The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-04-21

hen Is a proftless bird is not correct. A
present 70 have a large number of five
year-old hens on the place and the pas
winter all but one Of them has lain 8.
many eggs as the pullets and their egg
were much larger. True, it is that thei
lives of usefulness are nearly over, as egi
producers, and that they will not brini
much of a price in the carcass market
but they have paid well enough to hav
kept them even though their carcasses d.
not bring enough to pay for killing them
While 1t Is not advised that all the hen:
be kept until they are five years old, 1
! is claimed that there is too much of thi'
turning two and three year old hens int
the market to make room for pullets
Treat the hen as an individual. If SHIT
lays as we'll or better than the pullet.
keep her for laying. If she falls off per
ceptibly when she is in condition to lay
market her. The same rule should be ap
piled to pullets for there are many ha;
are SO poor layers hat their Creates
value is in the carcas market.
Identifying San Jose Scale.
The editor Of this department has re
ceived from readers specimens of scale
Insects thought by the senders to be San
Jose scale. In each case the scale insects
sent were the oyster shell scale, a pest
to be sure, but not nearly so dangerous as
the San Jose scale. To identify the San
Jose scale beyond a doubt a magnifying
glass Is needed, although a good reading
glass, three or four inches in diameter,
such as are sold for fifty cents will an
swer the purpose. Under the glass we
see that the San Jose scale Is much small.
er than the oyster shell scale. 1t is near
ly round in shape, sometimes white, but
more often gray in color and with @
small central nipple Of a yellowish color
which is the distinguishing mark. Buy
| the mpppjfViOp plo co and identify this
pest so that the proper remedy spraying
with the combination Of lime, sulphur and
salt can be applied.
Grit for Young Chicks.
For the first two weeks tnere is no OBJ
lection to keeping the chicks on grains in
various ways IL they are confined. If al
lowed to run with the mother on the
range they Will soon find the quantity of
animals food and grit which they need,
but If kept where they cannot obtain
these things they should be supplied them.
OF course great care should be taken not
to let the chick have too much Of animal
food or of anything like cut bone. A
small handful among twenty chicks will
be enough of the animal food to give them
once a week until they are half grown.
OF the green bone they should have a
small quantity scattered over the ground
vice a week. Do not keep the chicks in
confinement any longer than Is neces-
sary. Have a plot of ground where there
is a piece OF sod that may be kept
trimmed down close and let them run on
1t as they Will at all times when It is free
from dew or rain.
Selling Alfalfa Bacteria.
AS is generally known the failure to
grow alfalfa, the great forage crop, is
largely due to the lack OK the proper bac-
terra In the soil. The only way to get this
bacteria into the soil IS inoculating it with
soil from other farms where alfalfa is sac
cessfully grown. The use of from 800 to
500 pounds CT soil impregnated with the
alfalfa bacteria to the acre will be suf-
fcient to enable the LAND to which 1t is
applied to max a good crop. In some
sections farmers who have been success
ful in growing bacteria for a number of
years are selling the bacteria soil to 9TH
ers. If you are one Of these successful
growers OF alfalfa offer im~pregnated soil
to other farmers at q fair price and you
will find plenty eager to buy. If you wan
to grow alfalfa look up some one who
can supply you with the impregnated soil,
for it will pay you to get this crop start
ed on your farm If you have stock to feed.
Fertilizers for Tomatoes.
While there is considerable money in
growing tomatoes for the canneries in
some sections, the work is not so profit
able in others. The grower mus. get the
luIBeStH possible crop OF COURSE, out ne
must also get a well ripened crop and to
do this must use a fertilizer that Will give
the desired results. The following forrnu-
la has been successfully used on soil that
was made fairly rich by the annual appli-
cations Of stable manure. a 800
pounds of acid phosphate. 800 pounds Of
cotton seed meal. 200 pounds of high grade
sulphate of potash and 100 pounds of MI
trate of soda. Mix thoroughly and apply
broadcast at the rate OF 500 pounds per
acre. Some manufacturers Of fertilizers
sell a mixture especially for tomatoes, but
in tests by the writer 1t has been found
that the mixture here given produces the
best results and at less cost This is
based on experiments made on rather
light sandy loag which had been fairly
well manured for three years previous In
the growing of corn, potatoes and clover.
Buy the ingredients separately If possible
and mix them at home. The cost will be
less thar ii the mixture is made on your
order by a manufacturer.
Plan for Stable Door.
Oftentimes when there are a number OF
cows to be turned into the yard and a
number TO be kept in the stable 1t Is not
easy to control them unless one has an
arrangement something like that shown In.
the cut. The stable door IS indicated ar
a. At 4, 8 and 8 posts arc placed. The
J, figure 5 represents d gate, figure 2 the
barn yard n figures I the fence around
IL Ii 4f sA%%ME