The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-02-13

green. There Is peculiar propriety in
growing these crops in the Northwest
owing to the dryness of the climate and to
the lack of succulence in the grasses in
consequence at certain seasons Of the year
In the Judgment of the writer, the success
1ui growing of forage crops to supplement-
the pastures when these are dry Is the
most important consideration that can en-
gage the attention of the producer of live
stock. Everyone thus engaged is deeply
interested In this problem and should at
once set to work in solving it for himself,
and more or less on the lines laid down
In Chapter ". of this book. To secure
vigorous termination at certain seasons or
the year is the real difficulty to be
overcome in the growing Of these forage
crops But many of them may be planted
or sown while there is yet sufficient mois-
ture in the ground to attain this end. The
amount of food which may thus be grown
per acre where a due regard is had to
adaptation is in many instances very
great And the forage crops mentioned in
the chapter refererd to have nutritive and
succulent properties admirably adapted to
the needs of various classes of live stock.
FODDER CROPS
are those crops which are grown for win
ter foods, exclusive of the grain taken out
of the ear, and field roots, as mangles,
turnips and potatoes. They include such
crops as corn, millet and cereals cut at
stage which precludes the necessity for
threshing them. These crops will be still
more IN demand in the Northwest as the
land becomes occupied, and the areas for
producing wild hay decrease in conse-
quence. They usually produce more food
per acre than hay, and in some seasons
they can be grown so as to supplement a
light grass crop.
FIELD ROOTS
include such crops as mangles, turnips
and carrots. One variety or another of
these can be grown in every section of the
Northwest, and indeed in all the Northern
and Middle states and in the Dominion of
Canada from sea to sea. On suitable
soils and when properly grown they pro-
duce an enormous amount of food per
acre. And when fed as part of the ration,
more especially in the winter season, no
other food is equal to them for keeping
live stock in a healthy condition or pro-
noting their rapid development.
The Profitable Hog.
The most profit is now made from small
animals of quick growth and rapid ma
tur1ty. The enormous carcasses previously
popular among feeders and butchers have
fallen into disrepute among consumers, for
the very sufficient reason that the meat,
of which one-half is fat, not mixed with
the lean, but laid over it in thick cover
ing of lard or tallow, Is too wasteful for
the economy now required in domestic
affairs. And this is especially the case
with pork. 1t is now the custom to use
meat and not fat, and this is doubtless due
in great measure to the increased re-
fnement of taste which pervails and con-
stantly increases. The increased use of
canned meats, too, among sailors, miners,
lumberers and other large industries car
ried on away from sources of supply, and
now displacing the old time salt meats,
have almost stopped the demand for heavy
pork, the bulk of which was fat, and thus
thrown this wasteful kind of meat out of
consumption and demand
Thus the swine breeder and feeder is
obliged to change the character of his
stock, and to make ends meet he must
keep kind of pig that will mature in six
months and make in that short time near
ly as much meat was formerly made
in two years. And while the price of the
meat remains the same, the cost of feed
ing having decreased more than one-half,
the profits, of course, are much more salts
factory. So that now the feeding of pigs
is altogether different from what it used
to be, and the old time hogs out of
fashion.
A Plea in Behalf of the Farmers Wife
What should be dearer to the farmer
than his lovable wife? She is the maker
largely Of refined, beautiful and pleasant
home. What would home be to a farmer
without an enjoyable lady In it's midst? A
deSOlate place, l think, to those farmers
who love their wives now as in their days
of courtship And why shouldn't he love
her more now than in their younger days,
if she is the choice of his heart? In those
days he would be put at great incOnveni-
ence at times to give her a pleasure, but
as they live longer together some husbands
become, 1 think, too cold and reserved. l
think life should be a sort of courtship all
the way through. The wife leaves every
comfort of her home to go with her hus-
band, perhaps to a less wealthy home; but
if wealth is lacking, it is within the reach
of every farmer to make home life pleas
ant. She will without doubt do her part
faithfully. Does the husband do likewise?
Isn't it the least that can be done to make
her happy in her new home? / believe that
many farmers wives have harder time
and less enjoyable life than their hus-
bands largely because they Nhe husbands),
aren't as affectionate as formerly. few
words of kindness and praise will do her
as much or more good than it used to.
When she gets a delicious meal show her
your appreciation of it. l believe much
unhappiness and discomfort in life arise
from not being more affectionate to each
other.-Mirror and Farmer.
Cultivatfng Timothy for the Market.
We have contended at all times that 1t is
of greater Importance to secure better hay
than it is to procure uniform grading rules.
In promoting the former a natural solution
of the grading problem will follow. That
hay is as susceptible to higher cultivation,
has been shown in this country by pract-
cal agriculturists, but in England, where
the meadows must be given special atten-
ton, owing to limited areas under continu-
Gus cultivation, the results are so markedly
superior to the average attained in this
country that many practical farmers are
increduous and attribute the difference
between select British and American hay
to causes which in fact do not enter into
the problem. 1t has been proven that when
cultivated as carefully the cereals, tim
othy will pay larger profit to the farmer.
instead of crop of three-Quarters of ton
to the acre, yield of two and a half to
three tons can be cut, and of such fine quail
ity that the very highest market price can
be secured without effort. We know it is
difficult to get the average American farm
er to believe that he can do much more
with his meadows than nature unassisted
can accomplish But in this he is sadly
mistaken. Properly drained, and with the
soil narrowed in the same manner it is pre-
pared for raising wheat, luxuriant stand
of grass is secured, tall and fine, yielding
twice as large a crop of hay as from a
similar acreage uncultivated.-Hay There.
What the Cow Likes.
A clean bed.
A quiet and gentle mixer.
An abundance of good food.
A lump of salt always within reach.
A stall large enough for her to turn
around in.