Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 148, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1904 — AGRICULTURAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AGRICULTURAL

Comfort on the Wagon. There are many occasions when the box must be taken from the farm wagon to do hauling of some things, and such occasions are comfortless ones for the driver, who has no seat. The illustration shows a way of making a seat and attaching it to the uprights of the front bolster. The upper portion of the cut shows how a twoinch strip of proper length and notched at either end to fit the standards of the bolster and how strips are attached just under the notches to prevent the plank from slipping. The plank is then sawed in two In the middle and two heavy strap hinges attached as shown; these, with

the strips, are on the under side of the plank. The lower portion of the Illustration shows how the plank as arranged is fitted over the uprights of the bolster, resting on the rings. This seat Is readily constructed, is easy to attach and when detached takes up little room.—lndianapolis News.

Effects of Cultivation. At one of the experiment stations wheat was tested in plots under various modes of cultivation, and it was found that when the seeds were carefully selected, planted in rows and cultivated with band implements, the yield was at the rate of sixty bushels per acre, and a case is on record where a farmer in England planted wheat in rows one foot apart, and the grains six inches apart in the rows, cultivating between the row’s and hoeing in the rows, by which method be secured over 100 bushels per acre; but such cases are the exception. The English field was first covered six inches with manure and the manure well w’orked into the soil, while the season was favorable. What the cost of labor amounted to was not stated, but the fact was demonstrated that wheat could be cultivated like corn and the yield largely increased. At the present day there are improved hand Implements —seed drills, wheel hoes and hand cultivators —that are aids to hand work, and if the price of wheat in the near future warrants their use there is no doubt that the average yield of the future w’lll be much largo/.

The All-Purpose Horse. It is folly to talk about one breed of horses being suitable for all purpose*. Consider for a moment the light harness horse tugging at the great transfer wagon, or the big two-ton farmloads on the read to market. The all-purpose idea is still cherished by some farmers who never raised or sold a good draft horse. They have always believed that the draft horse was too big for farm work. But farmers raise horses now to sell, and they have learned that the big draft mares are the most profitable farm team. They do the farm work of plowing and hauling to perfection, and they raise the highest-priced animal on the farm, while the all-purpose horse is the cheap horse in competition with the Western range horses and little trotters; don’t pay to raise.—Live Stock Journal. Wide Tires on Turf. At an experiment station it was demonstrated that it requires fort per cent more power to draw a load on a wagon with l>4-inch tires than on one with a three-inch tire. With a dynamometer careful tests were made with loaded wagons drawn over bluegrass sward. In a weighing one thousand pounds it Was found that a load weighing 3.248 pounds could be drawn on wide tires with the same force required to mon, two thousand pounds on narrow tires Moreover, the wide tires did not injure the turf,' while the narrow ones cut through it. Cost of Rnnniow n Creamery. The total cost of running a creamery and marketing the product. Including Interest on the investment and provision for a sinking fund, ought not to exceed 3‘*j cents for every pound of butter made. Under favorable conditions this eoat ought to he reduced to It or even as IoW as Ift cents. The smallest practical crwnw/ cannot be operated for less than 44 or per day. It bfM'omra evident, then, that the daily product should be over ISO pounds aa • safe minimum; con»squcrtly bo

creamery should be put into operation unless having control or a promise of about 300 cows.—-Oscar Erf, University of Illinois.

Caring for the l>airy Cow. No one will question the statement that any animal that is well treated will do its best for its owner; the trouble is different people have different ideas of what constitutes good treatment. The average man feels that plenty of good food is all an animal Should expect, while other mep endeavor to make kind words and an occasional pat take the place of proper feeding. A veteran dairyman, a German, showed the writer his stables made of rough lumber and crudely built, but well lined Inside with building paper, so that they were warm. Each stall was arranged so that the animal had perfect freedom in the inclosure, and yet yould not turn sufficiently to soli the bedding. Every stall was thoroughly cleaned each morning and night, all straw removed and a moderately strong solution of carbolic acid sprinkled over the floor. A light layer of straw was placed on the floor during the daj’, and at night a heavy bed was made. Every day, usually just after milking, and while the cows were eating, they were groomed with brush and comb just as the horses were cared for. In the morning each cow was wiped off with a large cloth to remove any dust that might be on its coat from the straw. This was done before milking, the udder being also cleaned with a doth. Of course, these cows are well and properly fed, but our friend has figured that the treatment referred to has considerable to do with the milk result, and he is undoubtedly right.—St. Paul Dispatch.

The Missouri Hen. The Missouri hen promises to become as famous as the Missouri mule. Already the value of the surplus products of the Missouri hen amount annually to more than $2,000,000 more than the value of the mules sold out of the state. In 1902 over 53,000,000 dozen eggs were shipped out of the State, wh lie thousands of dozens found their way to the breakfast tables of Missourians. The annual production of eggs of some of Missouri’s counties is as follows: Greene, 3,816,860 dozen; Boone, 2,503,880 dozen; Pettis, 2,541,360 dozen; Gasconade, 1,724, 370 dozen; Franklin, 1,118,623 dozen; Daviess, 1,870,890 dozen; Dade, 1,049,310 dozen; Crawford, 1,603,340 dozen; Macon, 1,790,430 dozen; Marlon, 1,202,990 dozen; Sullivan, 1,209,946 dozen Milk-Making Feede. The new distillery feeds are likely to become popular among dairymen. The substance is made up very much like gluten meals of.the higher grades, but is lighter and more .bulky and hence a safe food. The growing scarcity of gluten feeds will help the introduction of a substitute.

Farm Notea. Winter protection is an airsolute necessity for growing small fruits successfully In a northern climate. It should be practiced in every locality where the temperature reaches zero or below. It is said that charcoal Is a very valuable hygienic agent for pigs. It is a corrective, and nets as a preventive against various diseases arising from disordered digestive organs. If some charcoal, or even ashes, are put in the pigsty, the pigs will soon show they like it. The best care for a horse is liberal feed, but he should not be overfed. The bill of fare should be changed from time to time. Provide ventilation; a horse cannot withstand bad air any more than a man. A horse that coughs should be fed dry feed with caution. The coat, mane and a tall of a horse will tell how he is kept. Many are prone to allow their horses to run out through all kinds of weather until late In the fall, and until their coats become rough and shaggy. This Is wrong. Frosty grass is not good for horses that have been used to dry feed nnd must yet do hard work. They should be stabled as soon as the nights becomf uncomfortably cool, and then they may be turned ont to grass again after tfte sun has dispelled the frost. The ” hog that Is grown “between two winters" will cost less and be more profitable than one kept from the fall till the winter of the next year The spring pig should be Just the right weight to bring the highest price by November or Christmas, and It will require less--nttentlon than one kept through the winter, it is not now necessary to have pig* excessively fat, though weight Is an Important factor. Quality Is now sought anQ fixes the price. A farmer Is rcj»orted having received a free package of sead from the United States Agricultural Department. He read the frnnked envelope notice of “*BOO penalty for private use." He wrote Secretary Wilson protesting the “exorbitant prices chargrj! by the government for it* free seeds,” and further complained: "I cajinot "put the seeds to public use and cannot afford to pay *3OO for using them myself." Of course. It was explained to him tbs penalty referred to the private use of the franked envelope only. This farmer should confine his efforts strictly to raising green crops.

FLAN FOR WAGON SEAT.