Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-02-07
HUSBANDMAN HINTS
Value of Breeds Intended for Pro-
ducing Meat.
Cattle, Poultry, Milk, Horses, Straw,
Hay, Fruits and Vineyards
Discussed.

receive the greatest attention, as they
are now being dropped, and IL kept in
full growth pay large profits. In some
sales are made as early as Fob
ruary and March, lambs OF forty pounds
each being bought by proprietors of
costly hotels and restaurants; but they
are scarce at such times, and it does not
pay to sell them il they are OF choice
breeds, as they will be worth more
later on. The early lamb is the one
that makes the most rapid progress in
growth, and not the one that is OF cer-
tain age. Lambs OF the Shropshire or
Oxford breeds will weigh about twelve
pounds at birth, and when three months
old can be made to weigh seyenty-hve
pounds with but little difficulty. In
an experiment made in Illinois with
twin lambs the male reached lOl pounds
when 100 days old, and the female 81
pounds, which shows what is at least
possible though not often attained.
There is no rule for feeding all stock
alike. The breed that Is to produce
after its kind must be fed with a view
to enable it to perform its part. To
feed for fat when growth is desired, or
TO feed for growth when production is
sought, demands skill and due regard
to the quality and quantity of foods,
but it is the duty of the farmer to un-
derstand all such matters and TO edu-
cate himself TO knowledge of the
characteristics of the breeds and the
quality OF the foods necessary to aid
him in accomplishing his objects.
A breed intended .or producing meat,
in the shape of beef, pork, NUT
ton or lamb, should be selected for that
purpose exclusively. Breeds are now
and classified according 10
their merits and special characteristics
for the mplishment of certain OBJ
jects, and success with any breed is Sc
cured only when that breed is mede to
do duty in its particular line. When
the early lamb is made an object of
profit the breed should be one that ex-
cells in the size and rapidity OF its
growth from birth. All other con-
such as wool pro-
duction, adaptability TO forage, etc,
should be overlooked in order to give
the breed every privilege to excel in its
special capacity hence to get the lambs
in market early they must be fed and
bred for that purpose, as few weeks
delay may lessen the profits one-half.
The same rule applies 10 other classes
Of stock. To secure the best results
one must breed for them, for the breed
is the foundation upon which the enter
prise is built.
Overlooking Is detrimental to com
plete digestion and is waste OF food.
While heavy feeding il the universal
is a large yield is to be
secured, yet it would be we'll - pause
and consider the fact that the powers OF
an animal may be overtaxed and its di-
gestion impaired. Regularity of feed
ing and the allowance of a suiiiciency
should be observed, but nothing can be
gained by going beyond the limit OF the
OF the animal. 1t is safe to
claim that disease is more frequently
the result OF oserieeding than from any
other cause.
Glover hay is the standard food for
cows in winter, owing to its nutritious
sRohfd0e re6 10 rife e8ttusf6HiPT Sor 9adhtflE 9eadht q
fodder and other coarse foods that may
be utilized with the clover. A ration
of straw sometimes affords an agreeable
change of diet to an animal that has
been given nothing but grain and
clover. 1t is cheaper to give mixed
food at all times, variety being appreci.
ated by all classes of stock.
Peach trees probably made more
growth of wood last year than may be
desirable. and are therefore more liable
to injury from severe cold. The extra
wood should not be cut away until the
and cold has finished the damage Keep
the ground around the tender fruit trees
M ulched il there IS liability OF an early
flow OF say. as is sometimes the case
where certain trees are fayorably
located.
A cellar should be dry at all seasons.
If the chimney starts 1m the cellar
floor. fire place should made in tho
cellar, so as to keep a wood fire burning
which serves not only TO
dry the cellar, but also TO ventilate il
At the same time a cellar
should not be warmer than so degrees
above zero. nor colder than 40 degrees
A Texas stock raiser recommends
roasted cotton seed as q great i'm prove
ment on cotton seed as now fed TO stock.
Though the yield OF milk is not in
creased, the flavor of the butter pro-
duced therefrom is much better and the
color more uniform. lie recommends il
very highly to those interested in feed
ing cotton seed in any form.
The air may be made TO enrich the
soil, and add nitrogen thereto. by grow
ing clover and plowing under green
crops. Land that mas been
left in fallow has been known the in
,rease in fertility by the nitrogenous
matter carried down TO tho soil by the
rains, which derive ammonia and nitric
acid from the atmosphere.
South Carolina has had more poultry
shows and larger exhibits OF fowls this
winter than any other state in the
union. Yet, only three years ago she
was far behind the average place in the
poultry industry. Georgia and Louisi-
ina are close to her, with New York
md New England following.
Throw the sweepings OF the hay loft
Ind the ctfaff from the wheat in the
poultry house. so as to induce the hens
10 scratch and work in the litter When
given an opportunity to exercise, by
the hens will lay more eggs
han when kept in q state of inactivity.
Butter and sugar take nothing of
galue from the soil. They are cabon-
Iceous materials and come from the air,
he plants taking the carbon from the
rec carbonic acid OF the atmosphere.
which is converted into many materials
yrown or used on the farm.
Corn that has been grown so as to
nature early, and tho seed selected for
lext year before the crop was har.
rested, as we'll as kept dry during the
winter, win give better results next
eason as seed for planting than to use