?OIK
/ALUE of alfalfa pasture
farmers and Swin? Breeders Inter
ested in Experiments Con
ducted in Nebraska.
K story of value to farmers and hog
nuv,.,s Is found in a report of exper
I'* Nebraska In feeding pigs on
ilfsilfti pasture.
..purine the summer of 1916, three
|tl(S of 20 pi^'s were fed corn
)n,l P?t cent protein tankage in
0lf f,.,.,l?-rs while running in fields of
a-i fwMm
M
p.gs on Alfalfa Pasture Do Not Need
Much Grain.
Three similar lots of pigs
avr?* ;Vd t!ie same ration but were
M.: ? i;i a dry lot where there was no
_ v'i'. '"?*? *d. Two lots of piprs were on
rr. ;i d::.vs. two lots on trial 42 days,
two lots on trial 70 days. The
art-rase weight of the pigs in the vari
,,-js lets ranged from 37 to 47 pounds
v ! i ? * 1 1 the tests began and from 47 to
')'> poiimis when the tests ended.
-'Hie pigs in the dry lots ate 4.18
;t, iih'is of tankage per 100 pounds of
.-urn and tankage, while those on pas
rare ate 3.S5 pounds of tankage for
.?:i ? *! i l ? n ? pounds of com and tankage.
Tlie pi~s on al?ttlfa gained at the rate
>f >7 pound per day, while those In
tla* dry lor gained at the rate Of .32
jM?un?l a day. The pigs In the dry lots
ire pounds of corn and 23 pounds
-.if tankage to produce 100 pounds gain,
;v|ii!?' those, on alfalfa pasture ate 297
pounds of corn and 14 pounds of jtank
h.v to produce 100 pounds' gain. Access
? ? alfalfa pasture reduced the grain
mm*. 'it to produce 100 pounds of guln
i early one-half.
"Considering corn worth $1.40 per
or S'tO.OO per ton and tank
worth .<1 <>0 per ton, the cost of
.-??rn and tankage for 100 pounds of
.'a in In the alfalfa field was $8.12 as
against S l.~>.47 in the dry lot. Alfalfa
pasture reduced the cost of gains near
lv one-half." .
BITS OF WIRE IN COW FEED
Lodgment of Small Piece of Metal l?
Sure to Cause Injury and Pain
to Animal.
Many fnrniers and stock keepers are
(uivlcss In allowing bits of metal,
nails, wire, etc., to get into the manger
Toiuh an?l palls where the cows and
h!w>s feed. Cattle are voracious
f^Hers and take up their feed in large
mn'.rhfiils, chewing It but little and
Mowing it by wholesale. Hence,
-nils, pins, small pieces of wire and i
"i' h like are quite likely to be taken '
i'? w:fh the feed and pass into the;
*''!!j.i<-h or lodge at some point along ,
*' ?? " liannel.
'."?lament of a piece of metal is sure
inflammation and pain to the
a i ut!. Tsually a pointed piece of
does not reijiain long in one
i' very movement of the animal
"r.;ui drives it a 1 i tie farther in the
!ir.? iion of least resistance, and the
r,s'ilt is that a long line of Inflamma
':"H and festering is set up in the suf
? '?r animal. A had feature of the
is that when a vital organ is
r'-;t<-h?Ml by f lie moving piece of metal
''?a!h usually follows, and the owner
",f,D itttributes the loss to some other
WELL-BRED ANIMAL FAVORED !
Be Put in Good Condition fjor
Market in Much Shorter Tima
Than Can a Scrub.
TIim wel]-f)red beef animal, owing
f? feeding quality, can be put
!n ^"<'d . condition for the market In
time than can a scrub. At the
fl4'' time such an animal can also be
to advantage for Just as long a
Period hs a scrub. This means that j
tli'TH, is gh'ater opportunity for sell- j
?''L' ?! well-bred animal on a good i
auir|;?.f jhan Is the case with a scrub .
must be feci for a longer period j
n ??n ler to be salable at a reasonable .
Prir-e. . ?
Exercise for Horse.
W??rk provides exercise for the
h"rM' nnd Insures keeping him In vlg
healthy condition. It also ac
MNf"ms him to being handled by a
,1U|". an important factor In the devel
'Mi't-nt of stallions.
