BUILDING HEAT-CURING HOUSES ON FARM
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Section Through Box. ,
Prepared by the United But* Depart
ment of Aarlculture.)
An experimental meat-curing houae
built la southern Georgia last year
-from plana supplied by the United
8 tales department of agriculture
proved so successful that additional
sets of plans have been distributed
among Individuals who profess their
vrllltngneea to build from them and
to report upon their results. Georgia
Imports a great part of the meat that
she consumes, and for this the dlB
culty In curing meat in a climate
which makes the process much of a
gamble is held responsible. It is be
lieved that If satisfactory meat-curing
bouses oould be erected throughout
the South It would be a great Incentive
tor fanners to raise their own meat,
whl^h tn turn would lead to their pro
ducing other food supplies, and a more
diversified form of agriculture
In tbe experimental curing bouse
a teat was made last winter In which
the estimated cost of curing tbe meat
was not over three-fourths of a cent a
pound, Including the cost of tbe Ice.
All meat cured In dry silt kept per
fectly, but Ave bams and shoulders
cured by the brine method pulled In
Dye days after being hung up. The
plans called for a building 12 by 11
feet In else, but this Is somewhat
larger than would ordinarily be re
quired, and a building # by I feat was
erected. Buildings of tbe larger slse.
however, It Is thought, can be operated
successfully on a co-operative basis.
The planter on whose farm It was
constructed could do the curing for
his neighbors and take bis pay In
meat, as millers still do In some sec
tions In grain.
11 1 '
Front Elevation.
TESTING FOR SOIL REACTION
Easy to Determine Whether Soil la
Acid or Alkaline by Maana of
LKmua Paper Teat.
iBy DR. CHARLES K. FRANCIS. Ctlem
let. Experiment Station. Oklahoma Agrt
cultural College.)
The natural reaction of fertile toll
jhould be allshtly alkaline. Add
soils do not produce well. It la an
easy matter to determine whether a
(Wen soil Is acid or alkaline by means
of the litmus paper test
Litmus paper may be purchased at
a drug store In two colors, red and
blue, and should be of good, strong
color. To apply the test It Is neces*
nary to knead a handful of the soil
Into a ball with the aid of a smalt
quantity of rainwater. (Do not use
Rellwater.) Break open the ball and
place a piece of red paper between
the halves so that one-third of the
length will remain uncovered. Press
the two portions together and net
aside. Repeat this with another portion
of the same soil, but Insert a piece of
the blue litmus paper. Examine tbs
test papers at the end of an hour, or
after standing overnight, and note
If they have changed color. If the
red paper has become blue, ths soli
Is alkaline; but If the blue paper has
changed to pink or red, the soil Is
add.
Don't Overlook Chickens.
The farmer or any other person that
has the room, who falls to keep a
(lock of hens Is making a mistaks. Be
sides the "home consumption" part of
the program, the chickens and eggs
are excellent products for the market
and are always in demand.
Duek-Ralsinf Equipment.
It is not necessary to have an elab
orate equipment for dock raising, but
It is very Important to have the plant
laid out In such a manner that there
will br no waste ef labor.
LICE ON CATTLE AND COLTS
Watch Animal* ClOMly Whan Put In
Stables Thl* Winter?Worm*
Alao Oo Much Injury.
Usually no attention I* siren to lie*
on cattle and colt* until tbey hare
done enough harm to ha noticed In the
condition of the animals. When these
animal* are put In the barn* thl* win
ter watch them cloaaly and kill the
lice If they appear before they serl
ously check the growth of the stock.
There is no better time to kill tick*
than October and Norember. One
killed now mean* less eggs to batch
tick* in the spring
Worms do most Injury when the
stock is In dry lots and during the
winter. It Is a good plan to regulanty
feed some worm medicine at Intdrvali
during the winter. Prevention.or al
least early destruction, is better than
bnllding up the animals after they
bare been pulled down by worms.
Indication of Production.
The actlrlty of a bird; m a rery
good indication of production. Tht
high producer must hare more to eal
of ererything that a hen requires foi
production, consequently she is tb?
