Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1902 — FARMERS CORNER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARMERS CORNER

Apple Tree Borers. Apple growers through the country lose annually many trees from the ravage£*of the apple tree borer. There are two species, one of which is known as the flat-headed borer and the other the round-headed borer. Both are shown in the accompanying illustration. By taking proper precaution many apple trees could be saved if watched carefully. All trees should be closely examined early In the fall, when the young larvae or worms, If present, may be detected by the discoloration of the bark, which sometimes has a flattened and dried appearance. Exuding sap and the presence of sawdust-like castings give the clew to their whereabouts.

Whenever such indications are seen, the insects should be dug out with a knife or other sharp-pointed instrument. Those which have bored deeply Into the wood may be reached by a sharp, stiff wire thrust into the hole. They can also be destroyed by cutting away the bark at the upper end of the chamber and pouring scalding water into the opening so that it will soak through the castings. Among the preventive remedies, alkaline w r ashes or solutions are probably the most useful. Soft soap made to the consistency of thick paint by the addition of a strong solution of washing soda in water, is a good formula for application. It should be painted over the bark, especially about the base of the trees and upward to the main branches. A small quantity of gas tar added to the solution will also assist in repelling the Insect and will not injure the tree.—Orange Judd Farmer. Shipping Poultry to Market. There are two errors 'most poultry shippers fall into which have considerable bearing on the results obtained. One is the use of improper crates, and the other crowding of the fowls in the crates. In the first case, sometimes the crates used are too heavy and sometimes too light. The last error is made usually by poultrymen who have been in the habit of shipping more or less breeding stock and who use light crates to save transportation charges over long distances. The heavy crates are generally used by farmers and are made of any loose material they happen to have on the farm. The crates should always be as light as it is possible, and still have it strong enough to bear rough handling, and each fowl in it should have a space equal to that required for it to turn around in comfort. If this sort of packing is done the fowls will reach the market in good condition, and there will be none smothered, as is usually the case when too many are packed in a crate. Don’t ship the culls and half-starved fowls to the city market, but send only the plump birds and those In good physical condition, if you would get the highest prices. Winter Protection of Bee Hives. After the bees have stopped their fall flying the hives should be set in a row, facing south, with about six inches of space between the hives. Drive a few stakes between and in front of the hives at an angle of about forty-five degrees, so that when boards are placed across them the lower edges of the boards will rest against the hives Just above the entrance. Then pack leaves over the hives and between them, doing the work thoroughly; the board will prevent the packing material from closing the entrance. Cover the leaves with straw to a considerable depth. Dig a trench along the back of the hives, forming a ridge against the hives that will shed water and keep it from getting in at the bottom of the hives. This Is a very simple plan, yet gives ample protection, while, by using the board in front, the opening of the hive receives all the sunlight there may be during the winter. Should the winter be unusually severe, more straw may be added from time to time durlHg the winter to obtain the needed warmth. Building a Small Ice House. If ice Is readily obtainable during the winter, there should be a small ice house on every farm, holding enough to last through the summer. A cheap house may be built by making an excavation, in circular form, ten feet deep, walling it with brick or stone, or even heavy planking, and having the wall come up two or three feet above the surface of the ground. On this wall is built the top, which may be round or octagon and running to a sharp point This wooden portion may be built of rough lumber. A door Is fitted in one side and around the outside the soil la mounded up nnder the save* and back for several feat to form

a perfect watershed. In packing the Ice air must be excluded, and this rule is as applicable to an expensive ice house as to a cheap one. Sawdust Is the best packing material and should be used in liberal quantities both between the cakes of ice and as a layer over the top. If the ice Is properly packed it will keep well in the very inexpensive structure described. Saving Garden Seeds. There are many seeds that the farmer should save for himself every year. His sweet corn from the earliest ears to mature, and his field corn from the most perfect ears, straight rows and well-filled tips he can find, aud if possible from stalks that have two or more ears, to induce the habit of twin-bear-ing stalks. These should be thoroughly dried and kept dry until wanted for planting. Rows of peas and beans should be saved expressly for seed, and not the seed taken from those that are left after picking for i market. We hav«j even let the first that set ripen for seed, and picked them dry while picking others for table use. This we did to Insure early maturity In the next crop. Cucumber, pepper, tomato, squash, pumpkin and melon, we saved seed from some of the best If not the earliest on the plants, and If we cared to save beet, carrot, turnip, cabbage or onion seed, we saved the best we had to set out in the spring for seed. The lettuce and radish go to seed the same year if left long enough.. Having selected our seed and seen It thoroughly ripened, every s package was carefully labeled with the name of the variety, aud the smaller ones put away in a tin box, that insects might not get to them, and the larger ones in cotton bags securely tied. A few we thought we could buy cheaper than we could grow them, and better because grown in a more favorable soil or climate, but when we saved seed as we have described above, we had no running out of any variety.—American Cultivator. Watering Hogs in Winter. The best hog watering device we know of for winter use is composed of two barrels. Barrel A should be set in the line of pipe coming from the supply of water. The float sllOuld be adjusted to a point on a water level line, as seen in the illustration. Barrel B Is let down in the ground so the water line will come near the top, but not flow over. At C is seen a lid composed of two-inch plank or heavy lumber built in such a way as to make four drinking places, the hog sticking Its snout through a hole to get the water. This barrel should be in a corner of the lot or near a fence where it will be protected to some extent from the coldest weather. At D will be seen a valve which regulates the supply of water and keeps barrel B so full of water all the time. E is the line of pipe leading from the float barrel to as many watering places as may be placed on the

line. Barrel A should be covered with litter to prevent freezing.—lowa Homestead. Success in Dairying. If experience in dairying does not make a man or woman wise, it counts for but little. We often see cases w r here people grown gray in the care of cows realize only meager profits from the business. This is because years ago they decided that they had mastered all there was to be known relative to dairying and have since never tried to get out of the rut. The most conscientious attention to detail work in the care of cows, care of milk and the routine of labor required iii butter and cheese making is necessary to success in any or all of these branches.—Farm and Itanch. Brains in the Dairy. How many dairymen can tell how many pounds of milk each cow gives, the percentage of butter fat In each cow’s milk and the average for the herd, how many pounds of butter to each hundred pounds of milk, how much It costs to feed each cow, how much it costs to make a pound of butter and a few things like that? Yet this Is Just what many up to date dairymen know to a nicety. A scale, a Babcock test, a lead pencil and a little brains are the chief requisites. Hints About the Horse. Teach a horse what you want him to do and he will always do It. Plaster scattered on the stable floor keeps down bad odors and purities the air. Don’t put your horse’s feet in unskilled hands. Good feet are spoiled by bad shoeing. You can influence the shape of a colt’s legs by keeping the feet trimmed in proper shape, the same as you can trim a growing twig. Have your horse’s teeth dressed occasionally, a little attention given to this will prevent a so-called "side-driv-er’’ or “poller.” It presents sore mouth and assists mastication! Keep your horse feeling good by proper food and care and he will more than repay you for the little extra time you give him. Tie your horse % so that he can lie down comfortably at nlglit. It is a practice with some grooms to tie a horse so he can’t lie down, to save work in cleaning him the next morning. Don’t bring your horse In hot from a drive If yon can help It; If you do. rub him thoroughly dry. A slow Jog or walk for a short distance before ua1> itch lug will cool Iplm off quicker and »avo much work, i ' - v.

TREE BORERS AND THEIR YOUNG.

HOG WATERING DEVICE.