock to the beat condition in winter he must use some succulent feed, such as roots or ensilage, or such feed as oil meal, bran or clover. In most farming localities few feeds can be raised cheaper than corn and coni fodder, in maintaining a flock, and if the silo is properly filled, will furnish sufficient succulent feed. I

BLACK MINORCA FOWL.

FIG. 8—STOCK CRATE.