Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-25
THE FARM AND GARDEN
Farm Notes.

Farm Notes.
Fxperie need swine breeders assert that
spring pigs can be made to weigh over $50
pounds by fall. if the sow is kept in
prime condition up to and after farrow-
ing, in order to make her an excellent
feeder, and afford an abundance of milk
for the pigs Feed her literally, and put
in the drinking water little salt and a
teaspoonful of saltpeter once week.
Wean the pigs when twelve weeks old,
and continue the same treatment for the
pigs.
Manuring for the potato crop should
always he done as early as possible. If
the manure is coarse it should be used as
top dressing. Most of its soluble parts
will be INCORPORATED with the soil by the
time the field is ready for the pillow. The
manure will be much less apt to cause
rot if spread on the soil the fall before
the potatoes are planted The mineral
fertilizer is better applied in the spring,
but that also should he done early, so
that the rains will be able to dissolve it
and make it available. The mineral
fertilizer is always more effective when
it is used with stable manure.
1t Is impossible to do anything what
ever in the right way unless the nature
of it is well understood. This applies to
the lowest kind of work. The splitting of
firewood even requires this knowle dye. or
one may waste his strength for nothing
in trying to split knots or cross-grained
stuff that is not worth the time spent on
it. 1t is the same with every work of the
farm. from the first tillage of the land
to the final disposal of the products. Any
competent observer may see at a g'ance
how the general thriftlessness due to
want of practical knowledge, or of
thought in the business of the farm,
prevails and makes the farmer poor.
Pleasure. profit and health come to-
gether on the table in the farm house
when well grown and nicely prepared
vegetables and garden fruits are placed
rpon It, The husbands skill in growing
and the wife's skill in cooking are here
combined for the welfare of the home.
Many a home might be made happier
by a good garden. White bread, pork
and potatoes S a regular hot weather
ration do not tend to health or happiness.
But what pleasure the family takes in
watching the growing of the early radsh-
es and peas and aspara gus-the first
fresh vegetables of the season! How
they break up the monotony of the farm
life So the garden is in every way
blessing
Always water your horses the first
thing in the morning. and do not let the
water be too cold. If 1t is too cold you
will probably haV a case of the collie
Water is best when 1t is about 10 degrees
warmer than the outside air in winter,
and as much cooler in summer. Give the
hay before the grain, so that the stomach
may be partially filled before the concen-
trated foods get into it. Better still, feed
chopped feed. Mix the ground grain with
dampened hay or fodder, and give the
largest feed at night, when the horse has
time to digest it. Fat and food for the
muscles are made when the horse is at
rest.
The replies secured by the Soupthern
States Magazine of Baltimore to it's in
quiries regarding the condition of the
southern farmers show the latter are
1fxtf, hot thoF hafo hoy
off a good portion of their debts, and be-
sides buying such supplies as they do not
raise-a very much smaller item than 1t
was few years ago-are improving their
farms buying furniture, vehicles, imple-
ments, and are in many cases loaning
or investing money. The southern corn
crops, in even millions of bushels, were
ABS, 900 in 1898, 4S3, 900 in 1894 and
COZ ,000,0 900 in 1895.
An important improvement to secure
cleanliness in milking is made by dairy
men in Holland. They milk in deep pals,
over the top of which is drawn a coarse
cloth, which filters the milk, at the same
time retaining any impurities which
without the strainer would nave fallen
into the pail. 1t Is, of course, necessary
to wash these strainers as often and as
thoroughly as the milk pail is washed.
In most cases what particles of dirt get
into the milk pail while milking fall from
the sides and hair of the cows, and a
thorough brushing of the cow especially
In the morning before she is MIXED, will
secure cleanliness of the milk, and with
less trouble than putting on and caring
for a strainer over the milk pail
The man who miks eight to ten cows
every night and morning will soon ac-
quire grip that will be as distinctive
of his business that which any secret
society can give him. 1t is essential to
good milking that the work be done rap
idly and without stopping. Whenever
through weakness of muscles in fingers
and hands there is pause in the milk
ing, the delay decreases the milk prod
uct. slow mixer should not therefore
be tolerated The work is not hard and
to mixer who has had much practice
the milking of a dozen cows is less weari-
some than it is to milk one COW by per-
son who has not been accustomed to it.
Corn as an exclusive diet will not secure
the best results with poultry Corn has
fattening qualities and warmth, but I'M
less fed with good judgment hens will be-
come over fat. Wheat is an gg-produc-
ing food for hens, and fed to chicks 1t will
aid in forming muscles, bone and feath-
ers. Oats are also excellent for the same
purpose as wheat A good feed of the
three grains is made by using bushel
and half of oats, half bushel of corn
and peck of wheat, grinding all togeth-
er. To feed, scald and mix enough wheat
bran to make into a crumbly consistency.
The best grain food for a weaned colt
the first winter is oats. This grain is the
most healthful for a young animal, as 1t
contains the most of the f1esh-forming
elements of food. the most lime for the
bones the most fat, and has such pro-
portion of husk as tends to easy diges-
ton of all the other grains. If the colt
has been well reared by the dam 1t should
be able to digest two quarts of oats at a
feed twice a day. with sufficient good
timothy hay;what it will eat up clean may
be safely allowed of this. But once OF
twice a week it would be desirable to give
the colt pound of cut hay wetted and
mixed with a quart or two of bran In