Brat down in the morning and the last
to roost at night. She will rangt
farther and Is always looking foi
something to eat
Millet Bead for Poultry.
Millet seed is not only an excellent
poultry food, but, being rsry email
there la nothing better to scatter It
the litter as an Inducement for th?
fowls to get the exercise they require
Throw a handful tn deep litter la tbt
morning and It will keep the fowlt
busy and active.
Progress Of Prult Industry.
The development of the fruit In
dustry tn the Texas Panhandle hai
made wonderful progress. row peopii
realise Ua magnitude.
" ' ? ? I ' "I'll ?" 'I It'll III ? ? ?"? ??' I
LIVE-ST96K-FRUIT? DAIITIM-8AR0ENIN? FIELD CMW-JJLOS-PIM
Nw WrtnklM FARM Maklit* t?M
?? AND FwmefV
Pny?hn Kualam
? FIELD Prafttabte
miMtt MTEtlSTIM MUKR EXPRESSLY FN OUR READERS
: : I
BEST DOG FOR SHEEP FLOCK
Rattle-Sralned Cur I* Much Out of
of Ploeo?Colli# I* Moot excel
lent for Herding Purposes.
The rattle-brained cor 11 as much
out of place hi the flock as the man
of hasty temper, cruelty, thoughtless
ness and disinclination or lack of nat
ural talent for his work. The dog
should be born to sheep tending and
Should be early accustomed to sheep
and trained In their care.
Many years ago It was a practice
In Texas to take a puppy from Its
dam before the eyes had opened and
place It with a ewe, let her nurse It
and allow the puppy to grow up with
?
I I
I- y~-. .? I
-Splendid Sheep Dog.
the eheep end be with them night end
dejr. Then the dog would become the
naturel defender of the flock againet
ell dangers end foes, stay with them
all of the time and possess their eon
tldence. it was also stated that a
dog so raised wonld bring In the flock
at a given hour, when accustomed to.
be fed at that time.
Sheep know a strange dog Instantly.
The dog to work among them most
not be strange to the sheep In any
way, must have their confidence and
command their respect and be able to
"boss" them when that becomes neces
sary. The collie la the dog for such
service. Sheep herding has been the
work of the breed for generations and
to tend sheep Is a hereditary tendency
in the well-bred collie.
No dog bred and born otherwise la
worth raising tor work among sheep
and It is waste of time to train a
wrong dog for such work.?American
Sheep Breeder.
HORSES IN UNITED STATES
According tc Eetlmate of Dopartmont
of Agriculture There Ware 21r
199,000 on January t.
The United Statea department of an
riculturp eatimatee the number o(
horoea In the United Statea on Janu
ary lot of each year, except 1910, when
the April cenaua flgurea are uaed, aa
follow!: 1910, 19,833,000; 1911, 20,-.
277,000; 1912, 20.909,000; 1912, 20,567,
000; 1914, 20,962,000; 1915, 21,195,000.
In apite of automobilee and every
thing elae It can be aeen that the
horae la gradually gaining In numbera.
In apite of the heavy exportation of
horaea on account of the war, the to
ut amount available la ao great that
the exporta are not materially reduc
ing the eupply. It ia doubtful alao if
the war will affect American horae
ralalng very greatly. In the weatern
lighting everything appeara to be
trench warfare, where cavalry la of
llttla nae and the alaughter of artll
levy horaea muat be moderate, while
on the eaatern front ltuaaia haa mil
lions of horaea and would not need toi
call on America, even if ahlpmenta
would be poadble. One of the ways
America ia hardest hit ia In the eup
ply of imported draft atalllona.
VENTILATION FOR THE BARN
All Stables Should B? Fairly Lofty,
Socauao Horoeo Need Abundance
of Good Froah Air.
The horoo It Tory auoceptlble to
cold; and the horoeo that are atabled
when not betnc worked or exerctaed
feel the changes of weather quite aa
readily aa do thoae enjoying a more
free life.
All atablea ahould be fairly lofty. be
cauae horaea need plenty bf traah
air, and thla can only be properly
given during Intenee cold when ventl
latlon can be given above the heada
of the animate eo far aa elevation
la concerned, the poeltlon of the ven
tllatora mattering little ao long aa they
are at a good height and placed with
judgment.
