The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1891-12-26
TIE FARM AND STABLE.
USEFUL INFORMATION PER-
TANNING TO THE FARM.
Growing Demonstrating Poultry
"A Job for Cold Weather--inJury
to StifIe Joint--The Bee
Moth.
Growing Clover.

. va an ~ AASAA 81
siderable difference in the manner of
seeding and managing. There is no
question but that difference in soil
and location have much to do with
this difference, as what is best in one
locality will not always be best IN an
other.
Some SOW on winter wheat, sowing
the seed in February, the exact date
being largely determined by the sea-
son. Whenever it can be done it is
best to SOW reasonably early. Others
claim that the best results are obtain-
ed by sowing with oats. Takethe first
opportunity in the spring for doing
the work, as earliness is quite an item
with both clover and oats. Others
SOW the clover alone about the time
of the last snow, say about the last
week in February. These claim that
when the clover is sown with small
grain after the crop is harvested the
plants, being 80 suddenly exposed to
the hot sun after being sheltered all
through their growth previously, are
killed out.
Some plough under early in the fall
where a good stage of growthhas been
secured, claiming that there is a large
amount OF valuable plant food in the
clover which, if ploughed under when
green, will be returned to the soil.
Others either let the clover die down
in the fall or cut it down with a now
er and let it lie until spring, when it is
ploughed under. Those following this
plan claim that keeping the soil shad-
ed aidsin storing fertility, and hence
the advantage in letting the clover lie
on tine ground until spring, and then
plough under and either plant to corn
or potatoes, and then SOW to wheat
again in the fall, making a three years.
rotation; or by having oatsfollow the
corn CT potatoes and then wheat and
back again to clover, making a four
years rotation. Others plough under
the second growth in the iall and SOW
to wheat.
In a locality where the oats can be
sown early, usually not later thanthe
last week in February, sowing clover
with the oats will nearly always give
good results, but when the seeding
must be delayed until March, be-
cause the soil cannot be suit
ably prepared . before, it will
be best to SOW alone or on the
winter wheat in order to get the work
done early. But the manner OF SOW
ing is not SO important, provided it is
done in a way that will secure a good
growth, as it is to be sure and SOW
more or less every year. Clover aids
to build up the fertility by mulching
the soil. Shading the soil aids in the
process of storing nitrogen, and q
good growth of clover will shade the
soil completely. The roots extend
deep into the subsoil and bring up
more or less fertility to the surface,
and in this way the surface soil is en-
riched. Clover is gross feeder and
derives some of it's sustenance from
the air, and in this way adds to the
fertility. The first crop may be cut
for hay, be fed out to stock and the
manure be hauled out and applied to
the soil, and, the second crop be
ploughed under to addto the fertility.
It is not best to depend upon clover
alone to keep up the fertility, but it is
a very important item, and on the
majority of farms, especially in the
West, there is not SO much sown as
there should be.
Breeding Poultry.
Before the poultry is fattened for
market a sufficient number for breed
ing purposes should be selected out.
These should be the best fowls on the
place, if the quality of the flock is to
be kept up. With chickens it is not
best to keep all young hens or all
young pullets, as old hens make the
best mothers, while often pullets make
the best layers.
Keep IL rooster to every dozen
hens, if the poultry are to be allowed
to run ut large. Better results could
be obtained if the roosters could be
kept from the hens until they are 18
months old. When young hens are
used the ~roosters should be 2 years
old. There is nothing gained by keep
ing more roosters than are needed for
breeding, as they add to thecost with
out increasing the income.
One turkey gobbler will answer for
a dozen hens, so that ordinarily one
will be all that will be necessary to
keep. From three to five hens, how
ever, will be as many as an ordinary
farmers wife will care to look after.
Unless a speciality ismade ofkeeping
them for the eggs, one drake and five
ducks are enough. They will make a
good breeding pair. Ducks. if given
comfortable quarters, will often begin
laying the latter part of January or
the first of February, but usually it is
not best to commence Matching until
March.
Guineas prefer to mate IN pairs, but
if fewer cocks are kept they will mate
with several hens. They do not usu-
ally begin laying until spring and can
be set at any timeduring the summer.
With geese the better plan sto keep
the old geese for breeding and sell the
young ones. The young geese will
bring a better price in market, while
the older fowls will lay as many eggs
and grow as many feathers.
Pigeons mate IN pairs in February,
and it is not desirable to have odd
fowls of either sex.