Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 March 1902 — AGRICULTURAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AGRICULTURAL

for Pasture Fence. It Is always desirable to hive some sort of a gate in the pasture field fence, but It is not always easy to build one that Is at once stock-proof and easy to operate when necessary. The arrangement as shown in the illustration Is not In reality a gate, but a passageway, so placed that the I stock cannot get through, but through which a person may readily pass. No explanation of the plan is needed, for It Is plainly shown by the illustration. This fence may be arranged so as to provide a double gate by binging the open portion

In the foreground so that when closed the post will come in snugly against the fence post, and be held in place by a wire loop dropped over both posts; then the gate in the background should also be placed on hinges, so that when closed it will lap over against the fence about two feet, and be held in place by a staple and hook. Dehorning Cows and Calves. There has always been more or less argument over the question of dehorning, and while it may be admitted that the process is painful, arid, in the case of an adult animal, causes a shock to the nervous system, it is not at all likely that the young calf suffers more than momentary pain, and the process certainly does not injure the animal in any way. The process of preventing the growth of the horns on the young calf is to take the animal when it is three or four weeks old, and after locating the embryo horn with the finger, rub the spot for a minute or two, or until it gets quite red, with a stick of caustic potash, which may be bought at any drug store. The potash should be moistened slightly, but not enough so that it will run, for it will take off the hair wherever it touches it. Wrap the end held in the hand with a cloth, to prevent burning the hand. The work is quickly done, and if thoroughly done, the horns will not grow. It is generally considered that the age named—about a month—is nearer the right time than earlier, and the work should never be attempted with potash after the calf Is six or eight weeks old or after the button has assumed much prominence.

A Promising Plum. Many plum growers are disappointed that no varieties of hybrid plums are on the market this year that originated

the grounds of Luther Burbank, of California, that prince of hybridizers. There is, however, a variety ttiat is extremely promising, a seedling—as yet unnamed—from Golden, one

of the best of the hybrid plums. It Is said that Mr. Burbank Is experimenting with crosses which will produce varieties suited for the far North. Two, at least, of the hybrids from this source, the Golden and the Wlckson, have proved valuable In any section where the plum can be grown successfully, and if this list can be extended, plum growing will again become one of the profitable branches of fruit culture. Why a Horae Kats Often. The horse can conveniently eat for twenty hours out of the twenty-four. A horse which Is in good health has a good appetite at all times and is able to stand plenty of work and is rarely on the sick list To Ire a good feeder, especially on n journey, is a great recommendation In the opinion of every good Judge of horseflesh. The reason of n horse being Much a constant eater is that Its stomach Is really small In proportion to the size of Its Ixxly, and therefore it requires feeding often, not less than four times a day, two of which should be vrrly in the morning and at night, while hay should tn the stall be always within its reach.—London Tlt-Blts. * Sanitary Cow Btat-lea. As soon as the stables are cleaned sprinkle a quart of dust behind each cow. then add the absorbent, and If the owner will prevent the wet ptaces about the stable and attend to keeping the bedding dry there Is no reason why the stable should not be so sanitary |hat the finest and best milk In the

world can be made in it, the best products secured and the stable smells and tastes wholly eliminated. I " Farmers at College. A number of agricultural colleges report that many of the students taking the short winter course are men who are operating farms, many of them men who own the farms they work. This Indicates that farmers are beginning to realize that they must keep up with the modern methods. It is frankly admitted that some of the more advanced methods in some lines cannot be adapted to all cases, but there is not a farmer in the country but who would give considerable if he had some knowledge of agricultural chemistry. Further, it is hardly probable that any intelligent man could attend one of the colleges for this short course, and not learn enough on general lines to pay him well for the expense. One of the best fruit growers in New York State, a man. who has made a comfortable sum for his work during the last dozen years, is taking the short course at Cornell College. He agreed that he knew considerable about fruit growing, but said that he was not so strong on agricultural chemistry as he should be and wanted more knowledge in this direction that he might know better now to use commercial fertilizers. He figured that he would be reimbursed so his expense in a single purchase of fertilizer, for the knowledge gained would enable him to buy more intelligently.