The atable ahould feel coiy upon
going in, but not etuffy, otherwise
the horaea will feel chilly upon com
ing out.
Autumn Care of Colta.
Look out tor the weanllnga and colta
aa cold weather approachee. Be eure
that they go into winter quarters In
tha pink of condition, for there la
where the profit cornea In.
Kaap Sows In Condition.
It la not wise to allow young aowa
to become too fat, as they never make
aa good breeders as thoae with more
development of muscle.
Most Prolific Sow.
Select sows from good-aired litters.
The sow that carries good length and
depth of body generally proves the
most prolific. Quality ahould not be
overlooked, but in the search for qual
ity, do not sacrifice substance, nor
select delicate animals.
Provide Shelter for Pipe.
Cold, rainy spells may come any
day now. rou may save trouble with
the pigs by providing a well-bedded
shelter for thorn lnstehd of letting
thorn get along as boat they can.
RABBITS AS ORCHARD PESTS j
Department of Agriculture Recom
mend* Wash to Be Applied to
Trunke of Treee With Bruah.
In the aectlona of the United Bute*
where heavy enow abounds in winter,
rabbits. especially lack rabbits, become
a serious pests In young orchards, by
girdling the trees Jtlat above the snow
line. Various methods at protecting
trees have been used with more or less
success, particularly that of wrapping
the trees with thin sheets of wood
made tor the purpose, or oolled wire
wrappers.
The United States department of ag
riculture recommends the following
? , l;-.
Apple TrM Wrapped With Paper to
Protect Againat Rabbit*.
wash to be applied to the tree trunks
with a brush:
Unslaked lime, 20 pounds; flowers
of sulphur, IS pounds; water, 50 gal
lons.
"This wash has been used success
fully," says Prof. W. L. Burnett of the
Colorado Agricultural college. "When
tree* hare been girdled, the fnawed
surface must be covered at once, be
fore the wind and sun hare access to
the wound. The injured parts auty be
painted or covered with grafting wax.
"As a rule, trees treated is this
manner, in the spring wilt grow new
hark. In case* of severe girdling, the
method of bridge grafting may be
used, this operation being a simple
an* for a nurseryman familiar with the
process of grafting."
? i ii i i. ? .mi
CARING FOR PUNTED TREES
Large Amount of Foliage Require*
Mere Food Material Than Broken
jfRoot System Can Supply.
When the trees are taken from the
nursery row, a large part of the root
system is left in the ground; the equi
librium between the roots and the top
of the tree is thus disturbed, and it is
obvious that a part of the top should
Also be removed. Should the top be
/eft unpruned, transpiration will take
place too rapidly. The large amount
of foliage requires more water and
food material than the short root sys
tem can supply.
Trees which hare not been cut back
will often start growing too vigorously
only to die when the food and water
which ia stored In the plant, or which
is easily available, is exhausted All
branches and born roots should be cut
back to healthy tissue, leaving smooth
cuts that will readily heal. Long,
straggly roots should be shortened,
and any masses or tangled roots
should be shortened and thinned.?Ne
braska Station.
WRAP LATE AUTUMN APPLES
Arranged In Layer* In Barrel* and
?oxee and Ptaoed In Dry, Cool
Plaee Will Keep Nicely.
(By M. COVERDELL.)
Late autumn apples can be wrapped
in thin paper, arranged In layers la
barrels and boxes, set In a cool, dry
place and kept till the following
spring, their flavor being enhanced by
the storage and close confinement.
This la especially commendable
where one Is short on the winter vari
eties, or the autumn fruit can be
used and the more valuable winter
fruit be marketed. Only smooth,
sound fruit should thus be stored, and
one should make frequent Inspection
of the supply to see that no deteriora
tion has set In, as this class of fruit
spoils very quickly, contamination
spreading very rapidly, once It begins.
Safest Orchard Planting.
