Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-09

AChlSyb 1a.S ~. As' Awe y
Beef Mon Quitting.
1t has been many a dily since trade
in pure bred beef cattle vas 80 duh as
1t ie now, says the Den, err Field and
Farm. One breeder who has been
In the business many years says that
he never saw so little demand; an
other asks what is the matter and de-
clares that ha has cut lbs prices, but
without attracting trade. And 80 1t
goes.
The trouble is solely and simply
that beef makers are discouraged.
They have had several money losing
years, and when a min has put a
couple Of corn crops into beef that
sells below cost he is not very en-
thusiastic over pure ored cattle or
any other kind Of cattle.
Mr.. Kerrick says that the corn belt
feeders are going out Of the cattle
business because on their high priced
land it won't pay. A coed many people
are going out Of the business II we
may Judge by the character OF the re-
ceipts at stockyards, and by the
same token many Of them ought to go
out and stay out till they know the
different between bones and beef.
But what does all this mean? 1t
means that in the future beef cattle
will pay. The producers are being
weeded out, the ranges are succumb-
ing to the sheep and the settler. the
farm land is getting too dear to raise
steers on, and some day the country
will awaken to the fact that 1t Is short
OF cattle. These periodical spells OF
encouragement always mean higher
prices in the future. We have seen
sheep sell too low to pay their own
freight TO market, good hogs at 81 per
hundredweight and fat cattle at SO in
the country, and every line they went
right to the other extre me-
And here a suggestion. Breeders are
selling pure bred cattle comparatively
cheap because they nav. to. They dc
not thank us for saying so, perhaps,
but we know that prices are lower
than for some years. food pure bred
beef cattle can be bot .ght right, and
IL they are the kind nesded we advise
their purchase.
That the time to begin is when the
rest are quitting has proved true IN
the livestock business Of this coun-
try. The beef men are quitting.
Farm Ice Houses.
This is the season to arrange for an
ice house to be filed this winter. Any
old style of building will do 80 long az
the roof is tight and proper drainage
is provided, says correspondent IN
the Farm Stock journal.
Ice may be kept in a. shed all sum-
mer IL it Is we'll covered with saw dust
but it must be packed in sufncien1
quantities, as small amount on ice
| will not keep. An ice house IL feel
square or 12x14 Is big enough on the
ground, but it must be sufficiently h Oh
to give head room above the ice and
the ice keeps better If it is from 10 te
IL feet deep.
In building an ice house several am
portant details should be carefully con-
sidered. 1t Is good plan to have II
near the kitchen. It lis no more worh
to haul the ice to q convenient place
for using than it Is to take 1T to some
out OF the way place, then be obliged
to carry the chunks an unnecessary
distance during the summer when ev-
erybody about the place is hard al
work.
An ice house with plenty Of ice fol-
summer use is a great luxury. Many
farmers, however Hre much like one %
my old neighbors who always intended
to build an ice house next winter bu'
he could not fill in hot weather and
when winter finally came again 1t was
cold enough to do without an ice house
In this way he went without ice year
after year. Another ndghbor felt thai
he could not afford separate building
but as he had plenty OF shed room he
f1eored one end Of cattle shed with
poles to make drainay &c then filed II
with ice, put slab partition around It,
chinked in tho cracl,s with bits OF
board and old rails until 1t would hold
saw dust and had tee 20 uso the great
err part Of the summer from this make
shift.
After the ice house is filled 1t Is mos1
important to keep the ice covered. Thii
requires some attention during the mrs,
warm weather Of spring because the
ice will settle some, no matter how
well it is packed and covered with saw
the mass of damp saw Dust and these
frequently extend to the bare ice. I'm
less they are filled, considerable Loss
will follow in a few days.
Where saw dust Is scarce. marsf
grass or chaffy straw is sometimei
substituted. Marsh grass packs close
ly when wet, is clean and does not ro'
easily into manure like straw or nay
It is not subject to the same oo]ee-
! ton as saw dust In leaving open cracAs
| but unless watched and packed GOVT
occasionally the air will get thru i
perhaps just as easily :.
The kitchen refrigerator may b
made at home, but the manufactures
ones are better lockers. Hut Wnssne,
home made or factory made 1t shsuit
be large enough to hold zee pounds o
ice. A big ice box requires fillins oni1
once a week besides this the tempera
ture is more even. A big dee ches
pays in another way, u Is easier .