The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1904-01-29

to form the proper balance. Yet this
same man protests when it is suggested
that the same rule should apply to lay
Ing hens. The proper feeding Of poultry
is not so difficult as one would think, nor
is the feeding of any animal. for that mat
ter. If one possesses a knowledge of the
needs Of the animal he is feeding, he will
readily find out what foods will supply
such needs. Feed the variety Of grains
by all means as well as an occasional sup
ply of animal feed, but do not overlook
the need for green food. This same rule
works the other way, so do not attempt to
obtain results from green food and grains
at the expense of the animal food. In
some way get at the properly balanced
ration and then profitable results will fol-
low.
Winter Fruit Tree Pruning.
! While the early spring pruning and
the summer pinching back of the small
shoots covers the main pruning OF the
fruit trees, much good work may be done
duringing the open days Of winter which
will, at least, save time in the spring.
Brokne limbs MAJ be removed and many
of the inside limbs which are overlapping
the fruiting twigS can be cut off during
the winter as we'll as IN the spring. The
work Of pruning should always be lone
with a saw on limbs too large to cut with
a sharp knife, In pruning saw from the
underside Of the limb first, saving up a
iudi ~ Ihll tilOuSH, lllllSlllliS 4IOll
the top. This Will result in a clean cut
and there will be no splintering as would
be the case If a heavy limb was cut
through from the top. In the winter
pruning Of orchards keep your eyes open
and note the condition of the tree so
that at the proper time any remedy for
any trouble found may be applied.
Raising Eggs for High Prices.
The poultryman who has handled his
fowls just right is reaping the benefit of
the high prices at which eggs are now
selling. If the hens are not laying and
they are of an age when they should be,
the thing to do is to see that the houses
they occupy are warm and free from
~draughts; then look into the food ques-
ton closely and see that the rations fur
nish the egg producing and egg making
qualities and that they are properly given;
that is, not too much or too little. Supply
fresh, warm water, plenty Of grit and a
dust box and keep the houses and tho
hens free from lice. These things done
regularly for several weeks will bring the
eggs. If not, then the hens should go to
the carcass market as soon as possible
SO that the expense Of feeding them may
be cut Off. This may be an heroic rem
edy, but the fact remains that If a hen
cared for on the lines indicated does not
lay, provided, Of course, that she is we'll
and at a laying age, she has no part in
the operation of the farm for profit and
should be turned into money as soon as
possible.
Watering Cows in Winter.
1t is not a pleasant sight to see a lot Of
COWS in the barn yard with their noses
thrust through a hole broken In the ice
covering q tub of water, nor Is 1t any
wonder that such cows are poor milk
ers. Years ago the writer worked on the
old-time plan of watering cows once a
day, at noon; after a time he tried the
plan Of watering them twice daily; then
the plan was tried Of furnishing water
three times daily during the winter and
a comparison Of results showed that 1t
paid well. The water given at morning
and night Is nearly warm and the cows
seem to enjoy it greatly during cold days.
That given at noon is colder, but the chill
is removed and the animals drink 1T free
ly. OF course it is considerable work 20
water COWS In this manner, but II one has
a number Of animals some contrlvance
can be put in operation which will make
the work comparatively easy. Try it for
the next two or three months, watch re-
suits in the milk pail and you will agree
that 1t pays.
Keeping Up Humus Supplies.
Except on soils nearly or quite virgin
there are few farms where humus cannot
be used by the soil to great advantage.
In many sections where commercial fer
tilizers nave been used for years, TO the
exclusion Of stable manures, it has been
found necessary 70 grow green crops for
blowing under. Where the green crops
are used as g. part Of the rotation, so to
speak, the exclusive use Of commercial
fertilizers can probably be safely con-
tinued. The writer has found the best re-
suits to come from the combined use OF
stable manures and commercial manures.
using the former for blowing under in
the spring and the latter for top dressing
D- y,-nrlt,~ in il,cS 1n6ar the sErf9ra ga
the crop grows. In this manner the hu-
mus required by the soil is supplied and
the fert.lizing value Of the manure as
well. Don't overlook the humus question
If you would keep the farm up to the
highest standard.
Helps for Butchering Time.
There Is more or less work in the killing
of small animals during the winter on
many farms and always the annual
butchering, although it is getting to be
quite the fashion in the more thickly set
tied portions Of the country to sell the
I hogs in the fall and buy the meat back
| from the town butcher at double price
2 during the winter. Where there is more
or less butchering to be done one should
have for ready use a large boiler of some
: kind so that a quantity Of water may be
5 heated at one time: tools such as knives,
! saws and other things used should be
t kept in proper shape and everything be
: in readiness SO that the hard and dis
t agreeable work may be over with as soon
i, as possible. The illustration shows a
t rack for hanging the carcass of an ami
a NAL which should be on every farm where
~butchering is done. 1t needs but little
: description. A post eight or ten inches
. through and five or six feet high is set
!: 49,
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