A western horticulturist, who hai
had a very extensive experience In
orchard planting, says that he makes
It a practice when planting a large
orchard, to follow his planters and
try to pull up the trees. WJuw. ?T
sharp jerk falls to loosen a tree, it is
set firmly enough. But if the soil
cracks or the tree pulls out, then It
must be reset and the soli packed
down as firmly as It should have been
in the first place. . r
In the Fall of the Year.
Time spent In clearing up an or
chard In the fall of the year will be
amply rewarded with better and clean
er fruit the next season.
Fertnixsr Is Needed.
' Fruit trees take something out of
the s?.ll. Do you ever put anything
baok? Time you did.
6uon*sa With Strawberries.
Freque.it tillage the Bret season is
one of the secrets of suooessful straw
berry growing.
BEST ARRANGEMENT OF POULTRY HOUSES |
Open-Front *ooetlng Houso?Usually Very Comfortabla During Hot Weatb
sr, tha Front Being Arranged In Such Manner ae to Kaap Out the
Wet.
Sunshine is absolutely ascswary
tor the health and vigor of the laying
hen. Low windows should be set so
that the sun will shine Into every part
of the bouse during shine part of the
day. Roosts should be placed on a
level and not too high, fa the hens
are apt to Injure themselves either
by crowding, falling or flying against
a projection about the house. Keep
the windows In the poultry house
clean. Rub them repeatedly with old
newspapers. Sunshine Is the greatest
of tonics.
Poultry beepers may easily reduce
the percentage of dirty or soiled eggs
and losses entailed to Insignificant fig
ures.
First, an ample number of nests Is,
of course, necessary, but an ample
number means no more than, and prob
ably not as many, as are usually di
rected by poultry writers. Laying
houses are, as a rule, provided with
a sufficient number, but where the
keeper falle down Is In falling to sup
ply enough nesting material and floor
litter.
Obviously the nesting material mast
be clean, or the eggs become soiled
by contact, and It must be auBelent
In quantity, or the eggs are often
broken by dropping upon the hard
door of tbe nest. In houses where the
dropping boards are above the nests,
and the custom Is to sand the boards,
small stones often drop Into tbe nest
and breakage results when newly laid
eggs tall upon them. The condition
of nests sbould be noticed dally, and
tbe nesting material replenished when
necessary. Plenty of nesting mate
rials prevents breakage and insures
clean eggs.
An ample and clean litter on the
floor Is also very essential when an
A-l clean product is sought Particu
larly Is this true when the bent are
allowed outdoors during hot weather.
The litter acts as a toot mat for the
hens on their way to tbe nests.
Clean eggs bring better prices than
dirty ones.
If your hens do not produce eggs
make up your mind that the manage
ment is at fault.
POULTRY CARE DURING FALL
Much of Success In Wlntsr Depends
on Attention Given to the Fowls
In Autumn 8easen.
The success of poultry during the
winter depends largely on the care
they receive during the autumn.
?If your hens do not molt early they
will not be profitable winter layers,
writes Mrs. W. M. Jeans of High HIU.
Mo, In Farm Progress. I find It profit
able to feed three tablespoonfuls of
sulphur In one gallon of soaked corn;
this Is enoagh for about thirty hens.
I feed this twice dally for two days.
This has to be fed at a dry time, or
keep the bens confined In a dry- house
for three or four days and feed the
first two days.
About thirty days after I use this
feed I cull out all my hens that have
not molted and market and keep only
my best hens and early-hatched pul
lets. The henhouse should be thor
oughly cleaned and painted or sprayed
with some good disinfectant. The
chickens should be either well sprayed
or dipped. 1 use a r"V f*?w dip. I
find this keeps off disease and mites.
Hens should be fed a well-balanced
ration at this season and always keep
before them a dust-box filled with
ashes. In which sprinkle some lime,
grit of some kind and plenty of fresh
water, and there Is no reason why
your poultry will not return a good
profit.
BEST PRODUCER MOLTS LATE
-font Laying Moat Egga Oata Rid of
Faathara Lata In Season?Brlnga
Up tha Yearly Output.
