The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-03-10
FACTS FOR FARMERS.


aavOr and feeding value. lie ruta-
baga Is better keeper. but II also be-
comes pi.hy later in the Winter.
3eets aud mangcls are much better
feed for cows late in the season. and
have the advantage that they give no
bad flavor TO the milk.
SAVING COAL ASHES.
Although analysis shows little manu-
rial value la coal ashes. they are un-
doubtedly beneficial as a mulch for
trees. keeping the sol open and allow
ing rain TO soak into tho soil without
pushing the surface. They are also
good absorbcnts of odors. and In the
henllouse or priyy. mixed with their
contents. they make these valuable
manurcs moro convenient TO handle.
FRUIT PROSPECTS
The widely extended cold weather
this Winter has severely tested the
hardness OF all fruit trees exposed to
H. AT the West the extremely low
temperatures have probably destroyed
this years crop. even IL the tree sur
wives II is quite likely that tho pres
cnt seasons experience will convince
many in the far Northwest that they
must depend upon other localt es for
oil except few of the hardest fruits.
WINTER MADE BUTTER
Since the adoption OF the creamery
system buyers are more careful to get
butter freshly made. BY the old dairy
process June-mado butter could be
kept the year through. and be better in
Winter than that made then; bu. this
is little done now. Somehow nearly
all the best butter makers now use the
creamery process Of setting milk. and
the poorly made butter never would
keep anyway. With corn meal, roots
and ensilaged corn fodder butter may
be made in Winter of nearly as good
quality. though not quite so well-col-
ored naturally as that made on grass In
Spring and early Summer.
REPAIRING FARM BUILDINGS.
A farmer who Is handy with tools
can do much valuable work at repair
ing during mild weather In Winter.
On too many farms the little repairs
are neglected until 1t becomes necessa-
ry to cxpend nearly as much as new
buildings, fences and implements would
cost A good kit OF tools with paints
and brushes will enable many farmer
TO keep his premises In repair. and
thus add more than the cost to the
market value OF his property. II the
farm buildings and fences are kept in
repair. IL is generally taken as an indi-
cation that the farm is well managed in
every other respect.
STONE sLEDs FoR WINTER WORK.
The common stone boat Is too
cumbersome for work in the snow
when II lies deeply in woods and fields.
What is wanted for Water use in the
woods Is strongly made sled. with its
runners formed from heavy oak or
maple plank. and sitting foot high
from the ground. II properly shed
such sled will be very strong and
durable. saving many times its cost be-
fore being worn out. Many prefer
such sled for rough work in drawing
stones al any season OF the year They
are much easier to load than wagons
and easier to haul than the common
stone boat lying fiat on the ground.
VARIATION IN ESsILAGE.
1t Is too much the fashion TO regard
ensilage products. IL OF the same food.
rs identical In quality. But every one
knows that corn fodder. which Is most
used for ensilaging. varies greatly.
That grown thickly In rows, as II
generally is for tho silo. makes thin.
white and innutritious stalks. There Is
no gain TO this kind OF feed by putting
II on the silo Unless the lacking
nutrition IL supplied. COWS will grow
thin on II. just rs they will on watery
grass Mt pasture in May. The
succulence OF ensilagc makes II ex-
collent ny basis for increasing the
milk yield Ia Winter. Large corn
stalks. that have borne ears. contain q
great deal more nutrition than the
same bulk OF ensiIagc put up ms IL Is
commonly grown.
ADAPTING BREEDS TO LOCALITIES
There arc natural linn tations in
breeding for different purposes, and the
breeders used TO know what these are.
Among cattle the beef-produclng vnrie-
ties will always be found most abundant.
and best developed where corn Is large
ly grown. Tho best cows will be bro d