Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-08-07
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Alfalfa Asa Pork-Producer.

Alfalfa Asa Pork-Producer.
Prof +. NJ. shelton, of the Kansas Ag-
ricultural College, reports an interest
ing experiment in which a half acre of
alfalfa, seeded the previous season,
was paStured 10y pigs during the sum
mer of 1884, the pigs being carefully
weighed each month, and the number
carefully adjusted TO the quantity of
forage I'm addition to the alfalfa,
each pig received two pound, of corn
in the ear, thus giving that combina-
ton of foods which experienced feed
ers have found 50 well adapted to pork
production. The result was that the
half acre of alfalfa, in connection with
,. l46 pounds of ear cOru->ay 3O4 bush
els-gave support during l5i DAYS To
rather more than nine pigs having the
average weight of lao pounds, and
caused an increased growth amount
ing 10 az pounds. The LAG pounds
OF ear corn would bc equivalent to
LOO pounds of shelled corn, and pre-
vious eXper mentS on the same farm
had given an average increase of one
pound live weight for j.34 pounds
shelled corn. At this rate the total in
crease due to the BOZ bushels corn
would amount to 329 pounds of live
weight, and that due to the alfalfa
would amount To 3oS pounds. Thus
the half acre OF alfalfa. requiring no
cultivation nor harvesting. gave a
greater return in growth than half an
acre of corn yielding 81 bushels per
acre.
Corn-and-cob Meal for pigs.
The experiment in feeding corn-and
cob meal to steers. was repeated ut the
Kansas Agricultural College during
the past winter, the meal being fed in
this instance TO pigs instead of steers.
The results of the experiment (of which
the full details are published in the an
nual report of the agricultural depart
ment of the college, are summarized
As follows by Professor Shelton:
With steers. ! bushel GO ~ corn
and cob meal gave 9.j6 pounds Of in
crease; VIII le with the pigs ! bushel
go t.) corn-and-cob meal gave 1876
pounds of increase; and with the steers
again | bu>hcl (j6 ib.) corn meal gave
IU4 pounds Of increase. while with the
pigs ! bushcl CSC H.. OF corn meal
gave $50 pound of increase. The fact
that the pigs were fed during the late
severe winter season, while the steers
were fed during the comparatively mild
winter of lSS3-4. i sufficient eXpla-
nation of the near approach of the cost
of a pound of increase of the pigs to
that of the steers. That an animal
possessing the comparatively simple
digestive apparatus Of the pig is able,
almost equally with the OK, possessing
a
chinery. TO use the cob as feed would
seem to indicate that il eycrts some
thing more than mere mechanical
influence in nutrition.
Raspberry Culture.
The Fanucr,' Magazine and Rural GUIDE
The modern system of cultiyating
the raspberry obviatcs the necessity of
ANY kind of support. and the plants
are managed so that they are able to
support themselves wEor full of fruit
This is accomplished by allowing the
first years growth of newly set ont
plants grow Urdi,turbed; the second
year two or more shoots will be pro-
duced. and when these have reached
10 height of about two feet. their
tops are p nchcd of 20 ~ TO stop their
further upward growth. They will
then proceed To put out side shoots:
balancing and supporting themselves
very cilrctually. and appearing like
small. evenly head Il trees. When
growth has been completed for the sea
son and the leaves Lave fallen. these
SIDE shoots are pruned back so a TO
have them from twelve TO sixteen inches
long, according 10 their strength.
This can be done quite rapidly by prun-
ing shears.
Wire Worm.
western Rural
This pest is a very provoking one,
and eNcites many inquiries. We have
two or three inquiries now in regard to
1t. IL preys upon almost every crop
that 10 grown. They do not trouble
leans. ea~ and buckwheat. but we do
not now think OF any other crop that
they sometime, do not iniure They
resemble a worm and resemble wire,
hence their name is very appropriate.
Remed rs, 80 called, are o large de-
gree satisfactory. Fall plowIng is
IN the direction of a remedy, and 30 j.
frequent narrowing. This gives the
birds in the fail and spring chance at
them. In England they practice bury
ing potatoes early, and marking the
place. The grubs collect on them to
feed, and can thus be- captured and
DESTROYED. Both gas me and salt are
used 20 advantage i'm Europe. being
placed with the seed at time of PLAN
ing. Some advise the sowing of buck
wheat the second year after the pl w
ing under the sod. should the
WORDS be very abundant. The first
year. one experienced farmer and car
dener says, they seem to prefer the de-
caying grass roots, and buckwLeat
seems distasteful or po sonous TO
them. The same is but little less truc.
the same writer says. of beans and
peas.
Transplant Evergrcens I'm May.
Farm and Preside
Nav is the best of all months in
which to transplant evergreens Plant
MS soon as the terminal b1d at t!te
ends of the branches BE i'm &, push
Take large ball OF ri will Ca IA tire