Cornell experiment station aaya:
"The hen that molts late Is the hen
that will lay the most eggs for you
during the year, despite the belief
that the early molter Is the great
egg producer. It is true, she may lay
a few more winter egga for you, but
she Is quite likely to shut off laying
in the late spring and the summer
time, just when the late molter is
producing an egg every day and
bringing up the yearly output to hljh
Igures." \
Avoid Roupy Fowls.
It is not advisable to breed from a
bird whlcb has a severe attack of
roup. Hens affected with chronic roup
may lay. but the chicks hatched from
such eggs are usually unhealthy.
These chicks may appear all right for
a time, or until they grow up. when
In most cases the disease will attack
them.
*
Hauling Egga to Market.
If you haul eggs to town in the
wagon, put a good bunch of straw un
der your case of eggs. Tou are sure
to get broken eggs If you try to haul
thdf set in the bottom of wagon with- I
our' putting in hay or straw to take
ofR part of the jar.
Would Cull More Closely.
Were the general farmer obliged to
purchase In the market for one year
tho grain fed to his poultry, it la sate
to estimate that the flock be winters
thereafter would be about one-half the
else it formerly was.
Oeaoo Are Pugnacious.
Moot geese are of a pugnacious na
ture and cannot be kept with other
poultry.
Two Poultry Essentials.
Provide plenty of clean drinking wo
cor and keep charcoal and grit always
at hand,
o
Dual Purpose Cease.
Toulouse geese are profitable for
either market or breeding purposes
UTILITY VALUE OF POULTRY
Farmer Should Aim to So I Oct Fowl*
for Production of Eggs and Moat
?Scruba Are Unprofitable.
Ia poultry, aa with other lire etock.
the farmer ehould be much more con
cerned In their practical utility value
than in their ability to win prima at
the ahowa.
Prize-wlnnlnc bona are Judged tor
their beauty of form and plumage,
not for their ability to produce egga
or meat abundantly and profitably.
Thla doea not infer that the farmer
ehould breed ecrub poultry by any
meana. He can no more afford to
harbor ecrub hena than acrub cattle
or hogs. but hla aim ehould be to pro
cure purebred fowla that hare been
bred along utility llnea rather than
for ahow purpoaee only. There are
auch strains in all the practical breeds
and them are the atratna that the
farmer ahould procure for hia breed
ing Bocka.
The tact that fowls hare been bred
along practical llnea doea not Indi
cate that they hare loat beauty or
breed type, but rather that greater
attention has been given to egg pro
duction than to the fancy polnta of the
ahow room, which would be lost to the
average poultryman anyway.
It ia gratifying to note that the ten
dency of the times Is toward greater
utility value in all of the popular
breeds The egg-laying contests have
undoubtedly exerted much influence
in thla direction.
DIET FOR GROWING CHICKENS
Supply ? Variety of Corn, Oata, Wheat,
Bran and Alfalfa Meal?Bane
Meal Strengthen!.
Growing chickens should not bo
fed a diet of just one kind of food,
say corn, oats or wheat. Mix all
three, or either wheat or oata, with
the corn, or corn and dry bran, or
corn, wheat and alfalfa meal. Al
ways keep plenty of charcoal for the
growing chicks to pick at; you caa
burn and pound up wood for this. If
you will provide bone meal for the
comlng-on flocks you will find that It
strengthens the bones. Stout leg
bones are signs of healthy young
fowls.
Unprofitable Management.
The "root-hog-or-dle" plan of man
aging the poultry on the farm never
will make many dollars for the owner.
Unfit for Breeders.
All birds are not lit tor breeders
even If they are purebred. Many
make the mistake In thinking so.
Early Fall Feeding.
Now that bugs and grasshoppers are
getting scarce, slnch the weather has
turned cooler, the range ration must
be supplemented by grain. Care must
be taken not to feed too heavily on
the start or we may have soma sick
birds on our hands. Light feeding at
the beginning, gradually Increasing
the amount as marketing time drawn
nigh, should be the rule.
What to Feed.
Corn and wheat make the Ideal ra
tion?old corn being much better for
the purpose than new. The latter Is
apt to cause looseness of the bowels.
In the absence of corn, fetertta, malse
or kaflr makes a good substitute. Wn
have fed all with good results.
