The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-07-10
system is desirable to secure good supply ol
feed for the cows and horses.


Fodder crops in the shape of Mile, or Hun
garfan grass may be sown during the early
part of the month, and as the hay crop Is very
light IN many places, a fodder crop OF some
kind will be more than usually important
this wear. The soil for "A fodder crop should
either be naturally rich or made SO by ma
nurng, or il will not pay to prepare 1t for any
of these quick growing grains which have
but little time in which to make their growth,
and must get good size In order to be proht-
able
As soon as may be after the hay is gathered
give the meadows good top dressing OF fine
manure This will produce thick bottom
growth to shade the ground and prevent the
soil from urying up and injuring the roots OF
the grasses.
Cows giving milk should not be allowed TO
fall off in quantity from insufficient feed. 1t
is more difficult to increase the flow OF milk
after a shrinkagc from lack of full feed than
10 keep up high activity Of the secretion by
artificial feed When the habit of diminished
milk secretion at a particular time OF the year
is established as it will be by repetition, II Is
not always easy to prevent it entirely by no
cral feeding. The habit will also be trans
mi,ted to the offspring as a family character
istlc that will diminish the value OF the AMI
NAL as "A milk producer. Give the cows extra
food as soon as the pastures begin to get short
Horses need lots of care in these hot days
of midsummer. They should be kept clean
bv frequent curryIng and occasional washing
Of the legs and feet. The flies will cause the
most inconvenience, and while working IN
the field some protection tor them In the
shape of nets or tim blankets Sheets is
great protection for the animals Keep the
stables clean that they may not harbor them
nor develop any bad Odors. Horses that are
at regular farm work need good food, better
than grass alone Will give, Oats or ground
feed of some kind must supplement the pas
ture at night
Sheep can care for themselves if they have
a shady pasture supplied with good wafer
The matter of Il ram to be used later IN the
season should be considered now and secured
in time, If not already on hand full blood
will often improve the flock.
A run in a good clover stubble Will be ben
eficial to the pigs The yards should be kept
as clean as possible. A quantity of copperas
sprnkled about the pens Will deodor!ze and
disintect the place very satisfactorily and
cheaply. Young pigs should be pushed now
if they are for early market A rapid growth
secured now Is of the greatest Importance.
If the stock is not what is desired begin to i'm
prove it at once by securing purebred boar
of some good breed to use in the hero.
Chickens Matched this month will, if cared
for. be large enough to get through the winter
safely 1t is not best to set any hens after
July. Vermn breed very fast in hot weather
and great cleanliness Is necessary.
Buckwheat as late crop to fill out with
when another has been removed or failed to
grow, can be sown up to the middle OF the
month, a bushel of seed per acre is an abun'
dance to SOW.
The utmost neatncss should be exercised
about the premises IN the hot weather. Gar
bage of every kind should be disposed OF be
fore it becomes decaycd and is giving off a
bad OdOr.
A compost heap is the proper place for all
Idecomposable waste material. 1t should be
situated IN an outofthe way place, but near
at hand, so that all weeds, waste, and decom-
possible litter of all sorts, may be carted upon
it quickly and easily.
Another matter should receive early atten-
Misrepresentation for the autumn fairs. The
far season will begin in little over two
months, and ii IS none too early to consider
the matter. The local fair whether county or
other, should receive the attention of every
cutivator, whether he belongs to the class
called amateur" or to the professionals" as
those who cultivate plants of any kind as a
business are called. A lively competition for
the prizes, no matter how small these in them
selves may be, is the only way in which fair,
large or small, can be useful to a community.
Every cultlvator should make 1t a point to
show his best products and if any one exhib-
| its better ones than his own he may be sure
that there is something about varieties, or
their cultivator, that he should learn. Be
sides these smaller fairs, those engaged IN any
branch of horticulture as a business should
show their products at the state or other large
far if only for making himself and his bust
ness known. 1t IS none TO soon to decide
what shall be exhibited at the coming fairs,
and what prizes on the schedule are to be com.
petcd for, and to give the articles early atten-
ton IN order that the exhibit may be cred
liable one If one completes for varieties OF
pears, as an example, the halfdozen or
dozen to make the plate" should be selected
before hand, and all smaller and poorer fruit
near them on the tree be removed IN order to
secure the greatest possible development OF
those selected. So with other fruits, and a
like course is to be pursued with vegetables,
! flowers, etc.
Country Social Life.
Country folks are in general so occupied