Buttermilk for Pigs.
Sfale buttermilk, if kept clean,
e'V(*s just as good results as fresh bat
,Hrmllk in pig feeding. The trouble,
A,|?n trouble occurs, is generally due
r? lack of cleanliness, which causes di
disturbances.
MAKE MONEY RA1SIN3 GEESE
Success Can Bo Had With Small Num
bers Whsre Thsrs Is Low Pas
ture and Water.
The Toulouse and Emden are the
most popular breeds of geese In this
country. The Toulouse is the largest
breed, the adult gander *ud geese
weighing 25 and 20 pounds, respective*
ly, while the standard weights of the
Emden are 20 and 18 pounds.,
Geese can be raised in small num
bers successfully and at a profit on
many farms where there is low, rough
pasture land containing a natural sup
ply of water. The market for geese
U not so general as for chickens, but
the demand and prices are especially
good in sections where goose fattening
is conducted.
(Jeese need only a house during cold
or stormy weather, when an open shed
should be provided. One gander is
mated with from one to three geese,
and the matings are not changed from
year to year unless they prove un
satisfactory. When mated, they ara
allowed to run together in flocks. Tou
louse an-J Kmden geese will breed
when aoout two years old. The fe
males F.?e usually kept until they are
from twelve to fourteen years old, or
as long as they lay well. Sex Is diffi
cult to distinguish, especially in young
geese. The gander Is usually some
what larger and coarser than the
goose, and has a leaner, longer neck
and a larger head. The sex is some
times determined by a critical exam
ination or by the action of the geese
at mating time.
Large boxes, barrels or shelters art
provided as nests for geese, or they
are allowed to make nests on the floor
of the house. The eggs should be col
lected daily and kept in a cool place.
First eggs ure usually set under hens
while the last ones which the goosu
lays may be hatched either under hens
or under the goose if she "rops
broody." If the eggs are not removed
from the nest where the goose is lay
ing, she will usually stop laying soon
i ou.ouse Qeeee Are Largest Breed.
er than if they are taken awa.v. Tim
period of incubation of goose eggs
varies frarn 28 to 30 days. Moisture
may be added after the first week by
sprinkling the eggs or the uests with
warm water. Grose eggs hatch slowly,
especially ander hens, an 1 the goslings
are usuully removed as soon as
hatched and kept In e warm place
until the hatching is completed.
i
INDIVIDUALITY OF HER. OWN
Different BreeJs of Chickens Have
Characteristics ? Many Do Not
Study Their Kowis.
Each hen has an individuality and
her own notiont and customs. That
different breeds have different charac
teristics, we all know, but many do
not study their flock or do not con
sider it necessaiy to di# so.
Some one sugg ?sts that hens which
are talked to as J made much of will,'
In turn, be good layers. There is a
measure of truth in this; certainly
fowls treated with kindness will do
better work iU/rti those which are
never tamed and are frightened at the
approach of any one. But don't get
the idea that kindness will produce
eggs. A hen possessing no laying
strain worthy of mention will never
repay one's afreet Ion by eggs If there
are no eggs bred In her.
Secure the breed and strain, add to
this a study of the flo< k, and to this
companionship and <*are, and the re
mits will be satisfactory.
RATION FOR EGG PRODUCTION
Best Feed It That Suited to Local
Condition*? Prepared Material
It Economical.
In feeding for egg production, the
economical feeder wishes to use the
grain he has. The best ration Is the
ration that best sulfa the local condi
tions. If one must buy all the feed,
then he will probably find the ready
prepared scratch feeds and mashes
as cheap as buying the varieties of
grains arid mlxlilg hi* own. The ag
ricultural colleges have worked out
rations which ar* practical for farm
docks.
/
[So S\o ^I?3[D
wco^ir mr \msm
IT? DQtyKKSElTf '
fPS/aSABTi? 0 o
?J?
By JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN
MKUK'A'S feeding of starving Rus
sin lias introduced a new word Into
the vocabulary of that famine
stricken nation. This feeding of
Russia is the biggest piece of phil
anthropy in all history. Doubtless
it will affect the history of the
future. Rut whatever its effect In
the years to come its immediate
result has been to add a new word
to the Russian vocabulary that Is
said with heartfelt gratitude by
tin4 peasant masses and shouted Joyfully by the
children. It is a household word among the
masses ? a word to conjure with in Soviet Russia
today.
