Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 106, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1904 — FARM AND GARDEN BUFF PLYMOUTH ROCKS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARM AND GARDEN

BUFF PLYMOUTH ROCKS.

Buff Plymouth Rocks. This picture represents a beautiful type of the Buff Plymouth Rock female, a breed of buffs that has come rapidly to the front since their introduction only a few years ago. In geh eral conformation and size they are identical with the Barred Rocks, and as useful fowls they have few equals and doubtless no superiors. Almost everyone is familiar with the Barred Plymouth Rocks, and as this branch possesses all the merit of their ancestors, we hardly think a detailed description necessary. Suffice it to say that we think the buff branch of this

family is destined to rank among the favorite breeds for those who combine beauty and the profitable side of poul-try-keeping.—St. Louis Republic. Utilizing' a Few Acres. There are many peeple in farming districts possessed of a few acres of land in fairly good tilth who do not know how to utilize them to advantage. Surrounded as they are by large farms, they hare an idea that there is not land enough to make anything out of It. While it is true that local conditions have much to do with what this small area can best be used for, in a general way itds safe to say that If the owner will do some intelligent studying he can find a way of making even a few acres profitable. Of course, much depends upon the man and his resources. If one is naturally inclined to fruit-growing, knows something about the business, and Is near a fair1/ good market, he ought to make the few- acres bring him golden returns. The same with poultry raising. In other sections it might be the best plan to turn the small area Into meadow, particularly if it was suited to grass and labor was high and hay brought a good price. All things must be considered In atempting to mal<e a small area profitable with crops, but it can be done if one will work out the problem with intelligence. Trough for Young Stock. One of the troubles in feeding stock is the waste of food, and there should be some plan on every farm where mere is a number of heads of sheep or calves so that the feeding could be done at the smallest possible expense and at the greatest possible saving. *A trough built in the following manner will be found a saver of feed.

While it may be made any length desired, ten feet Is a good length, and it should be fifteen inches wide and, the trough proper, ten Inches deep. Strong end pieces are placed in position so that the trough may be raised from the ground to the desired height, the trough proper being placed about a foot from the top of the side pieces, and on the very top of the side pieces a strip of wood is placed, thus preventing the animal from getting its feet into the trough or Jumping over it. A strong board Is placed at the end of each upright side, close to the ground, and these boards are held in place by stakes driven on either side. This plan holds the entire structure firm, so that the frisky youngsters cannot tip It over.

'' The Honey Crop. California is the leading honey-pro-ducing State, with over fifty-five thousand swarms, producing about one and a quarter million pounds of honey and over* sixty thousand pounds of wax. In San Diego County alone are about twenty thousand swarms, valued at $50,000. Texas stands next to California as a producer, followed by Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee. The total product of the L'nited States Is about sixty-two million pounds of honey and nearly two million pounds of wax. Retting Stand of Clover. Many failures to secure a qatch of clover are wholly due to the attempt being made on soil that contains too much acid, sour soil, as we call it. The remedy is, of course, lime, and this may be applied after testing the soil with IltmuA paper, as advised hi this department many times. That there ought to be more clover grown on farms than there Is no one will Any. and If this is admitted why not get the soil in the necessary condition

to make the ci’op. Vt Is true that the soil acidity may not be the only reason for falling to make a catch of clover, but it can do no harm to lime the soil if it needs it and then look for the other reasons why clover will not grow on it. Rotating Wheat and Potatoes. There have been all sorts of results with wheat following potatoes, and such results have 1 argely —followed closely in accordance with the fertilizers used. Naturally, as wheat docs best on a soil which has been well worked and prepared, following the potato crop with wheat offers every chance for a good crop of the cereal, but always provided the proper fertilizers are applied and in considerable quantity, for it must be remembered that the potato crop has not left much of the applied fertilizer for any following crop, and second, that the action of the fertilizer will necessarily be slower during the season in which the wheat gets its start. In following potatoes with wheat-try this plan. Rake off the potato tops, and with the harrow- level the soil and loosen it to the depth of two or three inches; then roll the ground and drill In the seed with 200 pounds to the acre of some commercial fertilizer rich in phosphoric acid. The potato tops may be spread over the seed bed as a mulch, and will materially help the wheat. Rather a radical way of doing this work, perhaps, but It has paid well with many farmers, hence is Worth a trial.

Decoying the Hensian Fly. Wheat growers of long experience are familiar with the plan of sowing a decoy strip of wheat early in the season to entice the hessian fly. It is • a good plan to do this, even if there is no certainty that the enemy may be waiting for you. A narrow’ strip is sown entirely around the field intended for wheat, and this is turned under at the time the main crop is to be sown. This turning the decoy strip of wheat under is a better plan than plowing a number of dead furrow’s between this strip and the main field. The main crop should be sown as late as it can be with safety, whether the decoy strip is used or not, for the.later the sowing, the less danger from the hessian fly. Bear in mind also that aside from the battle with the hessian fly, success In wheat-growing comes from the thorough preparation of the seed bed. The man who works on the plan that the seed bed fpr wheat cannot be made too good is the one who gets the profitable crop. At least this is the result on farms that have been tilled for a number of years. Work is Being Lightened. To hear the steam thresher whistle in the morning sends a thrill through the heart of the old farmer who has spent so many years working around the thresher. To the average small boy it has nothing but delight. To the housewife it brings remembrances of hot times over the kitchen cook stove. In the past few years all the work has been lightened more or less. Selffeeders, self-measures and wind-stack-ers have taken away a great deal of the hard work, and now’ the gasoline stove removes a great deal of the burdensome heat In the kitchen.

Poultry Pickings. Clean out the nests and whitewash thoroughly. It is better to darken the place selected for the nests. As a rule, hens learn to eat eggs by having them broken in the nest. Stale bread soaked in milk makes a good feed for newly hatched chickens. Fowls will eat a large amount of clover, whether fed green or dried as hay. Fowls that fatten easily should have plenty of exercise, unless being fed for market. Once chickens are stunted they never regain their vigor, even with the most careful feeding. A mixture of two parts lard and one part kerosene oil will remove the scabby formation on the legs. Charred corn on cot* Is a good way to feed charcoal to fowls, and nothing is better for bowel troubles. Make the hens scratch for a living, but put grain* here, scratching will get It, or the be'ns will not thrive. On a farm good facilities, good management and good markets are more valuable than the breed of fowls. If the most prolific bens are retained and the worthless ones marketed, a great improvement would soon result. Agricultural Atoms. Good feeding is the forerunner of prosperity. Failure Is the usual result of thinking a business can run Itself. The farmer's team should be one well adapted to bls requirements. Liver Is a good food for milk production because it is rich in fats. Even in summer sufficient bedding should be provided to keep the stock clean. Desirable qualities are fixed in a herd by a long line of careful selections and breeding. The dwarfing of a tree occurs by the slight disagreement between the scion and the stock. Thrift In sheep is generally secured when the farmer thinks enough of them to care for them. Moss-covered trees will be much benefited by scraping and then whitewashing with lime and wood ashes. No one business has any assurance of always proving a profitable one, because changes so frequently occur to disturb all branches of farming.

FEEDING TROUGH FOR STOCK.