Winter Butter Makin?. Cream for churning must at all times be kept above the freezing point or there is difficulty getting the butter. For small churnings, where the milk Is kept In pans, the method of a "New York State prize butter maker is a good one to follow. Have a few extra pans and in each put a half pint of boiling water; then strain the milk into thia pan, and so on with the other pans. These pans of milk should have the eream removed in ten or twelve hours and when a churning is ready set the quantity over a boiler of hot water and stir it occasionally. Keep It over the hot water until it tests 75 or 80 degrees by the thermometer. One of the other troubles in winter butter making comes from trying to churn the product of cows that are near calving, and this is particularly hard to overcome, Indeed, unless a decided change can be made In the feed given the animal It will be useless to expect anything but trouble in churning. Ass increase in the bran portion of the ration and the addition of some green food will likely improve the consistency of the milk.

Two Farm Conveniences. A handy way to carry swill is to take an old walklug cultivator, take the beams off and fasten a couple of hooks

on the tongue near the rear end, and take a small barrel and bore a couple of holes in its rim in which to hook ou the hooks. Fasten the barrel, and

one can either push or pull to where it Is wimtoL'— A very handy fodder cutter and corn topper can be made by using a light, stout bench or cutting box. Take two

old plow lays and have them sharpened and made to act on the same principle as a pair of shears. One can be fastened to the

lever and one to the bench or box. The illustration shows only one plow lay, and it is possible to do fairly good work with one lay. Cow Peas for the Orchard. While the usual plan of Intelligent orchardlsts Is the best under normal conditions—that of the shallow cultivation between the trees during the summer—there are times and certain conditions where the cowpeas would be of the greatest value. Take, for example, soil badly run down; here cowpeas, sown late in May or early in June, would be more valuable to the soil than summer cultivation, sot they would add muchneeded nitrogen to it and conserve the moisture in the soil quite as well as the summer cultivation. Then, if the tops wei;e cut In the fall, early, the stubble anil roots turned under and the ground sown to a cover crop, the result would be seen the following season. It Is true that It might be necessary to cut the cowpeas green, In order to get in the cover crop early enough, but even then the growth during the hot weather will have done the soil an immense amount of good. Spreading Manure in Winter. Ihe Agricultural Department reports that its experiments with fodder beets followed by wheat in plowing under manure as soon as spread, or spreading It over the surface of the ground and letting it lie two months during the winter, the former method proved n saver of plant food. We never doubted that It would I>e so on certain soils, and do not feel sore that It would prove so on all. But we think the lesser labor of drawing out In Winter, and the gain by having so much work done before the spring planting begins, more than equals the lomi where the winter manure la not washed away by spring thaws or raiaa. t

Along the Mohawk and the Hudson rivers the New York Central Railroad was badly crippled. East of Albany, in the vicinity of Castleton, the overflow of the Hudson covered the railroad tracks to a depth of several feet. Here several passenger trains. Including the Empire State Express and the Montreal Express, were stranded and the passengers had to be removed by means of boats. .Near Kingston a meat dealer named Barrett was drowned in the presence of bia wife and children. Patronize those who advert!**.

Refutes an Andree Canard. The Hudson Bay Company's officials at Winnipeg deny that they have received any confirmation from their agents in the far north of the story that Explorer Andree was shot by Eskimos on the shore of Hudson bay. A story to thin effect was published alxitit two years ago, but was not confirmed. President Roosevelt ha* decided to spend a week in April trout fishing in the Allegheny mountain stream* in Garrett County, Maryland, sixty miles west of Cumberland.

Id 1825 he married Polly Thornton, a grandniece of Matthew Thornton, a signor of the Declaration of Independency Eleven children were born to them, five of whom are now lining. Fine of Mr. Cronk's sons wa* killed in the battle of Shiloh, during the Civil War. His wife, who was bis faithful companion for sixty years, died in 1.M5. Of late years he has been feeble and has required a guardian. He lives oe • little farm, and bis daughter and son-in-law live with him. The daughter ia 71 years old.

STOCK PROOF PASSAGEWAY.

NEW PLUM.

SWILL CARRIER.

FODDER CUTTER.