The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-04-22

hen is a proftless bird is not correct. A
present we have a large number OF five
year-old hens on the place and the pas
winter all but one OF them has lain ~
many eggs as the pullets and their egg
were much larger. True, 1t Is thas thet
lives of usefulness are nearly over. as esq
producers, and that they will not brini'
much of a price in the carcass market
but they have paid we'll 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 hem.
be kept until they are five years old, I
Is claimed that there Is too much OF thh
turning two and three year old hensNfnts
the market to make room for pullets
Treat the hen as an Individual. If sht
lays as well or better than the pufleu
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 thai
are SO poor layers that 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
SEN We're the oyster shell scale. a pest
to be sure. but not nearly SO dangerous az
the San Jose scale. To identify the San
Jose scale beyond a doubt a magnifyin4
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 mucn small
er than the oyster shell scale. It is near
ly round in shape, sometimes white. but
more often gray in color and with .
small central nipple Of a yellowish colos
which is the distinguishing mark. Buy
the magnifying glass and identify this
with the combination OF lime. sulphur and
salt can be applied.
Grit for Young Chicks.
For the first two weeks mere Is no OBJ
lection to keeping the chicks on grains IN
various way II they are confined. II 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 II kept where they cannot obtain
these things they should be supplied them.
OF course great care should be taken not
to let the chicks 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
TWICE. IL CCh 1O III ACC ZIG SAiSh AZ
confinement any longer han is neces-
i sary. Have a plot of ground where there
is q piece of sod that may be kept
trimmed down close and let them run on
1t as they will at all times when 1t Is free
from dew or rain.
Selling Alfalfa Bacteria.
AS is generally known the failure tc,
grow alfalfa. the great forage crop. Is
largely due to the lack of the proper bac-
%a-,a l., %l,~ oot r1,- 1o1 r,o NJ, . l., ,$ Ait.
bacteria into the soil is inoculatirg 1t with
soil from other farms where alfalfa is sue
cessfully grown. The use Of from 300 to
500 pounds OF soil i~mpregnated with the
alfalfa bacteria to the acre VIII be SUI
fcient to enable the land to which it is
applied to make a good crop. In some
sections farmers who have been success
full In growing bacteria for a number Of
years nre selling the bacteria soil to 9TH
ers. If you are one OF these successful
rower of alfalfa offer ~fmpregnated soil
to other farmers at a fair price and o
will find plenty eager to buy. II you want
to grow alfalfa look up some n h
can supply you with the impregnated soil.
for 1t will pay you to get this crop start
ed on your farm II 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 must get tbs
largest possible crop OF course. but he
must also get a well ripened crop and to
do this must use a fertilizer that will give
the desired results. The following formu-
la has been successfully used on soil that
was made fairly rich by the annual appli-
cations of stable manure. Take 800
pounds of acid phosphate, 800 pounds of
cotton seed meal, 200 pounds Of high grade
%sulphate Of potash and 100 pounds of nj
trate of soda. Mix thoroughly and apply
broadcast at the rate Of 500 pounds per
acre. Some manufacturers of fertilizers
sel1sa mixture especially for tomatoes. but
in tests by the writer 1t has been found
hat the mixture here given produces the
best results and at less cost This In
based on experiments made on rather
light sandy loan which had been fairly
well manured for three years previous in
the growing Of corn. potatoes and clover.
Buy the ingredients separately II possible
and mix them at home. The cost will be
less h II the mixture Is made on your
order by a manufacturer.
Plan for Stable Door.
Oftentimes when there are q number OF
cows to be turned into The yard and \
number to be kept in the stable It Is not
easy to control them unless ono has an
arrangement something like that shown in
the cut. The stable door Is Indicated NJ
A. At 4. o and 8 posts are placed. Tho
figure 3 represents a gate. figure 2 the
barn yard and figures I the fence Nroune