Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-06-30
agricultural
>Gosstp.
How to Treat Rhubarb,


How to Treat Rhubarb,
Everyone may not know how to get
the most, and that of the best quality
out OF small patch of rhubarb,
usually cultivate II along with my
other garden vegetables, and In the
most thorough manner, but last year
mlched il with coarse manure
from the COW stable, and never had II
do SO we'll No weeds could gvow
through the thick mulch and the
damp cool, rich soil made the stems
grow to immense size and remain ten
der nearly all of last season, and this
year It is fully as good.
There is II Rnack in pulling rhubart
50 as not To hurt the plants much
Each htll has several buds from which
the leaves grow out as the season ad'
vaUces. II good Judgment is not uset
in selecting the proper leaves to pun
the plants may be seriously damaged
il not killed, Ms is often the ease, ~
being careful to pull only the older o1
outside leaves of each bud, there may
I've fresh tender stems for severa
months. When we want to kill q
chicken or pig, we do not catch tn,
first one that comes handy, MOI
should we pull from the rhubarb thu
first stems that come within reach
Neither should more than n very few
leaves be taken from each plant 1t
one week, Those who do the pulling
ought to understand these points ant
know the Importance Of being mod
crate in pulling. and to distribute the
injury along the row; for Il Is an In
jury to pull the leaves from any plant
Have bountiful supply and Their
push IL with high culture and plenty
OF manure. OF course II Is quite
right and necessary to pinch out al
seed stalks at their first appearance, --
II. r. V. D.. In American Agricul.
turist.
Pepper for Fowls,
BE cautious In the use Of pepper
especially cayenne pepper, for fowls
during the winter time II has ten
dency to open the pores of the skin
and may bring on colds. 4 neglected
cold means Group. Better not use
any pepper at all Than to use toe
much. There are other and safer
ways Of warming up fowls on the
inside" Nothing equals exercise for
this purpose; nothing is more health
full. Hence. he careful, very careful
in the use Of pepper, but on the
other hand, resort to any device you
can think Of to induce exercise
Keep them ut work Eek.
A Cheap Hog Pen.
1t does not need an extensively
built pen to house n hog, unless II
is one OF the variety that stands on
two legs. The genuine hog, which Is
the only kind really profitable, goes
in for comfort and not all for style,
A pen warm in winter, with tight
roof over 1t to exclude rain, and floor
enough for the hog to stand on while
eating, Is better than n painted house
of matched lumber that will cost a
hundred dollars, 1t Is a good thing tn
have dirt floor In hog house, and
that the house be light and strong
enough so that II can be easily moved.
Every time the house Is moved there
will be a new floor and the hog, II
unringed will root 1t over. A hog
left free to root in soil that has not
been contaminated with hog manure,
will generally keep healthy. and will
make healthy pork. In summertime
the house Is mostly superlluous. The
hog likes TO be cool and will root for
himself in wallow in the moist soil
where he will lie most OF the time II
well fed, and will keep In better
health than In the most artistic pen
ever built. Many of the experiments
in hog growing begin with too much
expensive hog houses. These make
the pork cost far more than the cheap
ly grown hogs OF farmers. who can
thus undersell the amateur farmer
who handicaps himself by putting on
too much style. Western Swineherd
Winter Chicks.
During this cold weather the ques-
ton is whether to prevent hens from
sitting or allow them to hatch q
brood. The decision depends entire
ly on how one Is fixed for raising the
chicks. II there Is warm room
with sunlight, .and the chicks are
looked after three or four times day
II will pay well to allow the hens to
sit and hatch out broods. Winter
chicks pay as well as winter eggs. To
demonstrate this fact It may be stated
that to raise a chick TO the weight OF
one and one-half pounds will cost
only eight cents for the food. II a
hen raises six chicks, they should sell
for from rs to 40 cents pound, In
March or April, according to quality
and circumstances; but allowing only
70 cents a pound Ga very low price
for good brOilprr I'm wiutar1 each