The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-02-07
Farm news AND VIEWS.
The Value Of Manure The Early
Lambs-Hints for me Season.

ton Of manure IS usually valued at
two dollars. Some manures are worth
more, but while such is true vet the
great bulk of manure hauled from sta
bles to farms IS composed mostly OF
straw or other materials. A bag Of fer
tilizer worth two dollars contains a
large bulk Of material known As ''fiIler.'
and farmers do not like to handle this
proportion or ''fillerp simply to secure
certain percentages of plant foods. II
they will tais the same view OF their
manure they can readily perceive that
they handle an enormous amount Of
filler in the manure Ia order to Sc
cure the same quantity of plant food
that is contained in bag of ordinary
fertilizer There is also greater cost in
the hauling Of the manure, as farmers
will sometimes haul loads several miles.
II is frequently the case that a farmer
will haul a load of clean straw to a
livery stable and return home with a
load of dirty straw, as the actual ma
nure in the load viii be but very little.
It would be more economical for the
farmer to save the cost Of hauling by
dumping his clean straw in his barn
yard, as it would be more valuable
than that taken from the livery stable,
considering the cost of hauling.
Young lambs are in order now. and
they will require attention. The time
has passed when the GARNER should
visit the fields to bring the young lambs
to the barn. The ewes should be kept
in the barn and the lambs protected
from cold. y lamb is very delicate
thing the first few hours of its life, and
should it become chilled it will perish
or slowly recover, as it itreceives a sewers
shock. The attention bestowed the
first three or four days will be OF more
assistance than the care given later.
The ewes should be well fed, an al
lOwance Of ground oats and plenty Of
clover hay being the most suitable
foods.
Ii farmers viii now examine fields Of
crimson clover they will find that the
plants show no Indications Of having
been affected by feost, win1, rain or
snow. No plant seems less liable u the
seventies OF winser aud the fields on
which il made a good start last fall ap-
pear a. though covered with a carpet
Of green. IL will start TO grow before
any other crop, aud when spring plow-
ing begins TIE crimson clover will be
in bio som aud ready as a green manu-
rial crop. II is crop thar is grown in
winter, at season of the year when
ne land would otherwise BE- idle.
The value Of the land should be CON
sidered when estimating the expenses
Df a farm. IL is claimed that pastur-
ng is the cheapest mode OF keeping
COWS. OF ordinary pasture il requires
about four acres to keep a COW six
which is equal 10 eight acres
iOr year. Ii land is cheap the cost IS
hen but little, but if land is high the
expense is increased correspOndiagly.
( cattle are kept under the soiling
ysteGl one acre will answer fora COW
or six months, and when ensilsge IS
Ised largely the cost is still further ~
iueed. IL is nov admitted that in
rider to make dairying return the
aTgest possible profit the dairyman
h0g.d include easilage ia his list Of
:rops.
Bees may be kept with advantage On
very farm, if only one or two hives
re allowed Bees assist in fsrtilizing
he blossoms of some plants and per-
orm valuable service. If no bees are
iept in neighbOrhOod it is possible
hat failure of fruits may be due to that
ause, and it is matter that deserves
consideration by farmers. Bees give
arge profit, and though a beginner
must learn something Of them TO sue
.eed, yet the modes of management
.re not dilliculJ to understand.
Farmers are patiently waiting for
7
ney will turn the cattle out to Craze.
Vow, if they will hold the cattle back
wo or three weeks lOr even month";
ater they will give the grass an OppOr-
unity to make growth, and they will
argely gain by 50 doing. One Of the
greatest injuries to grass land is the
rampling by the cattle, especially if
he season is wet.
The land for the new strawberry beds
h0Ild b. prepared as soon as it can be
lone. Plow deep, harrow, apply the
erClizsr broadcast, aud then again
narrow the soil fine This will admit
warmth and stimulate growth of early
weeds, which can bs destroyed with
be harrow as soon as they appear,
With the result Of having the pljt fair
y free Of weeds when the young run
lers are transplanted.
Keep only the old geese for breeding
purposes; sending the younger ones to
market. Old geese are not saleable,
lnd are more valuable in caring for
heir young when three or four years
I'D than before. They begin to lay in
February and March, aud should be
given warm quarters from now until
ipring. Geese pay well ii cared for
md cost but little, as they prefer T.
orage for themselves
Begin blowing for spring as soon as
{ can be done Il matters not how
vet the land Is itcln be pl9wed, a. tie
rost viii puiyerize all iguPs. An all
'antage in early piowius IS that insec-s
yill be turned % the surface aad be d.
trOyed. Cold does not destroy some
Insects, but when they are brought 10
he surface and are exposed 70 damp
less and alternate thawiag and freez-
Dg they sgecunb. Ii will be found
hat soils in which cutwOrms are nu-
nerous may be plowed early with ben
tit, as the worms viii be greatly
Iuced in number By 50 doing aud the
rops be protected to that extent, f,r
the eutworms compel ~
'lanting Of an entire crop.
Giving the COW c,arse fJod in order
o dispose of sHeh materials will not
ID 70 The quantity Of milS. but iI puts
ha COW to service c1averting sach ma
=. s.~t,