Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-11-25

result was that on our trial plot the
yield was so per cent. in favor of the
seed bought from the scotsman, and on
our neighbors ground fully one-third
better. The neighbor is convinced and
now is quite as much of a crank as the
writer on the subject of first-class SEED
and occasionally getting a new strain.
This holds good with all seeds y IL
will be found a wise plan to make q
change occasionally even though our
own seed seems pretty good.
Some Poultry Experience.
A prominent writer on poultry cul-
ture and one OF the most successtui
breeders of fancy stock in the country
said i'm a recent article that one of MS
early mistakes was trying to raise a
considerable number OF several kinds
of fowls on a small area. This is O
, point which has been raised several
times in this department n n
which should have the earnest thought
OF those who embark in the poultry
business. If one Is located on a farm
| where there is plenty of room then
there ought to be little trouble, but
even on the farm it is a serious mis-
| AXE to keep too man breeds. III one
is on a limited area hen the umbe
of fowls should be limited. NO better
| advice can be given the beginner IN
| poultry raising that that he start win
ten or a dozen hens and at the END
of the year determine whether to quit
or expand. This year OF experience VIII
be well spent even though n has any
amount of money to invest in the work.
True. one can hire experienced men ana
it may be wise to do that, but oniy al
ter one has gained sonle experience
themselves so that at all times they VIII
be able to kno what their helpers are
doing. Start right, work hard n IN
telligently and poultry raising VIII be
found a profitable business, particu-
larly as an adjunct 70 general farming,
and more particularly If this branch IS
turned over to the wife and the chil-
dren.
Keeping Poultry Houses Warm.
While every poultryman knows that
fowls must be kept comfortable dur
ing the winter in order to produce
eggs in desirable quantities, there is
such a thing as having the houses TOO
warm. An item is going the ROUNDS
Of the newspapers in which artiilcial
heat for poultry houses Is advocated.
This lis a mistaken notion except IN
sections where the cold is intense.
There is hardly any place in the Unit
| ed States, except Alaska possibly,
where artificial heat is needed In poul-
try houses, provided the houses are
properly constructed; indeed, artihcial
heat is a detriment under the usual
weather conditions. Ii the poultry
house is free from dampness n
draughts, is well ventilated during the
warm part of the day n the birds
have some added protection like a, car
pet hung In front of the roosts at night,
any well built house will be sufficiently
warm without artificial heat. IL arti-
fetal neat seems necessary a fire for
an hour or two just before the w
go to roost is enough.
Shall Cows Be Confined to Barns?
There has been much written in ia
vor of keeping dairy cows in the stalls
most of the time winter and summer.
and while some most satisfactory re-
suits have been obtained by this treat
ment, without doubt it shortens the life
Of the animal. 1t is true that by care
full handling, the perfect ventilation OF
the stables and daily exercise, cows
will do well, but experience has shown
that pasture during the summer with
a part grain ration gives the best re-
suits. During the winter 1t is believed
that the plan of feeding a balanced ra-
ton, giving the COWS comfortable, sun
ny and we'll lighted stables and letting
them have an open shed in which TO
exercise during bad weather, gives
better results than close stall feeding.
1t is a common sense nDethod and If
the details of cleanliness water. yenti-
lation and food are attended to cannot
but produce satisfactory results.
Dry Floors in Poultry Houses.
One of the best methods of keeping
the poultry house fioor dry as web as
! keeping ont the cold which would come
through the cracks in the fioor is 10
cover 1t two or three inches deep with
sawdust and i've this scatter chat or
straw so that the fowls nay get exer-
else in scratching for the food. The
dirt floor is next best to the floor COW
cred with sawdust. but care must be
used to have the soil dry; sand that
has been thoroughly dried is the best
sort of soil. Have a dropping board
under the roost and clean 1t daily, also
clean out the fioor OF the house proper
at frequent intervals and store away
this material with the dfoppings from
under the roost to use on the garden
later. Take especial care to see that
any spots that become wet aroun the
water fountain or vessel are covered
with some absorbing material for If the
fowls stand in such wet places long
they are apt TO contract colds.
Bridges on the Farm.
Those who have had experience with
the peculiar bridges usually construct
ed over streams running through farms
know of how little value they are. To
span a wide waterway with lumber is
expensive and such bridges must be
frequently rebuilt. The suggestion here
where stones are plentiful to construct
bridges at small cost. Walls of rough
G8HHHES5 EFEHEa7s Nv