Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-11-06

I FARM AND ORCHARD
NOTING SEASON AND THE TIME TO
SELECT LAYERS.
Sad Experience of One Land-Poor
Farner-The Advantages of
Mixed Farming.

1t 10 not too soon to select the winter
layers, for one can be guided by present |
and avoid retaining any
members of the flock that may not prove
profitable after cold weather sets in, says
the Farm and Fireside. AS has been fire.
auently stated before, the hens must I'm
ish melting before December or they Will
not lay in the winter. 1t requires about
three months from the time the hen
ceases to lay in order to mott before she
begins to lay again. Melting is the prep
eration for colder weather. The old
feathers, which may be broken, are drop
ped, and new ones grow In their places.
While the growth of new feathers Is In
progress the hen does not lay, as her sys-
tenn Is drained of mineral matter In Or
der to produce the feathers. If hen
does not finish melting before cold wealth
er sets in, she will not lay before next
spring; but If she completes the Noting
process by November, or even as late as
December in some climates, she Will be
ready prepared for work and should make
good winter layer. About feeding sueh
hens: 1t is usual to give them plenty OF
grain. What they really require Is meat
and bone. Occasionally a little sulphur in
the food is beneficial. Grain makes them
too fat, and they will not give satisfae-
tory results when molting Is completed.
Grass, seeds, milk, meat, bone and hnseed
meal are the best foods. These foods will
hasten melting and shorten the time
week or two. If any of these hens should
not begin to mott by September, they will
probably be too late to finish in time TO
~ Law nd M disDOap1
of, as 1t will not pay to keep them over
until spring.
Fat Sheep.
Why should we fret and growl because
fat sheep do not command higher price
In the market, while at the same time we
continue to purchase the more expensive
beef and pork of the butcher? Two hours
labor will remove the Jacket from IA
wether, and nicely dress enough muttor
TO last large family at least one week
and at the prevailing prices for all kinds
of meat, result in the saving of from ont
to two dollars. Then by exchanging witt
a neighbor, the fresh-meat period during
summer can be greatly prolonged. Afte
the middle of October the cooler temper
ature will prevent loss from tainting, o
meat can be kept by cutting a portion il
half-pound pieces and emersing In crocl
of fresh buttermilk. This not only OK
cludes the air, but acts as a preventative
Instead of the milk, strong salt brln
may be used, and the meat preserved 70
two weeks or longer.
Land Poor.
The fact is, most of our farmers ar
Gland poor" but they do not realize II
When a farmer obtains possession of
large tract of land he is unwilling to lie
% of any portion of 1t, even IL 1t is Ell
numbered with a mortgage altogether to
large for him to manage. He may fet
that he does not need the land for him
self, but he wants 1t for his children.
know a man who once had a 320-acf
farm two-thlrds paid for. A couple c
bad seasons, followed by considerable ba
management, overwhelmed him wit
debts, and he lost all he possessed. Whe
It was evident that his debts were II
creasing, his wife urged him to save
acres and let the rest go, which he coul
have done without difficulty, but no;
wanted the land for his children, and L
hung on until he had nothing left He
now working at such odd jobs as he ca
get. and his children are scattered.
One Crop System.
The one-crop system has this season
ceived q check, but not one on solver
bank. In southeastern Virginia, in II
Norfolk trucking district, the trucker
have lost money this season. Many wi
be compelled to buy both grain and ho
for their teams, and that, too, brought
from other states at prices includf
freight and commissions. Those who Il
more the safe system of mixed farmin
and make the truck and fruit their mons
crops, must expect to suffer. The point
trucking has been reached when it
longer pays to buy what can be produc,
at home.
Draft Horses.
The offerings of good heavy draft hor
es on all markets has not been large f,
the past few weeks, but about sufficiel
to meet the demand says the Buffa
Horse Gazette. There was good inquil
for these for eastern cities and a few. f,
export a month or so ago, but at pre-
emit the demand for them is somewh:
limited, owing no doubt to the nearne
OF the elections, and trade in the citl
being affected to a certain extent uni
they are over.
There is a good demand for Bostc
chunks at all seasons of the year, fro
all sections of the eastern states. The
are blocky, compact horses, on sho
legs. of 1900 to 1900 weight and the mo-
blocky they are the better prices the
bring. Horses of not choice enough qua
ity for exports. or coming under the ella,
of second grade exporters, class as ''Bo
ton Chunks" They bring prices RAM
ing from $50 to $50. The market is fai
~ well supplied with horses of this elias
but not enough of good ones to me-
the demand.
Beginning in a Small Way.
Last January the writer received lie
ter from j. B. Smith of Guilford count
North Carolina, and will take the libert
Of quoting from 1t, as the reference mao
by Mr.. Smith to his own. efforts In dair,
ing, making and marketing butter In
small way, Will. think. interest and II
struct others, who like he may be Ell
tireiy new and without experience
dairy matters, says writer In the Wes
ern Rural Reading what he writes wi
be something like an experience meei
ing.
IT began last spring to sell butter mad
and marketed under directions. Target