The record-union., 1891-01-27


in freshly rubbish heap, so
they can learn to know when the fork is
about to be used to turn it over for them,
and this, or the bottom OF an old hedge
row, should be turned over daily, but
canary-seed is the diet that acts like a
charm. A friend of mine who rears a
great number in a very limited space,
feeds upon little or nothing else, and re-
CARDS the rearing of them as the easiest
thing imaginable. They are very fond of
it, too, and as, even when full
grown, they are exceedingly small eaters,
while as chickens the veriest mite suf-
fees for meal, they cannot help proving
profitable to those who will afford them
the little trouble they require for the first
week or two of their existence.-Agri-
cultural Gazette.
SKIM MILK AS FOOD FOR PIGS.
Recent experiments made show that a
greater value attaches to skim-lnilk as
food for pigs than it has formerly been
credited with, and the results should en-
courage those who patronize creameries
to use a larger proportion of the skim
milk and whey. AT the New Hampshire
Experiment Station six pigs, six weeks
old, were used, and divided into two lots.
To place the two lots on an equal basis
each lot was fed an equal amount of di-
gestible matter daily, in one case the di-
gestible matter being skim-milk and corn
meal, and in the other corn-meal, mid
dlings, and sufficient water added. A
careful account of the weights and gain of
each lot was kept, with the amount of
food consumed, the period being from
August oath to January 18th. The di-
gestibility of the food, more than the
actual quantity eaten, was the important
factor in securing the best results, and
after the pigs had been carefully fed and
tested the conclusions We're in favor of
skim milk and corn-meal as superior to
mixed grain diet. For each 100 pounds
live weight OF the animal eight pounds of
skim milk and four pounds of corn-meal
make an ample and well-proportioned
daily ration, and in the absence of skim
milk q pounds of corn-meal, q pounds
of middlings and eight pounds of water
will give an equal amount of nutritive
matter.
The results showed, however, that 100
pounds of digestible matter in the skim
milk and cornmeal were equal to 146
pounds in the cornmeal and middlings
ration. The superiority of the skim-milk
ration is due, in part, doubtless, to it's
greater digestibility, and still more to the
fact that there is less waste matter Tor
rather indigestible matter), to be carried
through the system. The pigs that were
fed on the mixed grain ration became
constipated, which was not the case with
those that were fed on skim milk. The
point that most interests the farmer, how
ever. Is which food is the cheaper COM
pared with the gain in weight. Estimat-
ing the first cost of each pig at 81, and it's
weight 80 pounds, the 2O0-pound hog
must be fed, to make 10 pounds added
to the original 30 poundsl, in manner to
account for every pound it gained. The
pigs fed on skim-milk made ITO pounds
gain at a cost Of 3.6 cents per pound, or
SO II. The pigs fed on cornmeal and mid
dl1ngs made pork at a cost of 90 cents
per pound, or IS "a for ITO pounds. The
total cost of the pigs, including the pur-
chase price, and the food consumed, was
| sS IL for 200 pounds, for the pigs fed on
skim milk, and $40 81 for the other lot,
the 200 pounds in the one lot costing 4O6
cents per pound, and for the other lot 40
| cents per pound, or difference of 81 y
in favor of 200-pound hog that was fed
on skim-milk, including its original cost.
FARM NOTES.
Only about $50 pounds of each beef ami
NAL is fit for canning; hence to provide
100000 pounds of canned beef, or 500, 900
cans, would require 10000 cattle.
Which is the best for strawberry cult
ure, hills or the matted row? asks a corre-
spondent. The matted row, as rule. It
depends upon the variety. Few of our
varieties do as well in the hill as in the
matted row. The Wilson can be grown
! in the hill. So can the LUCINDA.
| AS rule the breeding animals are kept
too fat. Cows and steers should not be
| fed alike. The cow yielding milk re-
| quires more food than a dry COW. Fat
sows do not make as careful mothers as
those in moderate condition. Too much
| fat is detrimental to breeding stock Of all
kinds.
| Diversity of crops is partial security
against failure. No farmer should rely
on single crop, as there will be too
many chances against him from drought,
inferior seed, short growing seasons and
excessively wet weather. Some crops
will thrive when others fail. The safest
mode is to grow several kinds.
Do not be deceived because the frost
protects you at present against the loss of
ammonia in your manure heap Con-
tinue to use plenty of absorbent material,
as the first warm day may entail more
loss than you are aware of. The freezing
of matter causes it to become finer, and it
falls to pieces when thawing, decomposi-
ton being then very rapid.
Many barns and stables are to be found
on good farms where the rain drips from
the caves in such way as to make going
in and out of them exceedingly disagree
able. Quite often, too, this drip may be
found falling on an uncovered manure
pile, teaching out its fertility and carry
ing it of in streams as it runs out of the
yard.
Sir Philip Miller, the great English
horticulturist, writing in 1740, says: 1.-THE
best method to have cabbages good is to
procure fresh seed from abroad every
year, for it is apt to degenerate in Eng
land in few years." The above is
simple illustration of the fact that the
best seeds will rapidly degenerate under
unfavorable conditions.
Popula, Gardening says that at the
meeting of the Allegan County Pomo-
logical Society, Mich, it was stated that
grapes at two cents pound were more
profitable than wheat at dollar bushel.
Such statements must always be taken
with grain of allowance. Much depends
on the quality of soil and the market 1t
is well to study such matters before going
into them.
The feathers of Pel<in duck being
white are nearly equal to those of the
goose, and as the Pekin is very large
duck, the feathers are an important part
of the profit. The common puddle duck,
however, is of no value compared with
the pure breeds. The Aylesbury, Rouen
and Pekin ducks not only give fair pro-
portion of feathers, but also produce large
| and desirable carcasses.
There is one advantage in giving the
compost heap attention, and that is the
destruction of the seeds of weeds by the
heating of the manure. Some heaps are
not sufficiently subjected to the heating
process, especially when exposed to cold
rains and SHOWS. If the manure is care
fully attended to, in order to secure the
decomposition of the manurial substances
therein, the killing of the seeds of noxi-
Gus weeds will alone pay for any work
bestowed on the heap.
There are many persons whe live in
the suburbs of the city that have small
lot suitable for poultry. To keep poultry