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

a WORKOUT bit of land sow it to cow pei
and build up the soil. On the other Manu.
if the land Is in fair condition let COW pea
growing alone and for a legume use GRIM
son clover, which will add nitrogen to the
soil in the same manner as the COW peas
but will not steal so much in It's season
of growth as the latter. In other words.
a crimson clover crop on good soil Wall
add more nitrogen thar it takes from the
soil.
Protecting Trees From Mice.
There are few places where there is not
more or less trouble with mice and rap-
bits in the young orchards during the
winter. There are several good ways or
protecting the trees from these pests ana
they are more effective if one will go to
the trouble of hoeing out the grass or
weeds from the base of the trees so that
there will be no place in which the nice
can build a winter home. one good plan
Of protection is TO place a wire band or
one of tar around each tree, but the eX-
pense is an objection to this plan if there
are many trees. Reports of good success
with paint come from several sections.
The writer has used paint for a number
of years and found it effective and not so
expensive as other protectors. In the late
fall the trees are examined earthly for
borers in the trunk. which, of course, are
dug out with 4 knife and destroyed. The
soil is dug away from the trees for three
inches below the surface and the trunk
is then cleaned of any loose bark with
the aid of a ~scrubbing brush. After two
or three days of dry weather following
this work the paint, which IS white lead
mixed with good linseed oil. is applied
with a brush as high up the trunk as de-
sired. The paint is mixed about as 1t
would be mixed for house painting. on
tho q vera ore trpa n4sDtinp' if IN a foot and
a half will be sufficient. 1t may be nee
essary to do this every year, but it will
pay.
Improving the Layers.
Speakers at farmers institutes the COM
ing winter will wrangle, as they have in
the past, over the advisability OF having
the 20O-egg-a-year strain, for which most
poultry men are seeking. There is no
doubt but what the laying hen can be
forced to an egg production that is in
furious to her vitality, but there is equal
ly little doubt that, by proper selection,
a strain can be had that will lay an in
creased number of eggs without injury
to health. If careful record has shown
that there are a number of hens in the
flock that lay more eggs during the year
than the others, it is comparatively easy
to breed from the eggs of these hens and,
after a number of years establish a strain
of birds that will lay many more eggs
than the average hens. Suppose, for eX-
ample, one mas in a flock two or three
hens hat lay $50 eggs each during the
year, one that lays 100 and one that lays
10 eggs during the year. Select a male
bird from some breeder who viii! guar
antee that the c%oclerel is from a strain
of heavy layers and breed him to the hens
in your flock that lay from $50 to ITO eggs
each per year. The next spring breed the
puilets from these eggs to a cock with
Hcr1 n ,-;,,,r. :, ,,- ,r r. al A. -
such gigs will show a strain that will
be beyond the average as producers Of
eggs. The results are certain if the plan
is carried out and will be profitable.
Buying and Using Wood Ashes.
Many car loads of wood ashes are an
nually used on meadows in this country
that represent honey practically thrown
away. No one Will ion the value of
wood ashes for grass lands provided they
are as rich in potash as they are claimed
to be. Unfortunately some men who han
ole WooG ashes are trading on the repu-
tation of those who are doing an honest
business and sending out ashes that are
or little value. In buying wood ashes it
is a good plan to ascertain what the seller
IS willing to guarantee in the way OF
potash per cent; then buy a small guam
NY ana send to YOU state experiment
station for analysis. Be guided by the
report In buying 4 larger quantity. WOOD
ashes are valuable in the growing of
small fruits and vegetables and may be
apPlled freely but not wholly in place of
other fertilizers.
From Range to the House.
Experienced poultr: men know what
the novice does not, that a sudden change
from the range to the close quarters of
the yard surrounding the poultry house
causes a falling off in the egg supply. Dur
ing this month and, in some secttnns for