The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-01-25

swing of its legs that makes fast walking
possible. Then, and not until then.
should it be permitted 20 trot or taught
other gaits The fast walker is desira-
BILE horse in the farm wagon. in the buggy
or under the saddle Three-fourths OF
our horses have never learned how to
travel In walk.
Breeding Heifers.
At what age shall we breed heifers for
the dairy? 1t is a popular idea that they
should be bred very young in order to
direct the future development toward the
production of milk. The theory is reas-
enable and there is something in 1t, but
we may carry the practice too far. Ex-
tremely early breeding arrests the growth
of an animal and diminishes vital force.
Some breeds of cattle mature earlier than
others, but none should be bred before
they approach maturity There must be
a good frame, a good capable machine for
converting grain. hay and grass into milk.
The heller should have food suited to
her development. Oats, bran and clover
will build up good frame and hardy it's
sues Her growth should be forced from
calfhood, and il this has been done she
may drop her first calf at thirty months
without any detriment probably, and it
may be that this time might be shortened
q month or two The cow must have
some muscular development, and for this
good food and time are required. Then
follows the development of the milk-pro-
ducing power.
Looking backward.
As we begin another year it may pay
each one of us to glance back over the
year and see what mistakes have been
made on the farm. If you have done as
we'll as any one conld have done, happy
indeed are you. The farms are few that
do not bear the marks of mistake or neg
lect in some respect. Probably the fault
that is responsible for most of the neglect
is overcropping. We incline to plant too
much. more than we can till well. We
are pushed and hurried and yet some
thing is left undone. The fields would do
better lying in grass than when planted
and then neglected from any cause.
Other mistakes may have been made.
Little things have been neglected and
loss has resulted. No one should hope to
become a perfect farmer, but what room
for Improvement have we all We must
learn the great lesson that we will do we'll
whatever We undertake II il be stock
raising. the stock must not be stunted for
food, the quarters must be warm, salt
abundant and attention careful. II il be
the production of crops, the fertility of the
soil must be maintained and the tillage as
complete as possible. Profit comes only
from things we'll done.
A Point in Drainage.
In tile drainage the laterals should enter
the main near the top. The water is thus
drawn more iteelv from the lsteras, keep
ing them cleaner, and drying the ground
more rapidly than when they lie so low
that the water stands in them as long as
the main is running half full. For this
reason main should be placed at least
four inches deeper than that desired fol
the body of the field When the system
ia mapped out by tile surveyor, he should
understand this point. and give the cut
at each station on the latterals, including
the point OF emptying, on plane that
many inches above the main drain.
4 Cheap Horse.
No more false economy is practiced thar
that of owning and working cheap
horses. If q man feels that he must in.
dulge in the luxury OF owning such ami
mails. he should board them free and re-
Quire no work from them. The cost o.
keep is minor item compared with the
loss that usually follows the endeavor tC
make them pay for their food. The writer
has had a little experience and knows
whereof he speaks.
ssSPntfueI'' POipters
Why not attend your institute?
Is your horses bed comfortable?
How many rats are YOU Wintering?
You can keep frost out of cellars with
smoke.
Snow furnishes a grand protection fol
the wheat.
Feed a little extra corn when the day
are biting cold.
Whole corn lie NOT good grain ration
for the milk COW.
The hens must be kept warm il they
are expected TO lay.
A wooden runner on a sled lets loaC
start easier than an iron one.
Don't let a horse stand out of door
without blanket after driving.
Ice cod water is a poor drink for 1
shivering steer. II doesn't put fat on verl
fast
Don't let your seed potatoes remain il
temperature colder than 30 degrees
| add 40 is much safer. They will no
freeze enough to get soft even at 80 de
grees, but the cold Injuries the tende
eyes.