Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-07-21

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s.tion so that the trough may be raised
from the ground to the desired height. the
trough proper being placed about a foot
from the top OF the side pieces and on
the very top of the side pieces o strip of
wood is placed. thus preventing the an
imal from getting Its feet into the trough
or jumping over 1t. A strong board Is
placed at the end Of each upright side.
close to the ground. n these boards are
held in place by stakes driven on either
side. This plan holds the entire structure
firm so hat the frisky youngsters cannot
tip 1t over. The expense OF a trough
built on the plan indicated is small and
1t will pay for itself in a single season in
the feed 1t saves.
Advantages Of Root Crops.
There has been much controversy of late
years concerning the relative values of
root crops and silage. This seems to be
one of the questions that ought not to be
discussed inasmuch as the two crops, in
the writer's opinion at least. are essential
n one will not take the place of the
other except in the sense that either pro-
vides succulent food for stock. When we
commence to compare the cost of raising
either crop We get into interesting figures.
Those who have tried 1t know that 1t Is
lard to BOW the seeds of root crops by
hand and they also know that until the
plants are large enough to hold their WI
1t IL hard work keeping the weeds down.
AS to the feeding values of the two un-
Questionably the silage IL he most valu-
able and II called upon to decide between
the two 1 would select silage every time.
IL one has a good silo the root crops will
have their greatest value in furnishing a
variety in the menu, but 1t Is where the
silo Is unknown that the root crops ought
to be extensively grown as furnishing a
s%ucculent food and a digestive at COM
paratively small cost. az well as q crop
which may be stored for winter use at
small expense.
Feeding Alfalfa to Hogs.
While the growing of alfalfa Is COM
paratively recent, farmers must expert
ment with 1t more or less until they find
where It can be used to the best advan-
tage. At present the best returns have
come from cutting n curing the crops
of the season.. blu in sections where hog
EAiSiu8 - pEOutAOle IL nus Oeeu IOun0 All
excellent pasturage provided the hogs are
not turned on to 1t until the third season.
1t takes three seasons at least for the
plant to get well established and If
the swine are turned onto It before II is
likely to become seriously injured. The
best result In pasturing swine on alfalfa
come from the growing animals n when
he alfalfa pasture Is used for growing
hogs It is estimated that The grain ration
~n-,x ~ -rA i. A.nA - 49, HRA--- A.
the further advantage in pasturing that
the hogs do not require 30 much care as
when in confinement or on a range of linn
tied area n this Is quite an item in the
expense of raising swine.
Test for Soil Aeidity.
Numerous are the inquiries regarding
the use Of lime and while space has been
given to this subject before the interest
In 1t seems to warrant an occasional arti-
Gle regarding the effect Of lime on the
soil as we'll as its effect on plant life.
Strictly speaking lime Is not, in any sense.
q plant food. but It brings into the reach
Of the growing plant he potash in the
soil which. until released by the lime, IL
in IN insoluble form. The main value OF
lime to the soil. however, 10 Its sweetenins
qualities or. In other words. the correct
ing OF soil acidity and for this purpose II
may be used in varying quantities depend
ing upon the condition Of the soil. The
test for soil acidity u easily and inexpen.
sively made. Buy s cents worth OF blue
litmus paper 1t the drug store, take {
sheet OF II make = crack in the soil viii
the spade and slipe the sheet Of paper n
this crack for two or three inches and
then withdraw the spade. In three Of
four days pull out the sheet OF litmus pa.
per and II It 10 red there II too much acid
In the soil It win be. greatly benefit