The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-11-06
To eueI the Soil.

zS
pensive. but any farmer who Is handy
with tools can make a substitute at COM
! paratively small expense. The illustra-
ton shows a fiat roller, If the term can be
used, which will answer all the purposes
of the recognized roller on any ordinary
soil. The illustration shows the construc-
ton of this implement without much de-
! scription being necessary. The main care
in its construction Is to have 1t MADE OF
! heavy planks and the forward one curved
| upward as shown. An old stone poat
could be utilized if necessary. The planhs
should be bolted to the side pieces In oroer
to give additional strength and, When nee
assary, stones may be put on the lmple-
ment to give additional weight. Any plan
for attaching the horses may be aoopteo
that one desires. The farmer who Is With-
out a roller can use some OF his spare
| time the coming winter in constructing
this device and he will find 1t VIII pay IN
a better stand after seed sowing.
Decreasing the Value Of Manure.
Ordinarily it is felt among farmers hat
anything that will give the animals q
fairly soft and comfortable bed may pc
used SIS bedding. To a large degree ms
Is true, but when such bedding Is aooeo
to the manure piles to go later on to the
| SOIL, lIGl the q0cSl VI
be considered. In some sections sawdust
and excelsior are used for bedding, neither
Of which contain much manurial value eA-
cept after they are thoroughly rotteo,y
which requires a long time. Both are ae-
sirable for bedding, but should not pc
mixed with the manure, especially II the
supply of the latter Is scant. Leaves ana
other vegetation, on the other hand, de-
cay rapidly, mixing freely with the ma
nure and contain in themselves consider
able fertilizing value. OF course a small
quantity Of sawdust, shavinss or excelsior
would do but little harm, but II used 1of
the bedding for any considerable time
ought not to go on the manure heap.
Nature Study for Children.
Every one who is in close touch with
rural affairs knows the dread with which
farmers see the inclination on the part
of their children to leave the farm as they
approach the legal age of manhood and
w~omanhood. True it is that many of these
boys and girls will do much better in the
commercial world than on the farm; on
the other hand, the reverse Is often the
case. Many a man born on the farm, but
now at work in the city wishes with all
his heart he had remained or the farm.
He left it because life seemed to him all
grind and no pleasure; he did not come In
contact with the more pleasing part OF
life in the country, hence the attractions
of city life came to him doubiy strong.
! L ! VI J hSSNA"S SHAS o
of the best methods of keeping the chill
dren on the farm is to educate them In ma
ture. Working on this plan the agricul-
tural department of Cornell university,
Ithaca, N. Y, has established a bureau OF
nature study, the plan being to educate
the children of the state in the finer lines
of agriculture. Directions are being sent
to the children Of the state, who ask for
them on the growing of bulbs that must
be set this fall. During the winter and
spring other literature will be sent out
which will educate the children in flower
growing and increase their interest In ma
ture and in the adornment of their homes
If every farmer who reads this item woulC
write to the state representative or SEN
ator from his section and urge that the
state agricultural college be given ar
appropriation to carry on similar work il
that state, 1t would not be long before the
politicians would wake up and thousands
:; of children start in the fascinating study
l Of nature, with the result that the exodu:
to the city from the farms would be ma
> terially lessened in the years to come, ant
: both farm and city would be better off IL
, consequence.
. Indigestion in Horses.
So many cases of what Is purely indiges
ton in horses are reported to the edtto
y of this department that the matter wa
referred to a skilled veterinarian and hi
: opinion is given here, While he has pu
4 IL lldltCI lIdllhiS, ilo q a
must be admitted that there is much trutl
in what he says. Il have looked over tn
letters you have sent me and must Sa,
h that they only strengthen the opinion
+ have long held, namely, that not one farm
a err in a hundred knows how to properl
r feed his horses. And why should he?
+ doesn't know how to feed himself for it
: an incontrovertable fact that farmers sui
fer more from indigestion than any othe
class of Americans. Notwithstanding tn
fact that he is in the pure air SO mucl
n His horses eat their bedding and try t
eat the stall and manger They hay
" scours and the more they eat the thinne
&c they get. The remedy? An application
common sense in feeding. Cut down tt
lee ration, give more variety, grind what cor
= is fed, use more oats and less corn ar
D more hay and less corn slower. Give II
horses more water and more root crol
ie during the winter. Change the materi
VA used for bedding to something they W
~ not eat. AS for medicine, give the follow
~ ing mixed into the ground food for Il
- winter months. Four ounces of POWDER
: charcoal, eight ounces ground ginge
~ three ounces powdered nux vomica, fl
ounces prepared chalk and two ounc
~ powdered anise seed. One tablespoon
:. to each feed is the dose.
e" Cow Peas for Poor Soil.
ne Reference has been made in this d
UT partmcnt from time to time to the gre
value u CO.." peas as son FenoVatorS a
the advice given to confine them to DO
soil. Those who are familiar with t
re plant know that it gathers nitrogen frc
in the air and by blowing the plant under
is add thai very valuable chemical and pia
lat food to the soil for the benefit Of futu
~ crops. If this is the case, one may M
We urally say why not grow the crop on go
at soil so that more nitrogen may be adde
tut The answer is that the plant will r
De- gather much nitrogen from the air If
as can find a supply In the soil sufficient
,as its growth. This being the case 1t is pls
on to see that on good soils COW peas are
detr1ment rather than a help. II one b