The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-12-04

against II. If one has no lumber then e
little more soil will take Its place. The
work mentioned can be done at little or no
expense except of labor and the increase
in the milk flow and the egg supply ma
terially increased, to say nothing of the
added comfort Of the animals.
lnoeulatins the Soil.
A reader has requested the editor of this
department to tell him why 1t is he can
not grow crimson clover successfully on
his farm. He complains that 1t does not
take" 1t is impossible to tell why no
results are obtained in this case without
a n examination OF the soil, blu the two
reasons for failure most in evidence the
country through are acid soils and soils
which lack the bacteria necessary to sue
coed with crimson clover. The remedy
for the sour soil is lime. which every
farmer knows how to apply. The remedy
for the bacteria is incubation of the soil
which may be readily done by taking soil
from q field where clover has been grown
successfully and scattering It lightly over
the field which lacks the bacteria A few
bushels OF such soil sown broadcast will
cover an acre and, II the soil IS not sour,
there will likely be no trouble IN growing
clover on 1t. The same thing also APP
plies to cow peas and soy beans, though
not to such an extent as to clover. A
cheap way 10 tiy III pan Oh llOCuldIlCH
Is to write to the department of agricul-
ture at Washington and ask for some
bacteria specifying whether It Is wanted
for peas. clover, beans or vetches. This
bacteria is dried and a small quantity Is
usually dissolved IN water and the water
sprinkled over a lot OF soil which Is then
spread on the fields. AS there is no
change for this dried bacteria from Wash
ington bettre send for it
Improving Experiment Station Work.
There is no question but that the several
state experiment stations of the unit
are doing good work for farmers. The
main trouble has been that farmers, as
q rule, do not appreciate what Is being
done for their interests and at their ex-
pense. They are ready enough to protest
against the expense, which, however, Is
so small as to amount to but a few cents
for each farmer, but are decidedly back
ward In getting even" which they might
do by applying TO their station for help
when q veXed problem in farming con-
fronts them. II farmers knew how will
.ngly the people at the experiment sta
tons would give the assistance requested
they would ask for It more often. The
one weak point In the conduct OF the ex-
pertinent stations, with the majority of
them at any rate. is that all of the work
Is done on the farm where the station Is
located. 1t Is proposed in some states to
carry out the English plan and have the
experiments on farms scattered through
CUT the state, farms owned by progressive
farmers. the places being under the SUPER
vision, IN a general way. Of the expert
ineht station people. In this way the ben
ents or experimenting would be greater
because the results would come from tests
on many different soils. Keep watch ct
this movement in the state and II the
matter comes up before the state legts-
aura nn ON yo ~ b~.
resentattves and push 1t through.
How to Winter Calves.
When the calf Is taken away from the
cow 1t should be turned with others into
a roomy pen which is light and as sunny
as possible. and contains enough in the
way OF straw or hay to keep the animal
busy. By all means must this pen be
clean and kept clean. Whatever the plan
OF feeding when the calf gets to the grain
stage, only what It Will eat up clean
should be given: never nave any grain,
and especially wet feed, left in the box,
for It IS likely to take away the animals
appetite for the next meal. At night see
that the pen IS clean ard the floor dry and
give the calves plenty Of bedding, being
liberal with it II the night promises to
be cold. During the pleasant days let
the calves into the yard for a run. but
do not keep them there until they become
chilled. Handle them every day, but do
not play with them nor tease them II
you expect to raise them as additions to
the herd. A pet calf makes an unruly
cow nine times out Of ten. Treat them
kindly n SO they will get used to you,
but let your affection stop there.
ScaIy Legs in Fowls.
The disease OF fowls known as scaly
legs Is too well known to need description
and Is wholly due TO unclean quarters.
Unless the flock is a valuable one the best
way of getting rid Of the trouble is to
kill the birds. for il the disease is not
cured It may be transmitted to the chicks
that are Matched. Clean the houses
thoroughly and especially use kerosene
freely on the roosts and also paint the
legs OF the W with kerosene oil three
time a week until the scales drop off then
scrub the legs with soap and water and
rub every other day with vaseline. This
will cure the trouble If 1t is not too bad.
A Handy Wire S%tretcher.
On most farms there is more or less
wire to be handled either in the way of
putting up dividing fences or trellisses
for grape vines. A poorly stretched wire
Is always making trouble. but there is no
need of having ~nnoyanc when the tool
illustrated may be easily made with the
help OF a blacksmith, and at small cost.
The handle is two feet long Of 11s-inch
stuff, but hard wood must be used On
! nj