Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-07-22

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sition so hat 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 a strip OF
wood is placed, thus preventing the an
imal from getting it's feet into the trough
or Jumping over It. A strong board Is
placed at the end of each upright side,
close to the ground, and these boards are
held IN place by stakes driven on either
side. This plan holds the entire structure
firm so that the risky youngsters cannot
tip It over. The expense OF a trough
built on the plan indicated is small ana
1t will pay for itself in a single season In
the feed Ii saves.
Advantages Of Root Crops.
There has been much controversy of late
years concerning the relative values or
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
and one will not take the place or 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.
lnOSG VINO nave IFttQ \ l hllOW NsoN - ~
hard to SOW the seeds OF root crops by
hand and they also know that until the
plants are large enough to hold their own
it Is hard work keeping tho weeds down.
AS TO the feeding values of tie Two UNI
q~uestionably the silage is the most valu-
able and IL called upon to decide between
the two / would select silage every time.
If one has q good silo the root crops Will
have their greatest value in furnishing a
-. -s.4, a.. kIo va~rv, htat AZ 10 xphnrl the
silo is n that the root crops ought
to be extensively grown as furnishing a
succulent food and a digestive at COM
p~aratively small cost, as well as a crop
which may be stored for winter use at
small expense.
Feeding Alfalfa to Hogs.
While the growing Of alfalfa is COM
p~aratively recent, farmers must expert
ment with 1t more or less until they find
where It can be used to the best adyan-
tage. AT present the best returns have
come from cutting and curing the crops
of the season, but In sections where hog
raising is profitable ii has been found an
excellent pasturage provided the hogs are
not turned on to it until the third season.
1t takes three seasons at least for the
plant to get well established and II
the swine are turned onto 1t before 1t is
likely to become seriously injured. The
best result in pasturing swine on alfalfa
come from the growing animals and when
the alfalfa pasture is used for growing
hogs It is estimated that the grain ration
may be cut one-half at least. There is
the further advantage In ~pasturing that
the hogs do not require so much care as
when In confinement or on a range of linn
tied area and this IS quite an item in the
expense Of raising swine.
Test for sc:! Ae;5.
Numerous are the inquiries regarding
the use of lime and while space has been
given to this subject before the interest
In II seems to warrant an occasional arti-
Gle regarding the effect OF lime on the
soil as well an it's effect on plant life.
Strictly speaking lime !s net, in any sense,
q plant food, but 1t brings into the reach
of the growing plant the potash In the
soil which, until released by the lime, is
I'm an insoluble form. The main value OF
lime to the soil. however, Is its sweetening
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 Is easily and inexpen-
sively made. Buy 5 cents worth or blue
litmus paper at the drug store, take a
sheet of 1t. make a crack in the soil with
the spade and slipe the sheet of paper IN
this crack for two or three inches and
then withdraw the spade. In three or
four days pull out the sheet OF litmus pa
per and If it is red there is too much acid
in the soil and 1t will be greatly benefit
ed by an application OF lime. How much
lime can best be determined by expert
menting. Twenty-Five bushels an acre
will be found a fair application and this
amount yearly will be of great advantage
to any soil that is found by the test to be
too acid. A good plan Is to use the lime
for two years In succession then test the
soil again and IL 1t Is not acid omit the
lime for Inc third year.
/ Digestives for Swine.
When farmers recognize the necessity
for treating swine In somewhat the same
manner that they treat other domestic
animals there will be less disease among
them and they can be grown with IesI
expense that at present. AS the hogs arr
expected to eat anything given them an(
grow fat on such a diet, the necessity foI
a digestive Is apparent. Take a box tina
is good and strong and fasten ii at a con
venient spot In the hog house or In thu
pen, II II can be kept covered from TIT
storm. Then prepare a mixture consist
ing OF three-fourth OF a busnei OF char
coal. two pounds OF slaked lime, tw,
pounds OF common salt and five pounds o
hard wood ashes. Let the hogs eat of thi
mixture as they please and they will b.
kept In good condition. 1t Is also a goos
plan to dig up some sod. have II thick
/ from an old pasture and throw TO the hog,
once d week. This viii also assist tnei
digestion.
Working Young Horses
il may be considered that a horse 4
fairly termed young until II Is eight year,
old. and after that 1t ought 10 be ex
pected to accomplish any REASONABLE
amount or work asked Of Il without IN
Jury. often think we are Inclined K
ask too much OF our young horses: VI
work them too hard with the same effec
that working children too hard has. i