The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-07-25

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the others. 1t passes around the neck as
in the old methods, but Is connected with
two posts on which rings are used. Side
chains connect the neck chain with these
rings by means Of snap hooks as shown
In the cut. By the use of these chains
and rings one can adjust the tie to any
width Of stall one is likely to have and
have 1t as taut as needed This plan Of
fastening gives the COW great freedom
enabling her to lie down with her head on
either side Of her body. She cannot move
backward or forward any more with this
method of fastening than when in
stanchions SO that there is no chance of
her becoming soiled by her droppings. The
plan of fastening is the best of the more
modern methods and should have a
thorough trial.
Mixing Lime With Fertilizers.
The use of lime on farm lands is largely
for the purpose of sweetening the soil
and as it has little or no manurial value
there is no good reason why 1t should be
applied in connection with commercial
fertilizers, but many reasons why 1t
should not be so mixed. If the commercial
fertilizer contains nitrogen in the form
of ammonia the action Of the lime will be
to set free the ammonia and it will escape
into the air; of course if the fertilizer was
applied to the soil at once after being
mixed with the lime the soil might retain
| most of the ammonia, but it is taking a
| risk that ought not to be taken The
same loss Of fertilizing material takes
place when lime is mixed with some other
chemicals and the loss is even greater
with some than in the case of mixing
with the nitrogen in the form of am
| monia. For example phosphoric acid in
commercial fertilizers has been made SOL
uble at considerable cost and the action
of the lime on 1t will cause 1t again to be-
| come insoluble and lose it's value as a
fertilizer. Use lime freely where needed,
| but use 1t independent Of all fertilizers.
Lime Material for Laying Hens. . :.
| 1t is not good plan to give up supply
| ing the laying hens with material from
which to manufacture the egg shells, just
because 1t happens to be summer. 1t is
| true the hens will have a much better OPP
| portunity of obtaining the needful lime
| themselves during this season than in the
winter, but 1t is not often that they are
able, on the range, to find all that is
| needed. There Is nothing that compares
with broken oyster shells to supply the
| lime needed. If they cannot be obtained
| readily In the unbrolken form they may be
bought from dealers in supplies at about
/ 40 cents per 100 pounds and should be kept
! before the laying hens at all times. It
should be remembered, however, that oys-
| ter shells do not take the place Of the ma
| terial required by the fowls to enable them
| to properly digest their food. The shells
are not sharp enough for the purpose nor
| sufficiently hard. For grit coarse, sharp
gravel or broken crockery should be used.
Supply the necessary grit for grinding
| the food, the oyster shells for lime and
skim milk for albumen in the food ration
| and the hens will be pretty sure to reward
one well in the egg supply. Don't forget
! the cool, fresh water during the summer.
4 he oil ha1r Tpor, dyp
it where. they may get at it readily.
Fruit Trees for Roadside. 5l$
AS rule trees to be set along the road
side if beyond the line nf the property
should be of the ornamental classes rather
| than fruit trees; particularly should this
| be the case If the farm is located in a
rather thiclsly populated section. If, how
| ever the trees are to be set inside the
fence line on one side of the farm or even
| on all sides cherry trees will be the most
ornamental and probably yield as good
an income as any class If soil and climate
| is suitable. In an apple section 1T would
doubtless be wise to set apple trees. The
| Montgomery cherry tree Is one of the best
| varieties for a roadside tree; it is hand
| some In form, a good grower and bears
early and productivity. Among apples
selection should be made of some variety
suited to the section, but always from
among the winter sorts. There can be
| but one objection to utilizing the land
along the roadside for fruit trees and that
| is the tendency on the part of the owner
to neglect them to much greater extent
than would be the case ii the trees were
in orchard rows. The trees must have the
iSannuai care the pruning. the spraying
and the thinning and If these are given
there Is no reason why they should not
grow profitable crops. 81 #
Summer Shade for Sheep.
Sheep require more than pasture dur
ing the summer and particularly il there
are lambs among them. The idea lis gem
eral that sheep can stand the heat Of the
sun as well or better than other farm
animals, but such is not the case for they
are extremely sensitive TO the heat OF the
sun and shade should be provided for
them. The best possible shade is fur
nished by a shed that san be well venti-
lated and made. at least par tally, 4 dark.
This shed should be located near the pas.
ture SO that the animals may go to it any
time they wish. The Idea in having the
shed dark Is to keep OUT flies which are
very annoying to sheep. If possible . blot
Of rape should be had for the nse Of the
sheep. but they should not be permitted
to Craze on 1t for NOSE than two or three
hours day, being on pasture before ana
after the period they are on the rape.
Water should he supplied for the sheep
and 1T should be clean and given several
times during the day so that lit VIII be