The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-12-06
FARM NEWS AND VIEWS.
Demand for the Full Cream Cheese.
Buying Fertilizers.


ing TO be left untouched, but the whole
milk from all milkings should be used.
Taking time to properly cure the cheese
is another point. The desire to hurry
cheese to market is one Of the causes OF
lack Of quality. The European fancy
cheeses brought to this market owe
their excellence to being well
cured, and they bring high prices.
Much of the cheap cheese is unfit for
consumption, being indigestible be
cause lacking in fat and also being too
green" Cheese is salable every month
in the year, and it is sometimes diff
cult to get first class article.
All fertilizer materials possess value
outside of the use OF such for fertilizing
purposes, and will not be sold to farm
ers at less than their actual value, for
which reason there can be no 'cheap"
fertilizers. 1t matters not what the
proportion of plant food may be, the
farmer who knows how to buy will
pay only what he receives The
guarantee on the bags should be care
fully observed and noted, which will
enable most buyers to estimate the
value. The main object when buying
fertilizers is to procure only the ele-
ments most in demand as plant food.
II this is done there will be no lack of
any kind in the soil. A study Of the
soil, so as to learn what it requires,
will save many dollars to farmers who
who buy fertilizers.
Any farmer can by digging up the
plants see for himself the work Of the
microbes on the roots Of plants. 1t is
true he will be unable to discover the
microbes, but the evidence Of their
work will be plainly visible. This re-
fers to clover, beans, early peas, COW
peas and other leguminous plants; but
one must allow such plants to as close
ly approach maturity as possible in
order to derive the full benefit Of the
microbes. They are capable Of deriv-
ing nitrogen from the atmosphere and
storing it within the plant, which is
clear gain to the farmer.
Dairymen who desire COWS to re-
main in flow Of milk begin with them
early. 1t Is claimed that a COW with
her first and second calves should be
MIXED up to within the third calf.
After that she will be a persistent
milker. Ali habits Of cows are fixed
when they are young. The kind treat
ment of fhe heifer influences her dis
position when she becomes a COW and
the surroundings also affect the animal
in many respects. Some cows when
removed to another locality become
discontented and do not fulfill expect
ations or prove as valuable as before.
Nature restores soils to fertility by
covering them. The barren soil will
in time support some kind Of plant life,
and each year will witness more plants
and greater growth. The leaves Of
trees fall to the ground and serve to
cover the soil, aud in every ease where
growth can be secured there is no bare
soil. 1t is when the ground is covered
that the formation Of humus occurs
and the covering protects the soil from
loss Of plant food from rains, while the
roots convert the mineral substances Of
the subsoil into soluble matter.
The cow will pay for what she re-
ceives, but she will not give something
for nothing. She may be well bred
and capable of producing an unusual
quantity Of milk and butter, but she
will not do so unless she is literally
supplied with the raw materials suita-
bic for her purpose.
It is said that while the sheep is
timid, yet il is the only animal that is
made vicious by kindness. This may
not be true, but It is well known that
it is the pet ram lamb that is ready to
give battle 10 intruders in the pasture.
II young eve lamb is petted and
taught to come when called she be-
comes serviceable, as the other men,
bers ofthe flock will follow her to the
barnyard. Some farmers raise 8 young
eve lamb at the house, turning it out
with the dock when che is matured,
and the practice saves labor.
Ammoniais much lighter than the
air and rises. 1t contains = large pro-
portion of hydrogen, the lightest OF all
substances, as well as nitrogen. Am
monia results from the decay or fer
mentation Of the substance In the ma
nure, and it is seldom that il is not
present in the heap. Cold water alb
serbs it, and when the Odor Of ammo
mia is easily noticed it will not be
mistake to force y erowbar into the
heap In several places aud pour cold
water into the holes, or the heap should
be overhauled and plenty Of absorbent
material added.
Careful stacking saves much loss OF
hay and straw. But few farmers stack
their hay, preferring 10 put it away in
the NOW, but straw Is usually left out
side. There is some skill required in
stacking straw 50 as to protect it, and
it is more valuable II bright and clean.
Cattle will pick over the straw even
when well supplied with hay, and they
will eat a large proportion Of clean
straw when they will not touch that
which has become wet and mouldy.
Grain and vegetable foods are nour-
ishing and contain more OF the ele-
ments to supply wants Of humans than
does animal food The mineral matter,
protein, fat, sugar and starch can be
found in all vegetable substances, while
meat is sometimes deficient in both the
fat, starch and mineral substances
Horses perform heavy labor on corn,
oats, hay and grass, and even the
meats are produced from vegetable
substances.
The admonition frequently given to
clean the fence corners from weeds
and rubbish may be repeated at this