Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-04-13
AGRICULTURAL.
Devoted TO the Interests Of Farmers
and Stockmen.

IF the hens can be furnished with a
sufficient variety of food, and especially
with green food, and the hen-houses
are dry and warm, they will do better
il confined in them all the time, from
the day the ground is first covered
with snow until the weather becomes
warm in the spring, than if shut up a
few cold or stormy days and then given
their liberty few DAYS. OF course
they require more care in feeding, and
in having roosts, nests and wallowing
places kept clean, when confined, than
if out of doors, but the increased num-
Der of eggs should pay for keeping.
A feed Of cabbage once week will be
good for them; raw beets or turnips
cut in two and thrown in for them to
pick at are also good. The leaves and
stalks which may be obtained from
market gardeners who are trimming
celery for market are excellent. Fowl
also need meat or fish in some form
nearly every day through the winter.
Give a warm mess every morning and
whole grain at night. With fresh eggs
selling at nearly a half-dollar a dozen,
it will pay to take some pains with the
fowl.
What Fruit Growers should Know.
|. He should be acquainted with
all of the more common insects that
occur in his vicinity, their names (not
necessarily the scientific ones), their
injuries and their habits.
2. He should be able to detect new
insect pests, so that he could promptly
submit them for scientific study.
3. He should be able to di tinguish
between insect foes and insect friends,
so that in fighting the former he will
not destroy the latter.
4. He should be able to refer them
to each enc of the several orders to
which they may belong, so that he can
speak or write of them understand
ingly, without grouping them all
under the name of "bugs."
5. He should know the manner Of
insect feeding, whether by means Of
biting jaws or with a proboscis, so as
to be able to employ the proper class
of insecticides.
6. He should experiment with such
remedies and preventives as his own
obsei walton and experience suggests.
There are about 100000 farms in
the United States, of which 100000
are worked under lease or on shares.
By running a smooth harrow over
the wheat-tield the young plants will
be greatly benefited. The harrow will
not injure the wheat, but will assist in
covering grass seed that may have
been sown early in the year.
Do not omit the warm water for
COWS because OF moderation in the
weather. So long as the water shall
he cold and the weather changeable, it
should be slightly warm, and the av-
erage yield OF milk will be maintained
thereby.
Any OF the potash salts may be used
with advantage on all fruit crops. In
the early spring is the best time to
apply them. If 200 pounds of super
phosphate be applied at the same time
its effects will be very marked at the
harvesting.
Cut potatoes to two eyes. If they
be desired early, for home use, thin
out the plants to single one in the
hill. This will give earlier, larger and
more uniform potatoes, but the yield
will not be as large as when two plants
are left to the hill.
A change in food will be relished by
the sheep just as we'll as by any ami
NAL on the farm. Nature is a pretty
sure guide in such matters. There
may be and is choice of foods among
those that sheep will eat with relish,
but 1t is a mistake to feed what they
do not relish.
There are many new varieties Of
vegetables offered in the catalogues for
1883, and some of them are probably
valuable acquisitions, but it is best to
experiment with new varieties the first
year OF their existence, as it is not
always advisable to discard an old and
tried variety for a newer kind.
The best rule is to keep farm tools
housed when not in use. The wastage
by exposure of costly implements each
year Is enormous, and it is responsible
Tor considerable of the hard times that
some farmers complain of. No m alter
how soon tools are rusted out. the
ia"mer cannot escape paying for them.
Work in the garden is always we'll
bestowed. If the value of the yege
tables grown be not equal to the labor
applied, the advantage OF having fresh
vegetables and of a superior quality
will more than compensate for the cost.
Very often he lvbor given pays for
itself IN promoting health and lmpart-
ing enloyment.
The condition of hollow.horn is
simply symptom of disease, and in
stead OF directing medical attention to
the horn the practitioner should make
haste to look in other directions for
The disease; for the very fact that the
horns are in~utlic emily supplied with
blood Is proof that there is too much