The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-01-11
AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

fact that salt promotes thirst, and causes
the cow to drink more water. 1t IS
claimed that COWS drinking less than
twenty-seven quarts of water daily are
poor mixers, water composing about 50
per cent. of the milk. Such expert
ments, however. do not determine tee
quality of the milk, and in one respect
show that the milk may be watered
through the agency of the cow.
A RAM sheared by Mr.. Turner, Ulce-
by, England, gave fleece OF 30} pounds.
Our foreign contemporary, Sheep and
Wool, speaks of this as probably the
heaviest clean fleece on record. Our
British Isle friends have evidently new
er heard of our heavy American fieeces,
scores of which have weighed from 30
to 50 pounds--the latter being the heav-
lest on record for years growth.
In Ohio the walking gait Of horses is
encouraged. At the state fair walking
match was arranged, the time for four
ninths OF mile varying from 4.l0 10
5.45. Each horse drew half q ton of
coal. 1t is worthy of being made part
of the programme at all fairs, as the
walking gait deserves more attention
than it has received.
THE original sheep of Hampshire and
Berkshire were of large size and rugged
constitution, and were remarkable for
their early development. With these
the Southdown blood readily commin-
gleG, without other Edmixture, and pro-
duced breed which is remarkably uni
form in type and characteristics, and no
other breed more strongly stamps these
upon its get. This, together with great
excellence of flesh and early maturity,
makes the breed Of especial value for
the production OF early lambs for mark
ct.
BREAK a piece OF cold butter, and if
| the grain Is perfect, the broken parts
| will resemble the broken parts of cast
iron or steel, also the same Of some rock
| formations.
Our of poplar. beech, ash or white oak
| make two paddles, say 10 inches long
| and the blade four inches wide. With
| these paddles you can handle the but
| ter-make it UP for weighing, printing,
| etc, without touching it with your bare
hands, which is something you should
never do.
BEAR in mind that sudden changes in
| food will cause sudden changes in the
| yield of milk. Bringing the cows from
| pasture OF grass and feeding them on
| age or roots, should be used in connec-
| grass or green rye can be had the COWS
should be turned on it until the winter
| sets in.
Cows that yield largely of milk drink
water freely, and it should be provided
| for them at all hours; but if the water
| is verv cold the COW will be chilled, as
she must warm the water with the ami
NAL heat of the body. Water in winter
should, therefore, be warmed IN some
| manner. Some cows win refrain from
| drinking water as long as possible, ii
| the water is cold, and, consequently,
fall off in the yield OF milk.
| Corn husks make excellent material
for mattresses if properly prepared,
| which can be done during the winter,
at times when storms prevent other
work; but it is doubtless if it will pay
for the labor bestowed.
| THE points Of driven wells should be
| OF brass, as iron points rust and clog,
| thereby preventing free flow o. water.
| The relative proportions of the aka
| lis in the composition of the ash of a
number Of the ordinary crops is con-
cisely stated by Johnston as follows:
| Cereals GRAIN, 80; legumes (kerne!s),
| A; root crops (rootsl, go; grasses in
| flower, 81. The above may serve to in
| dictate in some measure the crops to
which ashes may be most protitablv ap-
piled.
| HAVE no more land than you can cul-
| tivate. If five acres are all that you
| can do justice to, contine yourself to
| that; if YOU can care for 100 acres then
own that much; but don't have guam
tity of land laying idle.
| A CROSS COW in a herd keeps the
| others always in perpetual fear, and IN
| that manner lessons the milk from the
others in quantity more than may be
| sufficient to balance that given by the
cross one. cross or domineering COW
| should be got rid of.
TIE Ohio Experiment Station reaches
| the conclusion, after several trials, that
corn ensIlage is superior to field beets
| rs flesh ard fat former. but that the
| beets are preferable for milk produc-
ton. The dry solids of both compare
| favorably with these of the better
grades of other kinds of food.
HORSES ought to have as great comfort
| in the stable as it is possible to give
| them. Do not construct stables care
| lessly. Look to the comfort of the ami
mails in every particular in the matter
| of construction.
| CoTroNsEED meal is more nutritious
| ferred, owing to its beneficial effects on
f! the animals In regulating digestion.
If you have a nice thoroughbred calf
and turn it out to hump itself in the cor
ner OF the fence, in the storms and cold
| next spring you will say: This talk
about a thoroughbred being better than
q scrub is all bosh."
A MASSACHUSETTS man found in his
| bean field stalk which bore 726 beans.
! HORSE EADIsH is a weed in some sec
tons and profitable crop in others. 1t
| sells at cents per pound some seasons.
| 1t is readily grown on rich soil, but
| when once it takes possession OF the
land ii is not easily destroyed.
| TIE milking should be done at regu-
lar periods. The COWS would soon be-
| come accustomed t. the regularity.
They could in that manner be taught to
come up from the pasture at certain
| hours.
A SUCCESSFUL dairyman for many
| wears gives it as his conclusion tat a
well-fed COW that does not earn her en-
tire value in single year is not worth
| keeping in the dairy. Says he: "A COW
that has cost S15 should make net
earning of S75.
SEVERAL dairymen who have been
successful in feeding ensilage 10 their
cows do not recommend the use of any
variety OF corn for the silo which will
not fairly ripen crop Of ears before
cutting. Corn thus matured furnishes
in part the grain ration needed with the
| average ensllage.
Corn put in the silo makes great deal
better feed than hay, ami makes as good
butter as ever was made in June, and
the change from summer 10 winter
dairying costs almost nothing. 1t may
be done gradually; the cost is nothing,
and there is ali the time an increase OF
production.
THE best way to kill wire grass is by
sha ling the soil. First pillow the ground
in the fall SO as To allow the frost to
pulverize it. In the spring pillow again
and SOW oats thickly. Cut the oats IN
the milky stage, and sow the ground
with Zimmerman GRASS the thicker the