Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1904 — AGRICULTURAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AGRICULTURAL

Texas Itch or Manse. Mange is caused by an itch mite' which inhabits the horse, ass, mule or steer, and may migrate to man, where it may thrive as well. An old bulletin of the Minnesota Experiment Station says that, though very small, it can be readily detected moving along the scurf of an infected skin, if a strong magnifying lens is used. It forms small galleries beneath the scurf skin, in which It hides and multiplies. If the hide of an infested horse is warmed by the sun or in a warm stable, the mite becomes very active, and is found quite readily by those trained in such work. Like all burrowing itch mites, they cannot exist for a long time if removed fro in their burrow and exposed to the dry air; in moist places they can exist, however, for many days, even for many weeks. Horses invaded by such parasites show their presence by being restless, which is caused by their incessant itching about the head, mane, tail and back. Numerous open sores and scabs make the presence of the itch mite very certain and plain. As a remedy, remove the scabs by the use of soapsuds and brush, and apply a tea made of boiling one and one-lmlf ounces of tobacco in one quart of water. This application should be repeated after fifteen days to kill the new brood that may have hatched in the interval. Cleanliness in the stable ig another important factor, and if a case of this disease has been found in a stable, all blankets and rubbers should be whitewashed with quicklime containing one-fourth pound of chloride of lime to one gallon of water.

Home-Made Hay Stacker. Charles \V. Jones, of Marlon bounty, lowa, sends the Homestead a sketch and description for a device of a swinging hay stacker. The pole is made to turn in an iron hand shown In the Illustration, which is not solid, but held together by two bolts. The iron in the band should be one-half inch thick and two inches wide. The

pulley that is fastened to the sled can be put at any convenient point as needed, according to where the stacking is done. The runners of the sled should be staked down by four good stakes very much as. horse power is staked down. Any blacksmith can make the irons for these stackers. Use of Mutton la Growing, Mutton as human food is gaining rapidly in popularity. Good authorities predict that the time is rapidly approaching when ns many sheep and lambs will be slaughtered in this country ns there are hogs and cattle slaughtered now. History shows that in old countries mutton is the poor man's meat, because it can be raised at less cost than any other, and also that it is the best and most wholesome. Wool brings a good price, mutton is in demand, and the farm needs fertilizing. Then why not every farmer grow sheep, and those \vlio feel so inclined operate n sheep ranch? It is a paying business.

f The Popcorn Dclt. There 1* more popcorn shipped from the town of Odebolt, lown, than from any ofber station In the world. In 185)2 the shipments amounted to 144 cars, and the crop of 1003 is estimated at 250 cars. At the ruling prices, which range from 80 cents to $1 per hundred pounds, the value of the popcorn crop will reach nearly $50,000. An average yield of popcorn is about a ton and a half to the acre, so that in average years the crop from an acre will bring from $25 to S3O, delivered at the railroad station. The fodder is of good value for winter feeding. Concentrated Peed*. Corn Is the basis of several of, the best known concentrated feeds now on the market, "Gluten feed, corn oil cako meal and gluten meal are all made from the best feeding parts of corn, and In the process of manufacture nre rendered almost wholly digestible, accent'experiments both In this country and Europe showed gluten feed to l»e from (HI to DO per cent digestible and always reliable for feeding all kinds •f live stock, Insuring the moat economical gains, it matters not whelhar

the farmer is feeding for meat or milk, it is true economy to feed a ration balanced with some of the digestible corn concentrated feeds.—Dairy and Creamery. Winter Feeding of Lambs. Whatever may be the ration given the lambs this winter, it must not be forgotten that exercise Is necessary to their well-being. Don’t turn them out into the cold to shift for themselves, but provide a place on the Warm side of the barn, protected from wind and containing a shed where they may go when they will and where they may be thoroughly protected from bad weather. While they are in the exercising yard provide them with some roughage to pick over to keep them busy and contented, and also see that they have an opportunity to drink several times during the day. If the weather will not permit of this outdoor exercise, then-some place should be provided under cover where the lamb 3 will have a chance to stretch their legs. Try the plan and you will find that it pays well. ■***' i ' r

Scantling Telephone Pole. D. W. Predmore, of Nebraska, describes a scantling telephone pole that may interest some readers where timber is scarce and ' lumber is high. In-

stedd of long phone poles a substitute can be made by two pieces of 14-iueb crib boards, one on either side of n fence post, letting the board come down about three feet on the post. A piece of 2x4 one foot long can be

nailed between the boards about four feet above the top of the post, and at tiie top of the post a piece of 2x4 two feet long, it will be seen at a glance the saving and yet it will answer the purpose. ¥

Geese Are the Hardiest. Geese are the hardiest of all fowls after the goslings shed their down and assume waterproof clothing. Being water fowls, wet soils and extremes of heat and cold do not affect them. They will remain perfectly healthy nnd will grow fat without feeding on marshy ground where high land fowls cannot be kept. They require less housing or protection of any sort than other fowls. Geese are long-lived birds. There have been astonishing tales told of the extreme longevity of the goose. We believe about 40 years is the record. Geese become more prolific after their fourth or tifth year and lay more and larger eggs. The Toulouse is the most popular variety, being of large size, not noisy, nnd are the best layers, but are not the best sitters nnd mothers. Remedies for Roup. Roup remedies are of but little avail, as too much work is necessary in handling birds and administering the cures, which are not always efficacious. A remedy often recommended, and which is simple and inexpensive, is to give the bird a pill of nssafetida as largo as a bean twice a day, and to inject at the same time two drops (using a sewing machine oil can) of the following mixture in each nostril, and four drops down the throat: Camphorated oil, one dram; water, one dram; carbolic acid, ten drops. Keep the bird in a dry, warm place. Itoup may be known by foul odor, discharge from the nostrils, hoarse breathing nnd sometimes swelled head and closed eyes.

Working Butter. In working butter never slide tlie paddle over the surface, as such treatment Injures the grajn. The best method is to remove tlie milk by using a gentle downward pressure. Excessive washing is also injurious to tlie grain and general appearance of tho article. Stop churning when the butter fat globules begin to adhere to each other, draw off the milk and wash In two waters at about 35 degrees, stirring slowly and no longer than Is absolutely necessary* to accomplish tlie purpose, says the American Agriculturist correspondent. Silk na a Farm Crop. It is asserted on the part of the Department of Agriculture that p Southern farmer's family can earn more in eight weeks by silk culture than it could In a year by raising n crop of cotton. The oue crop, moreover, does not exclude the other. Mulberry trees, tlie leaves of which form the food of silkworms, can lie grown along the fences of cotton ileitis and iu odd corners of the farm. No great outlay Is required for stock or plant. Iu fact, silk growing can be prosecuted as a by-industry, like poultry raising by women and children.

Heavier Horses. The farmer to-day requires heavier horses than be has l»eeu using to do k hls farm" work protitnbly. The two furrow plow, the wide harrow and other Implements require power. One man with n good thr& horse team and modem implements will do as much work and do It better than two men can with four light boraea.—Uobcrt Nasi, Quebac.

SWINGING HAY STACKER.