The Osceola times., 1880-12-11
FACTS FOR FARMERS.
Tho Coming fence-Condiments for Poul-
try-Nield of Three Cows-utiiisc the
Straw-AgriculturalN Notes.
NM CnMINa rENCE.


The Farm Journal thus discusses the
fences of no-distant future: 81. The
fencing material of the era now dawn
ing will consist more largely of iron than
heretofore; bat, 3 Iron posts will not be
used unless there is a great fall in the
price of iron, circumstance not likely
To occur 3. To turn cattle and horses
only, a fence consisting of wooden posts
with three iron No. 6 wires will prove
the cheapest and best fence. The bottom
wire, about two feet from the ground,
may have barbs upon il, 10 prevent cat
tie from pushing against il; the top wire
should have plasterng lath wired to il
horizontally, the lath whitewashcd, To
prevent animals running into the fence.
T. To turn sheep and hogs wooden fence
is cheapest and best. B. As To the fence
of the more distant future for turning
cattle, we are not prepared to name il,
but many farmers in the old dairy Sec
tons viii say, fence, no fence The
soiling system that will feed and sup
port 100 COWS on 100 acres requires no
fence at Ill, for the cows do not Craze,
but are fed at the barn winter and
summer"
'pNblMtNiS u TUX lot llhh.
A moderate quantity of cayenne pep
per, mustard or ginger can, with great
benefit, be added to the food for fowls
TO increase their vigor and Ia stimulate
egg production. This diet, although ap-
parently artificial, is really natural; for
wild birds of the gallinacean family have
access to very many high spiced berries
and buds-articles that give the game fla
vor" to their flesh Although there is
more or less of an aromatic principle
in wheat, Indian corn and other grains
consumed by the domestic fowl, yet the
quantity is not sufficient TO supply the
place of the stronger spices, taste for
which is inherited by the fowl.-Liw
Stock Journal,
YIELD OF THREE COWS.
A correspondent of the ~ f. Honest od
gives the following statement, made
from carefully kept memorandum, by
Lewis Parks, of Blanford, Mass:
During the year from September |,
1879, to September |, 1880, Mr.. Parks
has kept three cows, one a Short Horn,
and two grade Alderney; also one heif.
err that dropped her first calf lat %
months old November 8, 1870. The
calf was fatted on the heifer's milk, and
at the age of six weeks was sold for
So. One COW came in November %, 1879
(the calf being raised on new milk for
four weeks, and is coming in again
about this time; another COW calved
August ., 1879, and again August 10, 1880,
and brought twins; and the third COW
(Short Horn came in March /, 1875
and again March i, 1880. The product
of the year is as follows:
Butter S6'i pounds. ...........,..........".sss -
- w
veal w
Total ... ........................s2il 81
The above is what was actually sold,
no estimate being made Of butter, cream
and milk used in the family. The cows
had only pasture feed in summer, hay
in winter, and whatever surplus skim.
med milk there might be.
UTILIZE THE STRAW.
In most sections of this State the
farmers include the burning of their
for winter. As the autumn wears away
the dews and fogs thicken, heavy clouds
of smoke hang along the horizon in val
icy anu lbptlilil TtpioiiS, anu ~ HiSilt
the observer in the chief grain counties
can often count a dozen or more fires
from one standpoint. But it seems to
be proven that good wheat straw is
worth several dollars per ton to winter
stock with. 1t is not a proper food for
work horses, but calves, sheep and colts
live well upon it. There is, therefore,
every reason for saving it. How can
farmers enrich their wheat lands if
they burn the straw, and keep no cat
tie to transmute it into manure? The
very best A b G of high farming is to
sell few raw products, but TO transmute
as much as possible into beef butter,
cheese, bacon, wool, and similar goods.
Less wheat, more cattle, straw trans
muted into profitable flesh and no less
profitable utilizers, some land devoted
to fodder plants and root crops-such is
in long term of years the best plan
for farmer.
In our climate it will not do to plow
straw in as it does not really decay,
yet if il can be piled up in gulch or
ditch it will gradually decompose. A
gentleman who used water for irriga-
ton, placed large quantity Of straw
in ditch, turned water in, and thus
fastened its decay, forming rich black
soil for future use Whether or not such
a plan would prove profitable ona large
scale must be determined by local con-
siderations.
AGRICULTURAL NOTES.
APPLES boiled with meal are good for
pigs,
1T pays to feed cows giving milk lib
orally. Butter is high and now is the
time to feed profitably.
TIE rice crop of Louisiana this year
is estimated at 250,O00 barrels. Last
years crop amounted to 100000 barrels.
ON many farms there are some old
cattle and old sheep that can only be
kept at loss. II is economy to fatten
them for the butcher.
THE importation of thoroughbred