Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-03-20
AGRICULTURAL.
BETTER THAN TIE ROLLER.

BETTER THAN THE ROLLE
A farmer or gardener, writes Henry
Ives in the the New York Tribune,
after blowing and dragging his land
for planting will find no finishing tool
so good as the plank l~eveler, as a sub.
stitute for that rather arbitrary and
under some circumstances objection
able implement, the roller. The latter
reduces the surface to a general level
by a dead pressure, whatever be the
condition Of the soil. The plank,
weighed as the sod and work may re-
quire, will grind Jumps and carry along
soil TO fill depressions, aud thus with d
lighter stroke leave a finer pulverized
and leveler seedbed. For most of the
work on the farm for which we COM
monty use the roller this will be found
to do equally we'll, and level more
acres in a day. Many potato-growers
practice rolling down the ridge made
in planting aud covering with machine
or potato coverer. This Is attended
with much risk when the weight of the
roller is used to compress these ridges,
two rows at a time. The plank too
will dress down three rows at once and
do it safer and nicer. A farmer can
make the leveler and at one-fourth the
cost of a roller. Take, for tongue, a
pole twelve or fourteen feet long, and
across its butt end bolt on two or
three planks at right angles to it, hav-
ing the forward edge of each plank
two or three inches higher than the
rear edge, with a space OF three to nine
inches between the planks. Add two
braces, spreading from about where
the whiifletree is attached to the pole,
on IN angle to near the outer ends of
the rear plank, and bolt each plank TO
braces. The planks should be of hard
wood. two inches thick, twelve to
fourteen inches wide, and eight to ten
feet long. and SO put together that
when the team is hitched on
with the former end of the
tongue raised some three feet from
the ground these p.auks shall then be
on an ever grade, down to their work.
And as much Of the work done would
require an additional weight, a plain
seat might be added for either boy or
man driver. according to the weight
needed. For some soils, too, it would
pay to shield the lower side of each
plank by mailing on a strip of band iron
or sheet-iron.
III HENS FOR FARMERS.
II a farmer keeps hens Chiefly 70
the purpose Of supplying his own table
with meat and eggs, he will do we'll to
raise birds that belong to one of the
large breeds. The choice will lie be-
tween the Brahmas, the Cochins, and
the Plymouth Rocks. There are no
objections against any of these breeds.
The light Brahmas have been most
favorably known for over thirty years,
and for general merit they are not sur
passed by any of the newer breeds.
IL is a very handsome bird, and is an
ornament TO the premises. 1t is a con
tented, nome-lOving bird, not inclined
to wander about and get into mischief.
1t is a large bird, and furnishes a fine
roast. Ii its flesh is not quite as ten
der or delicious as that of some of the
French fowls, it is at least very good.
A Brahma fowl is easily dressed, and
when plucked presents a fine appear
ance. The eggs of the Brahma are
large and well formed. Though they
bring no more In the market than
-, n nrp thar- ~ rs n,.ah -czaka-
value, as their size and weight indi-
cate. Brahma hens OF suitable age. il
they have warm quarters, will lay dur
inr the entire winter. They are pa
tient sitters ID good mothers. They
are &c. as greatly addicted to
scratching and making havoc in
the garden as fowls belonging
to the smaller and more act
i've breeds. Being heavy, they never
attempt to make long flights. They
can, if it is desired. be kept in al ordi-
nary farm yard without making any
additions to the fence. They do not
suffer when kept in partial confine
ment. They will thrive, gain in weight,
and produce eggs when kept in a yard
or building, provided they are supplied
with suitable food, water, and mate
rails for forming the shells of eggs.
II Brahma fowls are not the favor.
ties of breeders, the cause may be
found in the circumstance that they
are no longer novelties. Breeders.
like n~urserymen, prefer to raise and
sell new things. They can obtain
higher prices for them rs they are de-
sired by amateurs. while they have lit
tie competition. Light Brahma fowls
are now we'll distributed throughout
the country. Birds of pure strains or
their eggs can be obtained at compare
lively low prices. 1t is to the advant-
age of farmers who have nothing but
mongrels on their places to obtain a
supply of them. Many farmers think
that they cannot afford to keep amin ais
OF pure blood. They acknowledge
their superior value, but they have not
the money to purchase them. Very
few farmers are so short Of means that
they cannot raise money to pay for a
sitting Of eggs. II takes several years
TO raise q flock Of lnpr. we'd sheep or q