Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1902 — FARMS AND FARMERS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARMS AND FARMERS

Roof Window in the Barn. There are thousands of barns scattered throughout the country, the roof space In-which is but tittle, if at all, utilized, largely for the reason that the roof space is inaccessible. A barn was secently seen In which tnis difficulty was solved by the Insertion of a roof window similar to that shown In the cut. This gives a chance to unload hay Into the loft from the outside, either by hand or by a hay fork, and whereas the loft before was dark and poorly ventilated, it is now light and airy. The style of window that is shown Is much better than the pitched roof dormer windovv that is sometimes put upon roofs. Thq style shown admits of having a large square window in front —especially useful if a hay fork is to be used. The advantage of thus changing a barn is that the loft can be floored over and the hay and straw stored in the second story, utilizing .the space clear

to the ridge pole. This leaves the first floor clear for a silo aud quarters for the stock, giving more room for the latter, and affording a warmer barn, since many buildings are kept cold almost wholly because of the big, empty space In the top—heated air always rising because lighter than cold air. With a window In each end of the barn above, and the new window In front, the loft will be as light as the first floor. ,

Care of Roots. Not only those who expect to sell their surplus of potatoes and other roots, but those Mho intend to use the tubers for seed purposes, should be careful to guard against the cold M-eather. When it gets so cold that frost can be seen upon the inside of the cellar walls, It is too cold in the cellar for nearly all roots, but especially for potatoes and such others as may be intended for seed purposes. The Cooper system of cold storage places the proper temperature of potatoes in storage at 34 degrees, or tMO above the freezing point, while carrots may be kept at 33 degrees, onions and parsnips We have seen onions kept M’ell at a much lower temperature than that, but an essential requirement M'as that they should thaw out gradually, and without any exposure to sunlight or artificial heat. How onions so kept would have proved If they had been set to grow seed we do not know, as we never tested them. But It Is said that the po?tato which has been in cold storage, and even not lower than 34 degrees, lias been so chilled that it is unfit to use as a seed. Its vitality has been reduced, and while M’e have had sprouts come from potatoes that M’ere partially frozen, the yield M'as not such as to lead us to advise any one to freeze their seed potatoes. We are also told that a long term of chilling at a temperature near the freezing point ‘ Is worse for them than an actual quick freeze.—American Cultivator. \ 1 ■■ Building Up the Dairy Herd. In breeding, only healthy or vigorous females should be used, and they should be In the prime of life—not too

young nor too old. it Is equally important that the male should be perfectly healthy and sound and free from all constitutional and hereditary diseases or Imperfections. As a general rule the

dairyman must rely upon the common stock of the country on the one hand nnd the thoroughbred bull on the other for the base of his operations. It Is useless to talk about the exclusive introduction of pure thoroughbreds to meet the present wants of dairymen. The animals would be altogether k>o expensive, even if It M’ere possible to find JJjiem. Again, It may be doubted M’hether any advantage would be gained In the mere production of milk over crossing of common stock with thoroughbreds. The grade animal as n milker may prove equal to or even better than the thoroughbred. The only course for the most of dairymen Is to start with a good herd of native cowa having good dairy types, use a thoroughbred bull and breed up to' the qualities desired.—Kansas Farmer.

Hoaking Corn for Ho km. The West Virginia Experiment Station tested the value of soukiug corn for hogs by dividing some cross-breed hogs Into two lots, alike as to size, breed and sex. They used Western corn and for one it woa ground into meal, mixed with water and fed ns a mash. For the other lot coni was soaked In water until soft, the supply being kept up as needed. Both lota had all that they would eat up clean. The lot fed on soaked corn consumed 2,138 pounds of corn and gained 055

