The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-08-25

investigators now says mat the assistant
secretary Of agriculture authorizes the
statement that he Is making an invcStiya-
tion into the matter Of the value of nitro
cultures and advising the public to await
the results OF this investigation before de-
pending too mucn on nitro-culturc from
commercial firms. This is probably good
advice, although 1t will work harm to the
men who are supplying the honest article.
III the department OF agriculture Will give
the results of its Investigation VIDE pub
LEFTY and specify by nam" and address
those who are supplying the spurious ar
ticle and those the reliable then the cx-
pose will not have beech in vain and farm
ers Will be placed in possession. at "A small
cost. Of something of great benefit to tn.ln
N growing certain crops.
THE VALUE OF TRAP NESTS.
I While there are many things used on the
farm in the way of convenienccs which
may be made by any handy man after II
description we do not consider the trap
nest one OF them. 1t Is not within the
province" or this department to call atten-
tiofi TO any commodity by name which is
made by only one or two concerns for the
advertising department of the paper is
open TO such people. Trap nests are man
ufaeturcd by many concerns. can be found
on sale by dealers In agr.cuItura, and
poultry supplies and plans for home man
utacturc may also be bought, hence the
subject may be fairly discussed here. BY
use OF the trap nest one Is able to ascer-
tain beyond a doubt which fowls arr Law
ing with profit to their owner and which
not. II requires some time to look after
lhese nests to be sure. but 1t is time well
spent and after having them one season
one Will be surprised to find how many
or ms fowls belong in the carcass market
rather than at nome in the egg factory.
1t may be fairly said that the trap nest is
quite as valuable 10 the poultryman as is
the Weighing machine and the Babcock
test to the uairyman.
PLANTING Low HEADED TREES
There Is always more or less controversy
going on over the value of the low headed
tree over that which is headed high but
when one narrows the thing down to a
logical conclusion ii may be readily seen
that there can be no possible advantage
In the growth of trunk to the tree or to
the fruit while there are many advantages,
In the tree headed low. Probably nursery.
men are responsible for the tall tree nv
reason of the fact that they must grow
the tree planters demand which are those
usually three and four years old. Natur-
ally. at the prices trees are sold they
cannot afford to head back the trees in
the nursery row, hence when they are
ready to put on the market they nave
grown to Il considerable height. The rem
" u 1 l'ldIt year Olu trees so tIAt tho.
heading back process can be introduced
at the time the tree is set and continued
unttl the head is formed an. to the height
desired. All the runk needed Is that which
snail be sufficient to sustain the top. The
low headed tree is a JOY to the fruit pickar
and orchardists are more and more lean
ing IN this direction 50 that after a time
the only trees over a year old which will
be sold Will be those planted on town lots.
OrCHafutStS VIII 81 We nnnpN hr th, ,.n,r
tree and can raise the tree as they please.
INCREASING FARM VALUES.
AS the editor of this department is
aware the writer Is a little bit cranky on
the subject of improving the farm home
grounds and the country streets by the
use OF trees along the road and trees,
shrubs. and plants on the home grounds.
1t has always seemed strange that farmers
could not fully realize the Importance of
this line of Improvement along monetary
lines If he cannot see the sentimental part
II II. Just witness the settling of a town
anywhere In this country. First tn. roads
are laid out and almost invariably trees
are set along the road side. Then the IN
diVidual lot owners start In at grading.
then seeding, and then the planting of
shrubs. trees and towering plants. In
five years one sees a beautiful lot of trees
and plants where was only a mass of
t1eids. Less than fifteen years ago the
writer was offered a strip OF ground on
which corn was growing for $500 an acre.
True, this was within four miles of a
thriving summer resort but the price
seemed very high and the offer was de-
clined. Soon a town was started. streets
laid out, trees planted and all the other
things done which go to make n town and
today lots 5Oxl5O sell readily at 50, 500.
Roughly figured this IL at the rate of
$4,000 an acre. Don't 1 wish Id bought
that three-acre plat at $500 an acre. This
Example is an exception but there is not
a farming community in the country
where the valuation cannot be greatly In
creased by the simple making OF good
roads and the setting of shade trees and
caring for them and such valuation still
greater enhanced If individual farm own-
ers will b~eautify their own home grounds,
The plan is worth the careful consi6era-
ton of any community.
THE SWITCHING TAIL.
One of the troubles of the mixer Is the
her tall into ones face or knock ones hat
off. There are a lumber Of simple devices
to overcome this and one of the best Of
them Is made by arranging a length of
wire about three feet back of he animal
stretching 1t from one post to another.
Before fastening the one end take a lath
and after boring n hole in 1t run the wire
through 1t. On the other end of the lath