Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1904 — FARMS AND FARMERS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARMS AND FARMERS

Portable Fcale Rack. A. J. Kingery, of Illinois, tells how to construct a portable scale rack and sends the St. Louis Republic a sketch. “My scale platform,” he says, “is 7x14 feet and I use posts 4x4, seven feet long, with four oil a side for uprights. In both ends of the uprights bore a 9-10-inch hole, six inches deep, and take a five-eighth rod and cut in lengths of eight inches and drive in these holes. Next lay 4x4’s on the platform of scales, one side at a time, laying the two end ones flush with the ends of the planks on the platform. Then space the other 4x4’s equally distant from the ends, then' naiU on six fence boards, the first board six inches from the bottom of the 4x4’s and the rest of them should be eight inches apart. Mark opposite each rod In the 4\4 s and bore a three-fourth-inch hole, two inches from the outer edge of plank. Nail the boards on the Inside

of the 4x4's. Hang the gates so they cun be taken off easily. Use 2x4's for cross ties at the tops of the posts to fit over the iron pins placed in them. Drive a 20-penny nail through the ends of the pieces of 2x4’s so they will not pull out when strained. Use staples and hooks for fastening the gates. One man can take this rack off or put It on in a few' minutes. To take the rack off first remove the gates. Then take off the cross ties, then lift off the sides. Put on again by reversing the operation.” . • How to Catch Sheep. A sheep should never be caught by its wool, says Pacific Homestead. Tills method not only causes the animal unnecessary pain, but in the case of fat sheep that ate to be killed it does Julian to the joint of mutton that lies underneath where the wool was pulled. It causes a dark bruise just in the same manner as our bodies become discolored from being bruised. The proper way to catch a sheep Is to take it cither by the hind leg just above the gambrel joint or by putting tlie hand underneath its jaw or neck In using a crook it is important that the sheep are not caught below the gambrel joint, as injury to the leg is liable to result from this. A Successful Krog Industry. Mr. Nathaniel Wetzen, formerly of Kilbourn, Wis., says an exchange, lias been remarkably successful in several large business enterprises of an agricultural nature. lie acquired the title of "melon king” by making Itocky Ford, Col., famous for its cantaloupes. Ho has just now won the title of "frog king” by doing S4O,(MX> worth of business in bull-frogs at Beaumont, Texas, during the past year. These frogs came from both Louisiana and Texas, and Mr. Wetzel is about to establish near Mew Orleans the largest frog ranch in the world, where 30 expert catchers ■will be constantly employed. Poke for Calves. Paul Wolson, of Kansas, says: “A very good poke for keeping calves or cows from going through the wife

fence is made as shown la t h e sketch. Take four pieces of barbed wire about four feet long, twist together and make a hook at top end. Place over the calf’s neck and twist nil four together under the

neck of tlio enlf nml make another hook below. A cnlf will not make many attempts to creep Inning one of these on." Dairying to Canada. The outlook for winter butter is good, says a Canadian correspondent of Hoard's Dairyman. Stocks are light, and holders of choice falf creamery are not selling, believing better things are In store for them. Winter creamery butter Is not altogether dependent on the export trade for a market. The local defnaml for this quality is increasing every year, and many factories find a ready market for their winter's output right at home. By all means our dairymen should make butter Instead of cheese during the winter. The Kilo. Briefly summed up, the advantages of the silo are: First, ensilage produces cheap protein; second, it is a succulent food and ns near to June grass as we can get in the winter and makes dairying the most profitable In winter time, when prices are highest and there is more time to tnko care of the cows; third, lii a alio you can store the most feed In the smallest space; fourth, ensilage does away almost entirely with the necessity of purchasing ©cm mere la I feed; fifth, the productive

capacity of a herd is increased; sixth, ensilage is the cheapest and best supplementary feed. —A. W. Mowbray, President Minnesota Dairy Association. Cutting Corn Fodder Feed. The writer recently called on a German farmer who was making his way in the world, but with little capital to work with. He had read much of the advantages of shredded corn stover and of feeding stock roughage run through a cutter if one could not have the use of the Bhredder. Both machines were beyond his means, but he was determined to test for himself the value of the cut fodder. He had evidently proved its value to his satisfaction, for lie said that the present was the third winter lie had cut the fodder for his three cows each day with a hatchet. It was an enormous task, but as be had the time to spare and had proved it profitable he continued it. With a smile of satisfaction he said that he had*fliftde entmgh money from the extra milk to pay for a good cutter, which lie would have another season. The chances are this man will earn a shredder this time. Many dairymen and farmers with but a few cows decline to do such work or to use a cutting machine, saying that it does not pay when the dairy is small. This is just where many of us make mistakes, for if we would look out for the small profits tile larger ones would come by accumulation and later there would be room for the shredder. ~—

Raise Eggs for Bin Price?. The poultryman who has handled his fowls just right is reaping the benefit of the high prices at which eggs arc now selling. If the hens are not laying and they are of an age when they should be, the thing to do is to see that the houses they occupy are warm and free from draughts; then look into the food question closely and see that the rations furnish the egg producing and egg making qualities and that they are properly given; that is, not too much or too little. Supply freafa water, plenty of grit and a dust box and keep the houses and the hens free from lice. These things done regularly for several weeks will bring the eggs, if not, then the liens should go to the carcass market as soon as possible so that the expense of feeding them may be cut off. This may ha an heroic remedy, but tlie fact remains that if a hen cared sof 1 on the linos indicated does not lay, provided, of course, that she is well and at a laying stage, she lias no part in the operation of a farm for profit and should he into money as soon as possible.

Angoras at the Fair. Every Angora breeder should be proud of the recognition given Angora goats at the St. I.ouis Exposition, says

American Sheep Breeder. Hon. F. I'. Coburn, chief of the live stock department, has offered the same premiums for Angoras as for sheep. There could have been no complaint of injustice had lie offered less for goats, owing to the newness

"angora queen.” of the industry, and so we all appreciate the liberality of tlie premiums. ‘ The best way for goat men to show their appreciation is to have a large number of the best goats in the country at that great show. It would lie well at this early date to select the goats you propose to show there and get them in good condition. This portrait of Mrs. M. Armer, of {vingston, X. M., Js reproduced from American Sheep Breeder. Mrs. Armor js known as the "American Angora queen." ,

Use Wood Ashes Prolitably, While there is no reason why wood ashes cannot be used on many of the farm crops raised, provided they, are carefully used, the best results come from their use on bay lands. Here they may be freely used and will invariably give good results. The writer has used them to advantage in potato growing and in corn, on rather sandy soil well filled with humus of vegetable matter; but dissolved South Carolina rock was always used to mix with the ashes, and the combination was used ns a., dressing, not dropping out the usual fertilizers applied during the preparation of tlio seed bed. In using wood ashes on meadows, one must be sure,that they urc dry, uuleaehed ashes, or their potash coutent, their main value, will he small, hence the npplicntion will fall to produce satisfactory results, and thh expense will be heavy. It is n good plan to submit samples of,wood ashes to the experiment station of your Stuto for examination before going Into them very heavy. .

Where the, Klnx and Hay Grow. Of 1it,d00,510 bushels of flaxseed produced In the United States last year. North Dnkotn is credited with raising 13,1145,120 bushels; Minnesota, 0,013,508 bushels, mid South Dakotu, 3,905,212 bushels. The four great hay-producing States are New York, produelsrg 0,004,919 tons last year; lowa, 5,031,852 tons; Missouri, 4,745,312 tons; Illinois. 4.273,258 tons. Total production of the United States, 01,306,940 tons.

PORTABLE SCALE RACK.