"A lira" is this new word. It is the native pro
nunciation of "A. R. A.," the initials which sym
bolize the American Relief Administration and its
manifold works of relief.
Leon Trotsky, to be sure. Is saying that the
"American bourgeoisie are glutted with the blood
and gold.of Europe": that "when the fire of the
European revolution is lighted the American bour
geoisie will be consumed"; that ."punishment and
revenge await the American bourgeoisie from the
European proletariat." But the Russian prole
tariafTry "Ahra" Just the same.
"When we visited the feeding kitchen in the old
palace of the czars at Tsarskoe," said E. M. Flesh,
"the children Jumped to their feet and shouted In
spontaneous greeting, 'Ahra!'" Mr. Flesh, identi
fied with the A. R. A., the United States grain com
mission and the purchasing commission, had 'Just
finished an inspection trip of a month through fam
ine districts. This was In December, 1022. He
said further:
"I think the back of the famine is broken, though
we'll have to keep on feeding the children. We
fed one and a half million people at the peak of
our activities. That number is being decreased
now, and henceforth we will care for Just the or
phan children and the sick. The American medi
cal program In Russia is one of the biggest things
ever done by one country for another. We'd go
into hospitals and see absolutely empty shelves.
Then an order would be issued and in would pour
supplies. The gratitude of the people was touch
ing. Doctors came to us with tears in their eyes
to express their thanks. Rut best of all were the
kids. It made you feel good when they shouted
'Ahra.' To them It Is a word of salvation and
hope."
Here is another contemporary description of the
situation: ' 1
"You are from the 'Ahra'? Their eyes open and'
tliey gaze as they might do on a king, and as often
as not they fall on their knees and kiss your hand.
And then I wish all *he people who talk sp loudly
of letting the Russians take care of themselves
could be present. They would be properly ashamed.
Russians, particularly the Russian peasants, would
much prefer to live on their own food. They have
no desire to sit down nnd wait for a nation, how
ever kind-hearted, to come across the sea to their
help. They want their own corn. They tried to
sow It, even when they were living on horseflesh
for food. . . . They thought even God had for
gotten them, and then the 'Ahra' appeared. It fed
their children first, several million of them, and
then it fed them. It fed their sick. It supplied
their hospitals with unheard of stocks of medi
cine. It put something in their arms to ward off
the dreaded cholera and other diseases from which
?
they have suffered so many years. The 'Ahra' did
this on behalf of the American people. Why did
the 'Ahra' do it ? for trade or political advantage?
1 hey have got neither, though they are in Russia
nearly n year. They must have done it then for
pure love of humanity. A wonderful nation, Amer
ica, big. generous, strong, kind, disinterested!
There Is no Word quite capable of expressing what
America Is. That is how the Russians feel, and
they will remember. IIow does America feel? If
I were an American I would feel very proud ? and
very humble."
"America has built up a tremendous amount of
good will for herself among the Russian people
through the relief work in the famine districts,"
said Preston Kumler, a Chicago attorney, back
from a year's service with A. R. A. "Prior to our
coming the Russian masses knew Httle of Amer- '
lea. Now the United States Is the best advertised
nation in Russia."
The soviet government has shot robbers when
ever it captured th ? Still there are many ban
dit gangs which roam at will, living off the coun
try. In several Instances A. R. A. workers were
captured by these bandits and were turned loose
with apologies as soon as their Identity was es
tablished. It actually appears that these bandits
never interfere with the A. R. A. activities.
Here Is a story that comes from the Buga^hof
district of Samara, in which a bandit organiza
tion of over 1,000 men with horses Is operating.
The bandits sacked the government warehouse in
Balakova while the A. R. A. storage house, next
door, bulging with cocoa, sugar, canned mil* and
other good things to eat, was not touched.
As an Illustration of further consideration by the
bandits of the famine sufferers, it Is related that
some of the gang last summer rode up to one of
the A. R. A. village kitchens, merely tasted the
food being prepared for the children; pronounced
It very good, chucked a few youngsters under the
chins, wishing them good appetites, and then went
their way ? to the home of the village treasurer,
which they looted.
