The Savannah morning news., 1902-03-11
The serap hook.

Diverted Pigs--An Ole swine breeder
tells us that for several years he had
many young hogs that became so
weak in the lions that they were
hardly able to get around the pasture
lot, and that some of them seemed to
lose the use of the hind legs. He OBJ
serveh closely that such pigs were
ravenous eaters, and soon found that
the trouble came from overlooking
corn and too much fat. He says that
he began feeding these pigs some bran
mixed with cut clover Stops and 9TH
er laxative and more sueculent feeds,
and quit the corn feeding for awhile
and they all recovered.
Rape for Hogs-This coming year
good many swine breeders will SOW
field of rape for their hogs. The prac-
tice is a good one and it is growing. II
has stood the test of experience, and
has become one of the recognized
swine foods. About ten years ago it
came to this country from England
and has since rapidly increased in rep
utation among the men that have
tried it. Its greatest value perhaps is
in being succulent. In saying this we
do not forget its nutritive value. But
like the turnip the amount of water it
low point the nutritive values based
on bulk of plant. More and more we
are coming to realize the great value
of succulent (juiciness) in the feeds
we give our animals. Whoever buys
seed for sowing should insist on get
ting the Dwarf Essex rape. There are
several other kinds, most of them of
little value for forage.
Waste on the Farm-One of the
principal wastes on the farm is the
neglect of farm Implements None of
our farmers look close after their ma
chinery, which has cost them so much
money. Another great waste is the
care of live stock in winter, both as
to shelter and feed. Frequently far
mers will feed twenty-five, thirty, or
more head of stock out in an open
lot. They haul out the fodder and
scatter it over an open lot for the cat
tie to pick up as best they can. They
do the same with hay. Another great
waste Is neglect to save the droppings
from the cattle and get them back on
the land. All of these wastes could he
avoided If the farmer would give them
the considera ton to which they are
entitled. Altogether, probably SO per
cent. of the waste on the farm is due
to neglect and carelessness.
J Melons for Transplanting.-Or
ly, the farmer plants his melon seeds
out of doors, for he does not regard
the melon, squash and pumpkin as
among the transplantable plants. But
our foremost growers of garden truck
long since learned the trick of starting
these in hot-beds and afterwards trans
planting to the open ground The work
is done by means of partly rotted sods.
In the fall, firm sods are cut from rich
pasture lands. These are stored till
they are wanted in the late winter or
early spring. Then they are inverted
in the hot-beds and seeds sown in
them. BY that time the grass is partly
rotted and the melons thrive When
is is time to transplant the sod is re-
moved and planted in the open ground.
OF the several plants growing on each
sod all but one are pulled up. In a
hot-bed melon seed will send out its
sprout in four days, while in the open
ground it may take four weeks.
Period of CESSATION in Mares.-Much
difference of opinion prevails as to the
average time during which a mare car
ries her foal. Popular opinion puts il
at eleven months, or $50 days, but the
careful observation of several who
have given attention to the question
has led them to conclude that this
period is little short of the average.
They fix it as $40 days. Good authori-
ties are of the opinion that a ma
jority of foals will be born within
three days of this period, one way or
the other. 1t is true, nevertheless, that
mares have been known to drop healthy
foals at 800 days, and yet again other