Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1902 — FARMS AND FARMERS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARMS AND FARMERS

New Breed of Fowls. The illustration shows a cock and hen, from photograph, of the new breed of fowls recently Introduced from France and known as Faverolle. Those who have seen the breed pronounce it a desirable one, and think that It will become popular in this country. In brief, the main characteristics are vigor, early maturity, good feeding qualities and fine flesh. Comparatively little is known about the breed as egg producers, bnt, judging from the make up of the hen, they should do fairly well in that respect. The main claim for the breed, however, is that they head the list of all table fowls, seem-

ingly being fitted to take on flesh rapidly and still have the flesh retain the finest flavor.

Scarcity of Beef and Mutton. The setting and fencing of farms in those locations where cattle and sheep have been allowed- to graze freely upon government land has helped to make an advance in the prices of our meats. The conditions are different from what they were twenty years ago, yet we think this may be In part overcome by the fattening of cattle at an earlier age, apd. by better cultivation and the Introduction of better grasses on the grazing lands, and better feeding and care of stock when they are brought to the stables. Instead of requiring fifty acres to each steer they are now beginning to claim, or the best feeders are, that three acres of grass is enough for a steer. We have known men in New England who found one acre produce forage for a cow In milk, excepting the grain food which was purchased. When our beef growers reach tflht capacity they will find it costs no more to grow a fat animal than it did when they had range which was unlimited and without cost—New England Homestead.

Fruit-Gathering Device. Our two Illustrations show a handy device for picking fruit, the advantage over a basket being the clear open

space that is afforded In this case, where the handle of the basket must constantly be avoided by the picker’s hand. One figure shows the box in posl-

tlon on the ladder, while the other shows it with the handle In place for carrying away the fruit when the box is full. It is very simple and one can

make the whole thing in a few moments, if an empty box of the right size is at hand, and a few pieces of No. 12 wire.—Farm and Home. Creameries Promote Prosperity. The creamery is scarcely equaled as a promoter of prosperity In agricultural districts. The benefits of the creamery have been heralded abroad in many ways. Steele County, Minnesota, is now getting a bit of free advertising. The First National Bank of Owatonna has had a new draft prepared bearing a four-leaf clover with Owatonna In the center and showing the creameries of the county In their respective distances from that point. There are now twenty-two creameries in Steele County, and their combined output for 1001 was over 3,000,000 pounds. Frnlt Trees for the Ro idalde. As a rule trees to be set along the ( roadside if beyond the line of the prop-i erty, should be of the ornamental class* es rather than fruit trees; particularly should this be the case if the farm is located in a rather thickly populated section. If, however, the trees are to be set inside the fence line on one side of the farm, or even on all sides, cherry trees will be the most ornamental ■nd probably yield m good an Income |gs any other class, if soil and climate

is suitable. In an apple section it would doubtless be wise to set apple trees. There can be but one objection to utilizing the land along the roadside for fruit trees, and that is the tendency on j the part of the owner to neglect them ; to a much greater extent than would be the case if the trees were In orchard rows. The trees must have the annual care, the pruning, the spraying and the thinning, and If, these are given there is no reason why they should not grow profitable crops. Farm and Factory. In 1870, the census did not report a pound of butter made in factories; in 1880, 30,000,000 pounds, out of a product of 807,000,000, was factory made; in 1900 the factory product of butter was 420,126,000 pounds, out of a grand total of 1,492,699,000 pounds, the factory product being 28.2 per cent of the whole. Cheese making shows a still more remarkable transformation. In 1860 there was nd cheese making In factories reported. In 1870 the factories made more than one-half our cheese; and in 1900 the farms made but 16,372,000 pounds, or less than 6 per cent of the whole product of 300,000,000, Illustrations might be multiplied indefinitely to show the encroachment of factory upon the function of the farm. Indeed, it is becoming a most difficult matter for the census makers to determine where to draw the line between agriculture and manufactures in many branches of industry. But the farm Is the twin sister of the factory; they flourish or are depressed in perfect sympathy; and American supremacy Ln manufactures is due, in very large degree, to the abundance of our agricultural products. Of the raw materials consumed in manufactures, agriculture supplied $1,940,727,000 in value, or 81.2 per cent of the total; the mines supplied $319,975,000, or 13.4 per cent in value; and the forest $118,803,000, or 5 per cent of the total; while from ocean, lake and river came only $9,635,000, or 0.04 per cent.—S. N. D. North, in Review of Reviews.