Clean Out Feed Trough.
The stiff old broom Is an extal
lent thing to , eon out the feed trough,
and this should be done after every
feeding.
Simplify Brooding FrobiarA.
The brooding problem Is immensely
simplified by a good, careful baq.
f&crs
RIGHT RULES FOR DAIRYMEN
Wieconaln Agricultural College Give*
Out Some Good Advice That Kv
ary farmer Should Follow.
The dairy department of the Wia
conain college of agriculture la urg
ing that the following bo paated up
in every dairy barn In the otate:
Practice the following advice and
you will make more dollaro in dairy
ing. Other* have done It- Why cant
you?
TJae purebred dairy aire* from cow*
having large and profitable produc
tlona of milk and buttarfat.
Rata* well the heifer calved from
oowa which for one or more genera
Purebred Holeteln Calf.
tioaa bare made large and profitable
production* of milk and butterfat
Breed belter* at tbe age of sixteen
to twenty month*.
Feed heifer* liberally and milk regu
larly.
Do not try to Bare feed by turning
to paature too early.
Provide plenty of pure, freab water,
ehade and protection agalnat file* dur
ing hot weather.
Supplement poor paature* with corn
silage or green aolllng crop* like rye,
peaa, oat*, green corn fodder, cabbage
and other available feed.
Feed cow* daily one pound of grain
In winter for every three pound* of
milk produced, U to 40 pound* of
corn allege, and what clover or alfalfa
hay they will eat.
Do not turn oowa out to remain and
?offer In cold, stormy weather.
Allow them to have water which la
hot oold*r than that from a deep well
twlee or three time* dally.
Bruah cow* dally If you can poealUy
find the time, for It pay* better than
doe* grooming of horaee, which a* a
rule la not neglected.
Keep oowa In clean, well-lighted,
properly-ventilated (table*.
Treat oowa gently and avoid excite
ment
Weigh the milk of each cow at milk
ing time.
Oct your neighbor* to a hare with
yon In owning a Babcock milk teeter
and teat the milk of each cow.
Dlecard the cow which ha* failed
at the end of the year to pay marhel
price for all the feed she haa con
sumed.
BABCOCK TEST AND SCALES
Instrument* for Ascertaining Correct
Value of Dairy Cow?Outlay la
Not at All Largo. i.
The Babcock test and scale* are In
strum en ta for ascertaining the correct
?aloe of the dairy cow with reference
to her milk and butterfat prod action.
The teet I* simple, accurate and easily
mastered by anyone who will five the
matter careful study and attention,
taking the necessary time for the
work. Those who prefer not to de
vote the time should Join a cow-test
ing association, for It does not pay to
keep unprofitable cows.
A small four-bottle tester with glass
ware and full directions can be se
cured for about $6 of any creamery
supply company.
|
ESTABLISH THE MILK FLOW
Best Time Is When Cow Is Fresh and
Should Tak* From Three to Four
Weeks?Feed Liberally.
The tlmd to establish the milk flow
of the cow Is when she Is fresh. It >
should take three to four weeks to
bring her to a full flow of milk and to
eating a full ration. There Is no other
time In the period of lactation when
care and Judicious feeding have a more
Important bearing upon her year's reo
ord.
The dairy cow should be fed liber
ally, but care should be taken not to
overfeed her and carry her beyond her
capacity. This works Injury not
only to her milk function, but to her
breeding powers.
Selling to Private Customer*.
Selling butter td private customers
Is almost a business by Itself. Tou
must have the market close to hand
and you must be able to manufacture
gilt-edged butter and glv* proper de
livery and be a salesman besides
Really, furnishing butter to private
customer* might be separated from
dairy farming. It Is a separate busi
ness, but one man can handle both.
Make a Business of Dairying.
It does not pay to keep cows for s
side Issue. Get the best and make
dairying a business Just ilk* any
branch of farm work.
Unprofitable Dairy Cow.
The dairy cow that doea not yield
over 100 pounds of butterfat per year
Is about as profitable to the owaer as
a hole In the granary roof.
Good Buttermakar.
A good bettermakar diss lis* a good
wage and will get It?from somebody.