Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1905 — FARM AND GARDEN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARM AND GARDEN

Fowls in confinement, to do well, need a variety of food. The milk aerator is most serviceable in removing taints or odors from milk. Usually the hog will thrive best that will squeal for his feed at the regular feeding times. Whenever possible a well should be sunk, so as to secure a permanent supply of cold water.

Select the turkey hens wanted for breeding. The hens should not be kept after they are 3 years old. The shearing machine, that by hand or other power, runs a clipper for cutting, is a humane affair; it never cuts a sheep. Cabbage is a fine sheep food, IS appetizing, healthful and not a costly crop to raise; in fact, is cheap when quantity and quality are considered. From estimates made It is agreed that a hen can pay her board with one egg a week, providing the market price for eggs averages 2% cents each. Unless especially desired for breeders, hens that do not lay regularly should be marketed as soon as possible. It costs something to winter even a ben. When fenced away from gardens and flower beds fowls cause but little annoyance on a farm. They do an Immense amount of good in the protection of crops by the destruction of insects, larvae and worms.

The runt seldom If ever pays. The animal that pays Is the one that gets a good start in the world and keeps it. It may pay to raise the runt if feed is no item. If feed is bought, the owner Is better off if the runt is in the other man’s pen. A dairyman who by reason of experience is in a position to know whereof he speaks recently said: “I would rather have ten tons of nicely cured fodder for my cows than twenty tons of millet hay.” This dairyman generally salts the fodder some when It is stacked. This, he claims, helps its keeping qualities. The men who set- out groves of catalpa or locust fifteen to twenty-five years ago did not have the advantage of the present knowledge as to the best methods to employ in the growing of such trees. It is not strange, therefore, that many of them made mistakes which, if they were to plant again, their own experience, together with that of others, would enable them to avoid.—W. J. Green.

The Georgia State Prison farm at Milledgeville will turn $24,000 into the State treasury this year. The largest net profit from the farm heretofore was $2,000. The main source of Income this year is 450 bales of cotton, which will be sold for 11 cents, bringing $24,750. The commission also received SIO,OOO for labor sold from the farm, and had a large Income from other products. The expenses were $25,000. The depth of stirring orchard soils depends on the condition existing in the orchard. If the trees are large, and the roots numerous in the ground, the soil should not be stirred deeply, the main object being to keep the surface soil disturbed so that capillarity cannot take place. With old orchards that have never been cultivated the stirring will have to be very shallow, because the roots of old orchard trees lie close to the surface, and If they are disturbed the tree cannot readily form enough new ones to offset the loss.

The Massachusetts Agricultural College offers without charge for tuition a general course of instruction in the management of a dairy farm and in dairy operation. It is open to all citizens of tlie United States above 10 years of age. Students taking this course enjoy the great advantage of a systematic though short course’ of training under recognized experts. Students taking this course learn how to make the necessary Improvements in methods of prodt'Ctlon. The demand for farm superintendents Is great, but only up-to-date superintendents are wanted. Those taking this course are able to learn the latest methods. Ilalaluar Forest Tret*. . Success In raising forest trees from seeds depends upon having the seeds properly preserved during the winter. They must not be allowed to get too dry, nor must the moisture and temperature be such that germination will be commenced before they nre sown, nor should they be exposed to such a low temperature that the vitality of the embryo Will be impaired. When in doubt how best to preserve a tree seed, mix it with about twice Its bulk of damp sand—not wet sand, but a good sharp sand, just as it is dug out of the bank. The seed thus mixed with sand should be placed where it will be at an even temperature of a

few degrees above freezing, and where mice and other vermin will not get at it. Nuts of tli* hard-shelled kind especially should not be allowed to get too dry. Lettuce That Renlata Disease. If the earlier reports are to be relied upon, the experts in greenhouse culture at Washington have discovered something of value In connection with hothouse lettuce. By crossing seeds of healthy winter lettuce with varieties related to the wild lettuce and selecting the results with care, it Is alleged that a variety has been secured which is practically free from disease and which yet has lost nothing of the finer qualities of the highly bred varieties of lettuce commonly grown in greenhouses. A lettuce which is not liable to mildew, rot, etc., would certainly be a prize for the lettuce specialists. It is stated that the seed will be furnished to the greenhouse men by the Department of Agriculture, and that great results are expected.

Keeps The Hens Happy. One of the ways of increasing the egg supply Is to keep the hens happy and contented, and two ways of doing this are to have scatterings of grain through the chaff on the floor so that the fowls will keep busy scratching, and the second way Is to see that the dust boxes are placed In the corner which catches the most sun during the winter. Ideal dust boxes are strong soap boxes filled with road dust, Into which has been mixed a little fine lime and a liberal supply of Insect powder. Soil from the garden if It is light and well dried will answer the purpose quite as well. It Is an excellent plan to remove all this dust from the boxes every little while and sift it over removing anything undesirable w’hich has gotten Into it, then take it out In the sun, spread It out thinly and let It dry thoroughly. Most of It can be used repeatedly If new lime and Insect powder Is added every month. The dust boxes should be placed where they will not be fouled In any way, for poultry will not use them if too dirty, hence will go without dusting, and the lice will then become rampant.