The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-06-29
CUTTING ALFALFA EARLY.

most soils occupied by orchards need
badly.
CUTTING ALFALFA EARLY.
Those who are having their first expert
ence with alfalfa are likely TO make the
mistake OF waiting until the crop h. too
far advanced before cutting IL: n serious
mistake because Il gets woody II alloyrcd
TO ripcn. The usual plan In 10 cut IL when
Il Is from one-nfth 10 onc-tenth In bloom.
doing the work In the morning and letting
Il dry Just enough no that the leaves do
not fall IL In then rakcd into small wind
rows and allowed TO dry some more be-
foro hauling u TO the barn. How much IL
should dry will depend somewhat on the
weather but with a whole day OF bright
sunshine this Is sufficient, the idea being
not TO let u dry enough 30 that the leaves
fall In handling. The windrows should bc
turned at least once 80 that the alfalfa
can dry some on the undcrsidc. Should it
rain while the crop II drying let I. remain
out OF doors another day. never put u into
the barn wet. Each crop may be cured
In the manner specified and when housed
will keep In good condition provided II is
not wet when put In the barn.
HAVE PLENTY OF SWEET CORN
No one can object TO the farmer with
considerable stock having a good supply
OF field corn. but the sweet corn should
lot DE ncElcCtcu Ior ~ N one VI TIC HfSaN
valuable foods of the farm. Slowed sweet
corn Is ono OF the best of plants TO help
out a short pasture and IL makes good
ensilage. The shelled sweet corn viii
furnish variety as well as nutriment even
TO stock that II being largely fed on Held
corn: the stalks OF the sweet corn are
moro tender than those of the field varie-
ties. hence are correspondinEiy rclished by
the stock. In feeding poultry we have III
81 ~
be most desired by the birds. especially
when fed whole. IL does not make so at-
tractive an ear as the field corn when
cured, but II moro than makes up In quail
lily. \ good plan IL To make frequent SOW
ings OF sweet corn during the summer; OF
course much OF 70 will not bear. but Il will
be found very useful withal for feeding
green to any Of the stock on the farm and
by careful storage u may be kept green
until quite late.
WATER FOR YOUR WORK HORSES
Remember that the stomach OF the horse
In small, hence II should have frequent
drinks OF water during the day and cspo-
clally In the summer: not only this hut ths
water should be fresh and cool and given
from n clean receptacle. During the day.
between meals. there IL no reason why the
horse should not have all the water Il
wants. provided II n doing only ordinary
hard work. There are other places for
water also: when the horse comes In from
the field remove the halter and head gear
and with large sponge 20 over the entire
head and shoulders with the water. rc-
moving all the soil and Precipitation: let
tke water be used freely about the ears.
the nostriia and In the mouth. Then 40
over the rest OF the body and wipe u thor
oughly with n wet sponge. This sort OF
treatment viii do tho animal world OF
good and "a viii eat better. sleep better
and work better for this humane treat
mcnt. During the warm weather look out
for tender spots on the horse where tho
harness chafcs: be watchful that the har-
rcss tits In every part so that the work
may be done without fiinching. III the col
lar does not III see that IL - attended TO at
once for tho hRrncssmakcr's bill will be
less than ;he value OF the services OF the
horse II Il u laid up for a week with "A sore
shoulder. Don't forget the nightly groom
ing and see that II Is thoroughly done.
CARE OF THE POULTRY YARD.
Where fowls are confined In rather close
quarters during the summer II Il a good
plan TO arrange so that tho poultry yard
can be changed or else divided In two or
more sections so that one can be renovated
while the other Is being ased. IL the yard
T. OF the ordinary garden soil Ia should be
Spaded under TO the depth OF the spade
after first cleaning out the worst OF the
Nth. Then sow this space 20 oats or rye
and allow Il to grow for two weeks: then
turn tho poultry into tails yard and treat
the other yard IN the Xamc manner. The
fowls will do much better under this treat
ment and not be 40 likely 10 miss the
range. Another good pan II TO have n
small yard into which the fowls may BE-
turned an hour or two daily. this yard
should be In heavy sod and the fowls
should not be permitted TO occupy II long
, enough at time 10 soil the grass. Keep
grass growing throughout the season by
a little commercial fertilizer and plenty OF
water II needed. II the feeding ~ done IN
tho yards all reccpt.cais both for food
and water should be kept as clean as pos
siblc. These summer comforts will DO
much toward making the hers keep In
good laying condition for fall and winter
instead OF lts taking until Christmas for
them TO get In laying condition.
FOOD SAVING TROUGH.
That much wood IL issg by reason OF
poorly constructed trVaghs anyone viii
admit who has watched animals feed at
such troushs. True. some labor Il saved
" troughs arc constructed with but one
.argc place In which the food II placed.
but this IL more than lost I'm the waste OF
foci. An ideal trough. and one that 10
simple and easily constructed IL made BY
placing division boards In IL so that sash
animal has a piac, TO itself. In this way
/ there II likely 20 be less crowding and. by
h IA ian EtH