Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-05-24

there IS no uuduCldl 1uSIlIuIlOu Ill eA
istence which is more solid more bene
fetal in results, or more easy to ad
minister than the RaffeiSen societies
or agricultural banks of Germany. 4
few farmers, not knowing more than
the first four rules of arithmetic, are
quite capable OF directing each branch
to perfection. Out Of the thousands OF
these banks established for many years
in different parts of the country not
one has ever been the cause of a loss
to either it's founders or members.
The essential characteristics Of each
bank are as follows: Each bank deals
only with it's own district or parish.
All the members are mutually RESPONSE
BILE for the assets and debts Of the So
ciety, which inSureS a great facility
for borrowing the small sums they re-
Quire to lend. This rural association
has no capital; it's members have no
subscriptions TO pay; they only lend
borrowed capital. Any surplus money
which the company gains goes to form
a reserve to cover any losses which
may be made. The reserve grows in
definitely, and when it becomes too
large it is employed on improvements
which will benefit the local community.
Never do the members of the society
receive a farthing in the form Of divi-
dendS, nor do the directors get any
payment or fees whatever for their
services. The society lends only to its
members and for a purpose which is
deemed satisfactory. 1t arranges be-
fOrehand with the borrower the times
at which the money is to be repaid,
the dates usually falling after the Dor
rover has realized his principal re-
ceiptS for the year. The results of this
excellent arrangement can easily be
guessed. 1t draws the members of
the community together by bonds of
mutual interest and makes men who
would otherwise be the slave of
usurcrs free and independent and able
to live on the results of their work,
thanks to the capital lent to them by
the establishment instituted for the
common good. Still, wages in Ger
many are very low, ranging even in
tka well-paid iron, steel, and metal
industries but from So to $3.50 per
week.
Chickens-Corn wheat and cotton
are called the great staple productions.
Farmers seldom consider that the
value of poultry and egg products,
some 100000, 900 annually, far exceeds
that of any one of the above mentioned
crops. AS explained in The New Eng
land Homestead, most of the great
agricultural products are of a sectional
character. Each is raised chiefly in
particular sections of the country es-
pecially adapted to it's culture. On the
other hand, poultry keeping is uni
versal throughout the country.
At this time of year it is pertinent
to discuss different methods of hatch
ing and rearing chickens, since 50 much
Of success or failure with fowls de
ponds directly upon the kind of treat
ment the young chicks receive.
Farmers will for the most part still pin
their faith to the hen for Matching
purposes The sitting hens should
have an apartment by themselves,
separate from the laying fowls, in or
der that they may be undisturbed by
the latter. A dish of whole corn and
one of fresh water should be kept
where the sitters may help themselves
at any time. AS hens upon the nest
are apt to become very lousy, clean
dry earth or ashes for wallowing must
always be available,
The first food for young chickens
may consist of stale bread soaked in
milk. This forms an excellent diet for
chickens of all ages, and if it can be
had no better food can well be OBJ
tanned. Milk is the banner poultry
food, whether it is pure and whole,
skim or buttermilk Chickens fed
upon milk show strong legs and de-
yelop bone and muscle with great ia
pidity.
Oatmeal is another excellent chicken
food. Soon the little fellows will eat
wheat, oats and cracked corn. Be
sides grain, they require some green
good, as cabbage or clover and little
meat daily. Whatever is fed, let there
be variety. The same diet day after
day is not conducive of rapid growth
Perhaps it is unnecessary to add that
chickens to do their best should have
their liberty. They need to range and
forage. both for exercise ard to CLEAR
a great variety of animal and vege
table food.
Peas-The old method of bushins
peas by sharpening green limbs an(
twigs and sticking them thickly alon:
each row has a good deal of labor II
II and is, moreover, far from salts
factory in its results, for a high wine
is almost sure to lay both bushes an'
growing peas fiat along some port1ol
of the rows. Then, too, the pods ar
often hard to get at when hidden ava.
among the branches of some more thal
usually vigorous bush. Country Ger
tleman suggests that a better plan /
to stretch a length of narrow poultr
netting along the row, holding
firmly in position by stout stakes
The netting need not be wide, as
can be placed six or eight inches abov
the soil, the young peas being able
each onto it at that height. Sue
netting in rolls of 80 feet is but littl
more than one-half a cent per squa1
foot. and if kept housed when not
use it will last a score of years. One
garden will look much neater for i
use, while the peas can be picked ITO
such a support with much more ea
oh