The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-09-20
FARM NEWS AND VIEWS.
Corn and Clover Hay Compared.
Spreading Manure.

cent. Of ash lime, magnesia, potash,
soda, etc, while clover has over 6 per
cent. Cover hay contains over Il per
cent. Of protein and corn lOl. Corn is
rich in starch aud fat, however, con-
tanning twice as much as clover. Glover
hay has more crude fibre than the
grain, hence is less valuable in that di-
reetiOn. While farmers have always
made clover hay a specially in feeding
adults, yet il IS more valuable for young
stock than may be supposed If cut up
very fine and then sealded it makes
/ one of the best ratiOns in winter for
poultry and will promote laying. For
ducks and geese it cannot be exeelled.
Ifcut very fine and mixed with cooked
turnips or carrots clover hay will be
relished by young pigs and it will pro-
mote rapid growth. In some sections
clover hay is ground into what is term
ed ''clover meal,n and it is then sold
in bags. COrnmeal is too fattening for
certain animals, but In winter it may
be used more freely, and is an excel
lent ration when used in connection
with clover.
The question of spreading manure in
the fall has been discussed for many
years, and opinions are divided as to
whether spreading should be done in
the fall or the manure retained in heaps
until hespring planting begins. Many
farmers believe in using manure in
hills, but the method of using depends
upon the quantity of manure on hand.
If the land is level and there is no
/ liability of the rain washing the ma
nure from the soil the work of spread
/ ing NAV be done in the fall where
plOwing has been done. The question
of when to spread is one that each
farmer must determine for himself, as
everything depends upon the conditions
on the farm.
Experiments show that COW, when
in full How Of milk, drinks from 1900
to 200 pounds of water per month, the
average quantity, determined by test
ing a herd, being 1000 per COW. This
fact shows the importance of an I'M
limited supply Of pure water at all sea-
sons Of the year. In every 100 quarts
Of milk the farmer sells about IS quarts
of water, and when the cows cannot
procure water at all times they will
fall off in yields.
Old strawberry beds may be burned
over az soon as the leaves die off, and
by so doing many of the seeds Of weeds
will be consumed. The bed should
then be mulehed by covering with
manure or straw, but the mulch need
not be applied until cold weather
comes. Ii the old bed is full Of weeds
IT will not yield satisfactorily next year,
and to burn it over will be an improve
ment in many respects.
Colts that are foaled in the fall VIII
entail less cost than those that come in
the spring, as the mares will not be
taken to the fields for work at this sea-
son. When spring comes the colts
will be weaned and can then be put
upon pasture, leaving the mares ready
for service in the fields. As soon as
the colts will eat give them ground
oats in addition to the supply Of milk
from the dams.
An excellent lice killer may be made
with the well known kerosene emulsion
by adding to the kerosene one gill of
crude carbolie acid for every two gal
/ Ions Of kerosene. Dilute the emul-
sion with ten times its volume Of watt r.
It may be used as wash for animals
or may be sprayed on them. 1t is also
excellent when sprayed in the poultry
house.
The richest milk is that which comes
from the udder last, and to leave gill
may be to leave One-half of the butter
fat. All COWS should be stripped"
when MIXED, not to secure the whole
of the milk, but to prOlong the milk
ing period, as cows that are not MIXED
in careful manner will dry of sooner.
The amount of fat in the milk Of cows
largely depends upon how completely
the milking is done, yet that import
ant matter is not considered by some
dairymen, as they employ mixers
without regard to their qualifications.
Low prices for products do not COM
pei farmers to sell at market rates.
Each farmer has reputation, or should
make one for himself. A reputation
for supplying the market with choice
article creates confidence in the con-
sumers and they will pay more than
the ruling market prices because they
know they will not be imposed upon.
II two farmers should send butter of
the same quality to market, the one
with a reputation would receive a
higher price than the other, although
his product might not be better. Each
farmer should work on his own lines
and endeavor to get his produce into
market of better quality than the
market affords.
To not utilize straw by drying 1t to
be used over again, bat pass all bedding
material through the feed cutter, 50 AS
to render it more serviceable in the
manure heap. The cost of cutting the
material is an item, but absorption Of
the liquids in the heap will be more
complete and the gain in the value Of
the manure will be large AS the ma
nure will then always be fine and easi-
ly handled il can be forked over with
but little labor so as to more thorough
ly decompose all portions. Coarse
litter will absorb liquids. but there will
be loss until such materials become
fine in the heap. Tue fine litter will
also make excellent bedding and will
more readily assist in keeping the stalls
dry.
Cut away the tops Of the asparagus
aud when dry burn the bed over, so as
to destroy insects. Then cover heavily
with fresh stable manure that is free
from litter and allow it 10 remain until
next spring.
The hest food for ducks and geese
after grass disappears is a mess OF cook
q