An Interesting feature of the A. R. A. work Is
the springing up of hundreds of new villages.
American corn built these new villages, which
sprang up practically over night last spring. The
same thing is expected this spring. Edward Fox,
A. R. A. supervisor in the Simbirsk district, tells
of It thus: ;
"There has been a genuine back-to-the-soll move- ?
merit, an exodus from the cities, where panicky
thousands fled when famine came. Racing against
the brevity of the summer season, fighting time to
plant the unfertilized fields, groups of weak and
weary men have dug earth houses to cover their
heads and those of their families, wasting no time,
merely tossing up a make-shift home.
"Taking into account the famine situation, the
local powers had quite prepared themselves for
an increase of the refugee movement with the ad
vent of spring. With the issue of corn the flight
from the villages diminished, and by the end of
April had completely ceased. May even saw the
return of many of the villagers to their native vil
lages. Farmers returned to their former occupa
tion singly and in whole batches and colonies.
"As an example, the village newly formed in the
Simbirsk Ouyezd, called Testchany Ozero,' may
be pointed out, where 130 adult farmers, having
first assured themselves of a com ration, settled
on land given them, hurriedly dug themselves
earth huts and seeded their land with all they
could obtain, so forming an entirely new village."
Just what is being done now in the way of re
lief and what will be necessary next spring and
summer is difficult to say. It seems probable that
the A. R. A. may be able to close its work after
the next harvest, except insofar as the 1.500,000
orphan children and sick in hospitals are con
cerned. Estimates place the number of Russians
now receiving help at 8,000,000 from the soviet
government, European relief associations and the
A. R. A. /
The American relief of starving Russia may b*
thus recapitulated In brief:
The first station of the American relief admin
istration to feed Russian children was opened in
Pefcrograd in September of 1920. Three hundred
children then received the flfst American ifieal.
Originally Herbert Hoover, In response to an ap
peal from Maxim Gorky, and with the help of tho
American people, planned to feed 1,000,000 Russian
children. The work grew until In August of 1921
no less than 4, 171,411 children were receiving daily
meals from the A. R. A., and a dally com ration
or its equivalent, was going to 0,257,9.r>8 adults, a
total of 10,429,399 Individuals. The original pro
gram hod been multiplied tenfold.
The adult feeding, not included in the origin&i
intentions, was made possible by the appropria
tion by the United States congress of $20,000,000
fop the purchase of corn in America. This prod
uct began to arrive in Russia in February of 1922.
From that time until the last carload of corn
was shipped to the interior districts, the railroads
of Russia from the northern and southern ports to
the famine areas were taxed to their capacity. The
delivery of the food became the greatest problem
which the A. R. A. was called upon to face. Ware
houses were filled and emptied and tilled again.
Barges loaded with corn were sent up and down
the Volga river and up the Kama, Biela, and Vlat
ka rivers. Horses and sledges, camels and wagons,
wheelbarrows and peasants' backs carried the
grain from the river ports and from the railroad
stations to the distant villages. By August 1, 206,
407 tons of corn and other products had been dis
tributed to the districts for adult feeding.
In the matter of distances alone, and in view of
the lack of sufficient railroad connections, it is sig
nificant that the work of the A. R. A. has not
been limited to the easily accessible areas.
And even this covers only a part of the work of
the A. R. A: There are the food remittance dlvis
ion and the medical division, each of which ha#
handled something over $7,000,000 worth of sup
plies since the beginning of their operations, and
the clothing remittance division.
Col. William N. Haskell, U. S. A., took charge
under Hoover in September of 1921. He is a West
Pointer and has been awarded the D. S. M. for
brilliant service in the World war. He was in
charge of American relief in Rumania and the
Caucasus. He is now also In charge of American
Red Cross relief in the Near East.
IWv. Dr. (Charles) Theodore Benze has Just
gone to "Moscow as commissioner for the National
Lutheran council ; he Is also commissioned by the
A. R. A. He is a theologian, author, college presi
dent and a leader in the board of foreign missions
of the United Lutheran church.
It is a question whether the charity or the effi
ciency of the Americans the more astonished the
Russian people.
Anyway, their new word "Ahra" expresses their
feelings and It is a household word from one end
to the other of4 their unhappy land.