The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-03-11

proper tirmness, particularly If they are
to be used under tn chen. The male bird
is given not more than a dozen hens and
care Is taken that he is fed so as to give
the best service. To be on the safe side
the eggs used for Matching should be those
laid three or four weeks after the male 1s
turned IN with hens.
Lice on Cattle.
In the majority of cases 1t may be truly
said that negligence is responsible for lice
on cattle during the winter, when they
are in the stable, although there may be
exceptions. If you find lice on cattle get
rid of them by applying with a brush a
mixture composed Of two parts of lard to
one part of kerosene oil. Apply this to
the spots where the Ice have been at
work, once a week, and a few appllca-
tons will subdue the vermin. Then go
to work to prevent any more trouble.
Clean the stables thoroughly, using car
bolic acid as & disenfectant, whitewash
the sides Of the stable and let a liberal
portion of the lime get onto the floor.
Then groom the cows occasionally, at
least, and see that they get exercise daily
either out Of doors or in a protected shed.
Take care Of the COW and there is likely
to be little trouble with lice.
D%ehorning the Calves.
Twenty years from now 1t will be a rare
sight to see a COW with horns, on the
dairy farm. Experience has thoroughly
demonstrated that the hornless COW is the
safe COW, nor Is she injured in the slight
est degree as q milk producer. While the
adult COW may be safely dishorned with
the modern implements now in use, 1t is
best to start in with the calves that are
TO form the new herd. Get q stick OF
caustic potash from the drug store, wrap
a piece of cloth around one end OF 1t, then
cut the hair from around the spot where
the embryo horn may be felt on the head
of the calf, rub the spot and all around it
for two inches with lard, then moisten
the stick of caustic potash and rub 1t
around the embryo horn several times.
After finishing the job put the stick of
potash away where no one will touch 1t
and be injured. The calf will not suffer in
the operation and the horns will be de-
stroyed.
Partly Winter Killed Trees.
Many complaints have been received.
that in some sections the fruit buds on
trees nave probably been winter killed. 1t
is not wise to feel too certain Of this yet,
hence the trees ought not to be pruned
until later and one is sure the buds have
been killed. While it is discouraging to
the fruit grower 20 lose all or a portion Of
his crop for next season, the wise man
VIII look FORWARD TWO seasons, ana, IL
certain the fruit buds are killed, will prune
his trees to obtain the best possible growth
for the second season. The discouraged
man will let the trees go. Unless the limbs
are killed back unusually far 1t is safe to
prune young trees to the extent Of cut
ting back two-thirds of last seasons
growth, particularly cutting back any in
side limbs which have grown too long. If
any limbs are left full length it should
be those nearest the ground and these may
be cut back next fall.
Experience With Cow Peas.
While We are indebted to the south for
the cow pea or rather for the knowledge
of it's great value as a soil builder, it does
not follow that its culture must be con-
fined to the south. Those In the middle
| states and farther north who nave failed
Will COW peas may look for their failure,
largely in the selection of the wrong va
~rieties. While any variety known will do
| we'll In the south only the sorts that will
ripen in a short season are Of use In the
north. The best varieties for the north
are Warren's Extra Early and Extra Ear
ly Blaclkeye, while the Wnippoorwill is
the variety mostly grown in the south. To
get the best results from COW peas the
soil must be warm before the seed is
soWn so that early In July IS usually the
right time in the north and a month or
six weeks earlier In the south. While the
COW pea Is the nitrogen gatherer par eX-
cellence Of all legumes, 1t Is q hard crop
to turn under If it grows well, SO it is a
better plan to pasture it after the vines
have been killed by frost and then turn
under the roots and what Of the tops re-
main. Try the COW pea on that field Of
poor soil and see how it Will help it.
Hens in Crowded Quarters.
Several breeders are claiming that dou-
bic the number of hens may be kept in a
house than is generally calculated, one 60
ing so far as to say that 200 hens can be
safely raised in a house 20 by 20. This
may be possible If the owner is an expert
not only in feeding but in the care Of the
house. Daily cleaning and weekly dis
injecting would be necessary to carry
such q number Of hens safely. Better
have half the number until experience
teaches you that you may safely increase.
A Handy Fire Pot.
Next to having an old stove in an old
outbuilding for the purpose of heating wa
ter or cooking food, the fire pot shown In
the illustration is the best thing Of the
kind that can be put in operation at small
expense. Don't bother"your wife by using
the kitchen stove to heat water, but have
q fireplace Of your own. Obtain three
Al