Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-08-19
FEEDING Old Hens.

rail-, especially after they go into winter
quarters. so hat II they stop laying they
can be prepared for market as quickly as
possible. ii has been found that old hens
will lay into the winter for a considerable
period IL some pains is taken to feed them
during the summer while they are on the
range. One OF the best foods for this
period Is peas, using the field peas and
feeding them raw after being cracked or
cooking them and feeding as a mash with
bran. This feed incites egg production
and keeps the hens in good condition with
out making them over-fat; at the same
time they are In such good condition that
should they stop laying they can be fat
tened for market at small expense. The
plan Is worth trying. for one of the losses
Of the poultry business comes from spend
ing too much IN fattening the hens for
market after they have stopped laying.
Feeding Hogs on Ranges.
Beyond question it pays to grain the
hogs that are on pasture provided 1t Is
not overdone. While 1t is true that most
farmers who raise hogs on the range do
not grain them at all, this is as much a
mistake as feeding them too heavily. For
a range a mixed pasture gives best re-
suits and there should be no hes.tancy in
also throwing TO the hogs all of the weeds
that are cut on the farm. for they eat
many of them which other stock will not
touch. Regulate the supply Of grain given
the hogs according to the quality OF the
pasture and the age of the animals. but
do not give them so much hat they will
be tempted to stop grazing.
Brushing Cows in Summer.
The writer is a persistent advocate Of
cow grooming and would as soon think OF
letting the cows go without a daily clean
ing, as the horses. During the summer
@~1 A-.,e1t1- a. I~x@A AAI fhlC xxvAr1 DO
performed directly after the milking the
lows are all the better for 1t IN every way.
During the winter the curry comb as well
as the brush is used on the cows. We
nave found that the brushing removes soil
from the animal and renders her less LA
BILE to the attacks OF flies. Then, we use
one OF the commercial compounds TO keep
the flies of in addition to the brushing.
The result is that with plenty OF good
pasture, a stream Of clear water, q grove
Of trees for shade and freedom from flies
the milk suppiy Is ali that could be do
sired, the cows are healthy and happy
and the dairy Is profitable. IT certainly
pays to treat the cows well and make
them as comfortable as possible. Another
point in tho feeding OF COWS during the
summer which we discovered paid well.
Every day a fey apples, vegetable tops
and In the season, a few potatoes that
We're partially rottesl or In some other way
unstable are taken into the pasture and
each cow has a portion; not much, but
just enough TO give her a spice of yari-
ety.
When Ducks Are Profitable.
A number OF inquiries have been received
by The editor of this department asking
for information regarding the profit in
duck raising. The writer has found that
raising ducks paid IL they could have a
considerable range. plenty OF green stuff
and also grain In considerable quantity,
To feed at this rate could only be done
when the bulk OF the food was raised ON
the farm, and even then the work was
not profitable unless a near by market
could be had and at fair prices, Fortu-
nately we are located near a summer re-
sort. where the prices paid for ducks are
good and we market the birds as soon as
they are well feathered out. The grain is
OF course OF last years growing. but we
keep the ducks In good growing shape
by using plenty OF green stun from the
garden and skim milk from the dairy.
Unless conditions are unusually favorable
most farmers win lind chicken raising
more profitable b duck raising.
Decoyinu the Hessian Fly.
Wheat growers of long experience are
familiar with the plan of sowing a decoy
! strin of wheat early in the season to en-
tice the Hessian fly. 1t Is a good plan to
do this even IL there Is no certainty that
the enemy may be waiting for you. A
narrow strip Is sown entirely around the
field intended for wheat and this is turned
under at the time the main crop Is to be
sown- This turning the decoy strip or
wheat under IL a better plan than blowing
a number OF dead burrows between this
strip and the main field. The main crop
sshould be sown M late as IL can be with
safety whether tho decoy strip is used or
not, for the later the sowing the less dan
ger from the Hessian fly Bear In mind
also that aside from the battle with the
Hessian fly success in wheat growing
comes from the thorough preparation OF
tho seed bed The man who works on the
plan that the seed bed for wheat cannot
be made too good In the one who gets the
profitable crop AT least this is the result
on farms that nave been titled for a num-
Der Of years. 1t Ia worth trying this fall.
Why Care Should Be Given Manure.
Once more the manure question. a aues-
ton that we bring up frequently because
IL II q most important one and one which
needs agitation until all farmers will see
the necessity Of caring for their manure
and particularly for tho liquid portion OF
It. II W. look at the chemical value of
the liquid manure We find that compared
with the solid portions there is. double
the amount OF nitrogen and Ave times the
amount OF potash In the liquid than I'm the
solid and az these are the expensive ele-
ments OF plant food. the value Is readily
seen. IL is estimated that In one ton OF
fresh horse urine there is about 80 pounds
each OF nitrogen and potash, certainly
well worth saving, so the question Is, are
you keeping the manure made this sum
mer so that you are saving this valuable
liquid portion7 There are two ways 20 do
It. the better way being to put the manure
on the land, spreading II on, as fast as
made and the other way providing some
place with a semen bottom where the
liquid will be retained. These are the cold.
hard facts In the case; now what are you
gong to do about It?
Mulching the Strawberry Beds.
Answering a question put to twenty dif-
ferent growers OF Strawberries, men who
grow the fruit on q large scale. Ii seems
pretty well understood thai It pays "a
keep the strawberry plants mulched ali
the time except during the period In the
spring when . light cultivation IL given
them OF course this applies 20 plants
grown on rather light soil for tho sum.
mcr muIching would be likely injurious
g applied to plants grown on heavy soil
= plan Of mulching mostly carried on ia
to cover b plants between the rowa quite
heavily after the ground ID frozen well
IL the early v1nter then after all danger
from freexing and thaWinG II over Id the
oprfu& tho COARSE mulch Il rakcd Oh and