Concentrated Feeds Favored* That farmers are giving the corn concentrated feeds a careful trial is shown by their Increased supplying an abundance of pure fresh air as all times as the first requisite, to be followed by the admittance into the stables of all the sunlight that can possibly be secured. These two forces, pure air and direct sunlight, are great germ destroyers and no habitation fqr man or beast can have too much of them. Think for a moment of the form of punishment meted out to the offenders against society’s laws and compare it with the conditions on many of out breeding farms, noting how closely the conditions agree, and then reflect on the comparative length of the period of life of prisoners and the prevalence of tuberculosis among them as compared with the rest of humanity who can enjoy the blessings of long life and good health, made possible only by God’s greatest of gifts to all his creatures, pure air and sunshine. The breeder, therefore, who is wise in his day and generation will endeavor by all means in his power to provide plenty of exercise in the open air, freedom from all restraint possible, and when confinement is necessary, will see to it that the essentials for long life and good health, fresh air and sunshine, are supplied In abundance.—New England Homestead.

Other Fertiliser Needed. It is generally admitted that there la considerable manurial value In the grain stubble left on the field to ba plowed under, this value consisting of a portion of all the essential plant foods in varying degrees, together with more or less lime and hurnids. In some cases this value is considerable in one plant food as in the case of the nitrogen in the plowed-under clover. It la a mistake, however, to believe that the manure in this stubble is sufficient to prevent the depletion of the soil by cropping, and yet this Is the idea that is strongly fixed in the minds of many farmers. There Is no getting away from the old natural law that the soil must have returned to it at least a little more than the crop takes from It, and tills the stubble and scant application of. stable manure will not do. The possession of the Ideas indicated make it evident that the study of the soil in an intelligent manner Is one of the essential things for ail farmers to do. Agricultural Atom*. Grand Rapids is n favorite forcing lettuce. Oom Paul is a new strawberry, announced by its originator to bo “the flower of the fruit world,” Don't pick apples on the hot daya that sometimes come In autumn. Have al!" fruit cool when taken In to be stored. In late summer stir the soli lightly tn the strawberry patch after each rain to keep out •weeds and conserve moisture., A Michigan man claims a profitable bib of fruit growing in $211 received for gooseberries grown on less than half an acre of ground. The American persimmon rfiakes a handsome tree ornamentally considered. It’ has dark-gsaen leaves that remain on late hi the fall. r- •, For cabbage worms that appear late in the season pyrethrum or saltpeter at tho-Mte of a teaspoonful'to a gallon at water can be used with good resulte.

Device Will Stop Smoke. In anaddress by ex-Presldent Waltt before the Master Mechanics' Association he had the foßowing to say about the smokeless consumption of coal; “A great deal has been said and written in regard to smokeless burning of bituminous coal, and many devices have been presented with that end in view, but none of them in past years seems to have met with success. Happily, this condition no longer exists, as .experiments during the past year have clearly and fully demonstrated that there are one or two practicable devices in actual operation .by means of which the poorest grades of bituminous coal can be burned with absolute freedom from black smoke and with only an occasional trace of light brown smoke, regardless of whether the engine is working steam or is shut off. r * “On the New York Central a device of this kind has been in successful operation on one locomotive for about ten months, and it has been applied to ten or twelve additional engines, with such success that it has been specified on new equipment. The saving in coal with the smoke-consumer Is an important feature in its favor. Within a few months past quite a number of roads have had one or more engines equipped with the device referred to, and I am told that gratifying results are realized in every instance. Reports made by the road foremen of engines In charge of some of the engines on the New York Central indicate a saving of 15 to 20 per cent in service on a division with a 148-mile run.”—Philadelphia. Record.

FAVEROLLE FOWLS.

HAND BOX FOR FRUIT.