pounds, or 385 pounds of corn for each one hundred pounds of gain. Those given meal used 410 pounds for each hundred pounds of gain, a saving of 25 pounds of corn, beside the cost of grinding, or for a gain of 550 pounds a saving of 139 pounds of grain. Straw and Corn Fodder. It is not many years ago that farmers in the Western States were burning their straw stacks to get them out of the way. There was apparently no market for it excepting at points where the cost of transportation was likely to exceed the price for which they could sell it. Now at nearly every market in the States the price of good straw is as high as that of No. 1 hay, and in some places it is higher. There were some who would not burn it, but put it in the yards for the farm animals to pick what they wished to of it, and to trample tta? rest Into manure. After a few years It was found that the farms of these men increased in fertility and productiveness, and the practice of burning straw was nearly discontinued, qven before the common use of the baling press made it profitable to ship it to Eastern ftiarkets. A Charge almost as great has taken place iu the opinion of the value of corn fodder. It Is but a very few years since the corn growers of the Western States cut no corn fodder, but after picking off ears, let the cattle and hogs In to pick nnd break down the fodder or M’hat they would of It, and then It was a task In the spring to break down .the rest so that it could be plowed under. Now It is nearly all being put through theshredder, and made so fine that any stock eats it, and it is thought as valuable as the average Western hay.— New England Homestead. Cooking Food for Stock. There is but little doubt but that M’ith potatoes or other starchy foods therg is a gain In cooking them over feeding them raw, and among the starch foods M’e also Include corn and wheat, and that gain has been estimated at from ten to twenty per cent. If not over ten per cent, It Mill scarcely pay to take the trouble of cooking unless it can be done without using extra fuel, or there are a large number to cook for. A gain of twenty per cent in feeding value would come nearer leaving a profit to pay for tlte labor, but that must depend greatly upon the amount of grain and the kinds, mixed with the potatoes. Fod beets, turnips and pumpkins, we do not think it pays to cook them, as they are too watery when boiled.—Exchange.

Pushing Young Pigs.

The best food for pushing pigs Is milk mixed with shorts placed in a trough close to the pen, where the mother cannot get at it. The little pigs quickly learn It is for them, and as soon as they eat It up entirely add a little cornmeal with it, and M’hen three months old I put as much oats ground fine as I have shorts and cornmeal. Then soak shelled corn and feed It for slops. Make the slop thick, just so it pours readily; put a little salt In it; it aids digestion and Is relished more by the pigs. As a substitute for milk I use oil meal, old process, and soak slop for twelve hours. I can get more growth from this mode of feeding than anything I have tried yet. Pigs, when being pushed heavily, should have lots of exercise.—Exchange.

Variety of Btock.

Stock-raising should Include all kinds for the reason that “mixed stock,” Including sheep, gives the farmer more advantages and permits of more economical use of food, says Wool Markets and Sheep. If the market should be low for cattle, good prices may prevail for sheep, swine or horses, and the farmer can more confidently expect to sustain less loss than when he depends upon one kind, as disease may not nf, feet all should it appear. Food that some animals reject will also be utilized by others.

Where the Fault Lies.

Many a dollar Is invested every year by men who wish to make poultry breeding a business. Some enter the market poultry line and others the Hue of the fancy, and the question is often asked, Why do not more of them make It a success? Is It the fault of the men or the business? That the business Is not at fault la evident from the fact that so many men have been successful at It; so that the answer must be that the fault lies with the meu.—Poultry Herald. Hotbed Cnltnre for Lettuce. The hotbed culture of lettuce Is not bo much practiced on n commercial place as by private gardeners. The former uses forcing houses nnd the latter generally sashes heated with fermenting manure. The amount of manure used depends on the mouth the hotbed Is made. Hotbeds made In December and operated the whole whiter should have about two feet of manure, nnd for those made In March fifteen laches are sufficient. *

Indigestion In Horae*. Feed the animal regularly and not too much, and water before feeding; nlso mix four ounces sulphate of Iron, four ounces nitrate of potassium nnd two ounces uux vomica. Divide Into twen-ty-four doses and give one at night in small bran mash until all are taken. Cuttle Lice. For cattle lice us* ebloro naphtbo leum according to directions on peckage. It leaves no bad effects and frees your cattle from the lice.

THE IMPROVED BARN.

A GOOD MILKER.