Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1904 — FARM AND GARDEN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARM AND GARDEN

Automatic Fountain. An Ohio man gives this description of his poultry fountain,: Every poultryman knows how difficult it is to keep good, clean water for a large llock of hens shut up In a house or yard. If furnished in an open vessel it is soon lowered out of reach or filled with dirt and litter by their scratching. Various small fountains are on the market which do for little chicks, but large fowls shut In a warm house drink a great deal and require lots of time and attention. The accompanying cut shows an automatic fountain which I devised for use in my poultry house. It is made of a 10-gallon keg. A pint tin cup is connected by a small tube to the lower end, from which the chickens drink. To fill the keg the tube is corked, then the cork is taken

out of the top. When it is filled make the bung tight and open the tube below. The water will not run out of the cup if the tube be an Inch or more below the top. One cup will waiter a good-sized flock. Two or more cups mgy be used if necessary. The fountain should be set on a box about eight Inches high, Just so file hens can reach It and not throw dirt into the cup by scratching. With this arrangement they have plenty of clean water and require our attention but once a day. Handy Harrow. The harrow herewith illustrated is 8 feet long by 4 feet wide, with eight teeth in each beam. The teeth should be Of %-ineh steel and put through not more than two inches. This makes a fine comb harrow which cuts all the top and does not pull up trash. Each beam is attached to the pulling bar with a hook and drop link. Through the middle is an inch rod put through thimbles, one being slipped over each beam as shown at a. This makes the harrow flexible. By withdrawing the inch rod and unhooking from the pull-

lag bar, It cau be sheltered in very small space. A boy can handle It. The harrow is very easy to draw, the beams being near the ground act as levelers, while the teeth cover every Inch of ground. J. Flomefell, in Farm Visitor. Felecting Seed Corn. The true selection of a better breed of corn is not confined to the selection of the best ears by any means, although this Is the popular idea of corn improvement. As every corn raiser knows, certain seed will raise corn that is almost ideal, so far as the ear goes, but there are but few- ears on a plant. This being the case, it is evident that the true selection of corn Is the selection of the plants which show the desired characteristics all through their growth up to the time of harvest, so that the plants should be closely watched from the time they break ground and thus securing the habit of growth as well as the perfection of ear so desirable. Many of the plants will make a stronger growth than others and ripen the full crop earlier; if such a plant is what is desired, it can only be found by watching its growth through the season. ''Then if the yield is all that is desired one comes pretty near having the Ideal plant and one which is, probably, capable of even greater Improvement. Orlt for Young Chicks. While oyster shells seem to be desirable as grit for fowls, It has been found that growing chicks do better on coarse sand, or, better still, on a mixture of coarse sand and ground Florida rock phosphate, which Is obtainable of any dealer in poultry supplies. Equal parts of each are used and the mixture placed In boxes, where the chicks can get It at will. Bone meal In limited quantities is also excellent for growing chicks, and if they have this In connection with the grit, made as suggested, together with plenty of fresh water during the day and a chance to pick green food for themselves, the grain-food needed will

be muck less and the chicks win thrive just as well. Renewing Strawberry Bads. Without doubt the digging of new plants and setting them regularly la the place they are to grow Is the beat way of obtaining the new strawberry bed. True, this requires considerable labor and the selection of the best runners from the old bed. If this plan Is to be followed the best plants will be obtained by going over the old bed as the runners axe forming and keeping the tips cut off to one or mors plants, so as to obtain strong plants for re setting. Another advantage of this plan is that just the number of plants that may be set In a given period are dug, so that none are left to dry out as with plauts bought. The other plan of making the new bearing plantation is a good one, and quite generally followed, especially where the berries are grown on the matter row plan. The mower is run over the field after the crop is gathered and, after raking off the cut plants, a light plow is run through the field and about one-half or more of the plants cut out, leaving the new ones, which will be about a foot apart, composed of the new plants. Care Is required in this work, but the results will be profitable, provided the new plants formed are strong. Care of the Horse. During the busy months of the year, farmers are anxious to get all the work possible out of their horses, which is proper enough. Food alone will not do the trick. A horse may be fed the best of rations, but he needs care in addition, so try these things which may seem simple, but which will do a great deal toward making the horse contented and more valuable to you. Keep bis coat clean, not only by brushing and the use of the comb, but use water on him freely, especially during the warm period. When his work for the day is done take a sponge and wash each part of his coat where the harness touched. If his muscles are sore, taka equal parts of lodine and sweet oil, mix them and rub the mixture well into the joints and tendons. Wash out his month occasionally and take care of his feet. Above all, in warm weather, see that his stable is well ventilated and that screens are placed so that vermin are kept from annoying him. In watering the horse, let him hare it before eating, and also a small supply between meals, even if he is warm. It will not hurt him unless you give him too much.

Money in Berries. Puyallup, Wash., is the home of a man who gets SI,OOO a year from one acre planted in berries. His crop consists of the Washington dewberry and red raspberries. The little farm is in the center of the city and contains a neat six-room cottage and nice front lawn. A cow and flock of 200 chickens assist in making the income approximate SI,OOO every 12 months. The owner is almost an octogenarian. He merely sits on the porch and watches the p’lckers gather hia golden harvest. The chickens do not injure the berries, but destroy the bugs and keep down the grass and weeds. The berries are marketed through an association of local growers. A yield of 350 to (500 crates is considered the average from an acre.—Commercial Tribune. Age of Eggs. Au Eastern paper recently published a lengthy article on how to tell the age of eggs. While the article la very Interesting and the information It contains Is no doubt accurate and leliable, we are of the opinion that to the farmer that makes the most money out of eggs It Is not very material. The only good egg Is the fresh oue, and the way to make the most money out of the sale of eggs is to get them into the hands of the consumer as soon as It can be done after thoy are laid. Guaranteed strictly fresh eggs always find ready sale, and generally at u premium this time of year.—Exchange. Live Scarecrows. A well known Vermont framer is reported to have successfully kept off the crows from a corn field by locating several roosters in boxes at various distances through the lot. The crows appear to object to the frequent crowing of the roosters and keep away from the lot. _____ Poultry Pickings. The time of hatch, more than the breed regulates laying. In-breeding should not be tolerated for more than two years. Keep all buildings for poultry well covered with whitewash, put on thick. The best stock Is the cheapest, therefore, never sell the beet and never buy anytlilug but the best. Fowls In confinement need a variety of food, and one of the most important of them is green food of some kind. Put a good flock of hens in the plum orchard and the trees will be less subject to curculio and will produce good crops of fruit. In no case can we make good, mature fowls of poorly-fed and badlymanaged chickens. It Is economy first last to feed well. So far as can be done, green food should form a part of the dally rations through the year, as it seems necessary to Insure health, productiveness and JEsrtUlty. A stale egg which remains in one position for a number of days has the yolk adhering to the membrane of the shell. The position of the germ often censes the embryo chicken to hatch either weekly or deformed.

FOUNTAIN FOR POULTRY.

HARROW IN POSITION.