The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-11-06

LIZ
with tools can make d substitute at com
parativeIy small expense. Tho illustra-
ton shows a fiat roller, if the term can he
used, which Will answer all the purposes
Of the recognized roller on amy ordinary
soil. The illustration shows the construc-
ton of this Implement without much de-
scription being necessary. The main care
IN It's construction is TO have it made of
heavy planks and the forward one curved
upward as shown. An Old stone boat
could be utilized if necessary. The plankS
should be bolted to the side pieces in order
TO give additional strength and, when nee
e&SafN, stones may be put on the imple-
ment to give additional weight. Any plan
for attaching the horses may be adopted
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 it will pay in
d better stand after seed sowing.
Decreasing the Value of Manure.
Ordinarily it is felt among farmers that
anything that will give the animals a
fairly soft and comfortable bed may be
used as bedding. To a large degree this
is true, but when such bedding is added
~ JIG Illdiiult pics " 80 ldlcI oi " tiiV
soil, then the question of material should
be considered. In some sections sawdust
and excelsior are used for bedding, neither
of which contain much manurial value eX-
cept after they are thoroughly rotted,
which requires Il long time. Both are de-
sirable for bedding, but should not be
mixed with the manure, especially II the
supply of the latter is scant. Leaves and
other vegetation, on the other hand, de-
& cav r1nillV rmiNinr freely with he ma
nure and contain in themselves consider
able fertilizing value. Of course a small
quantity of saWduSt, shavings or excelsior
would do but little harm, but If used for
the bedding for any considerable time
ought not 10 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 han 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 on 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 doubly strong.
Teachers in agriculture realize that one
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
E -. - M z- e - ii IL g.,
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
i ture and in the adornment of their homes.
If every farmer who reads this item would
write to the state representative or SEN
ator from his section and urge that the
state agricultural college be given an
appropriation to carry on similar work in
that state, 1t would not be long before the
politicians would wake up and thousands
Of children start in the fascinating study
of nature, with the result that the exodus
to the city from the farms would be ma
terially lessened in the years to come, and
both farm and city would be better off in
consequence.
indigestion in Horses.
So many cases of what is purely indiges-
ton in horses are reported to the editor
of this department that the matter was
referred to a skilled veterinarian and his
opinion is given here. While he has put
the matter frankly, perhaps brutality, it
must be admitted that there is much truth
in what he says. Il have looked over the
letters you have sent me and must say
tina they only strengthen the opinion
have long held, namely, that not one farm.
err in a hundred knows how to properly
feed his horses. And why should he? He
doesn't know how to feed himself for it is
an incontrovertable fact that farmers suf.
fer more from indigestion than any other
class of Americans. Notwithstanding the
fact that he is in the pure air SO much
His horses eat their bedding and try te
eat the stall and ranger. They have
scours and the more they eat the thinner
they get. The remedy? An application Of
common sense in feeding. Cut down the
ration, give more variety, grind what corr
is fed, use more oats and less corn anC
more hay and less corn slower. Give the
horses more water and more root crop.
during the winter. Change the materia
used for bedding to something they will
not eat. AS for medicine, give the follow
ing mixed into the ground food for the
winter months. -Four ounces of powdered
charcoal. eight ounces ground ginger
three ounces powdered nux vomica, tiv,
ounces prepared chalk and two ounce.
powdered anise seed. One Tablespoonful
to each feed is the dose.
Cow Peas for Poor Soil.
Reference has been made in this de
partment from time to time to the grea
value of COW peas as soil ~renoVators AM
the advice given to confine them to 200
soil Those. who are familiar with tn,
plant know that 1t gathers nitrogen from
the air and by blowing the plant under w,
add that very valuable chemical and plan
food to the soil for the benefit of futur,
crops. If this is the case, one may nat
urally say why not grow the crop on goo,
soil so hat more nitrogen may be added
The answer is that the plant will no
gather much nitrogen from the air If i
can find a supply In the soil sufficient TO
its growth. This being the case it is plail
to see that on good soils COW peas are
detriment rather than a help. If one ha.