The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-06-02

small door may be readily opened when 1t
Is necessary to let the old hen out and yet
she cannot get it loose of herself; the Stats
are placed far enough apart SO that the
chicks can go in and out at will and they
should b" placed wide apart SO that no
change Will need to be made as the chicks
grow. A little more lumber and brains
put in the making of coops for chickens
would make the old hen more comfortable
and prevent many of the chicks from dying
of roup.
NITRO CULTURE in COMMERCE
Some time since reference was made III
this department to the bacteria sent ont in
concentrated form by the department of
agriculture and by commercial concerns.
Caution was advised in dealing with the
latter until one was satisfied Of their re-
liability. Recent articles have been print
ed in magazines of wide circulation which
tend to give farmers an entirely wrong
idea of this bacteria, or nitro-culture as it
is now called. With the charge that the
department Of agriculture was uncon-
sciously aiding this plan. we have nothing
to do, but when the statement is made,
without the slightest qualification. that
seed of clover inoculated with nitro-cul-
turc will insure not only a uniform catch
but a healthy, vigorous and largely in
creased crop, 1t Is certain that the truth
should be told. OF the value of the con-
centrated bacteria, provided it Is honest
ly made, there can be no question, but that
1t will Insure a uniform and largely An
creased crop of clover" is misleading. Soil
for clover must be free from acidity, as
every farmer must know, but there Is
nothing said concerning the fact that this
concentrated bacteria would prove a total
failure on sour soils, although this is a
fact beyond dispute. This is but one in
stance in which the claims made for nitro
culture are unfair, but If there were no
others this one would be sufficient war
rant for sounding this warning. Try nitro
culture by all means if a supply can be
obtained from a reputable firm, but do not
expect to find it in a complete fertilizer
nor do not expect it to SWeeten sour soil
SO that clover may be grown upon it.
CLEANLINESS IN THE DAIRY.
One can scarcely be too clean with the
utensils used in the dairy, but cleanliness
should go back of the dairy and begin in
the stables and with the cows. If the ami
mails are properly groomed and the stables
kept clean then plenty of s%calding water.
plenty of lime water and plenty of sun
ought to make the utensils as clean as II
is possible to get them. An excellent plar
of cleansing utensils is TO wash them thor.
oughly in scalding hot water, rinse then
in lime water and then place them where
the sun will shine in them as long as pos
sible during the day. The lime water is
cheap and is readily made by dissolvinE
a half buShel of lime in a barrel of water
stir thoroughly and then let it settle fol-
two or three days. Then draw off the wa,
ter for use as needed. A good use for the
water after it is used for rinsing is on the
floors of the stable; it will help greatly il
purifying things.
FEEDING YOUNG PIGS.
The common way OF feeding young pig:
Is to pour the food in the trough and lie
o. . - 1lI .N,, n nj y N ,rn,, ~, ~cfn y Of, Z h nm,
selves. The result is trouble with thu
pigs if not with the mother. Young pig:
should always be fed by themselves ant
never of any one kind of grain but Away!
a mixture and that in quite sloppy form
Have it sweet and clean and of good quail
ity and feed it SO that they will eat it al
and grunt for more. There is no objection
to permitting the young pigs to eat at tn
trough with their mother provided TIL
latter has had her full meal and will ca
little or none of that provided for tn
pigs. After feeding the slop to the pig
we find it an excellent plan to give then
a little green food. provided they are no
in the habit of being or the range eacl
day. Then nave a sunny corner, dry an
with a comfortable bed of straw wher
they can sleep and grow while waiting 70
the next meal.
FOR BROODER RAISED CHICKS
Naturally enough the brOoder raise
chick does not learn to feed itself so We
as the chick who runs with the old her
Most people who raise chicks in brooder
do very well in the feeding during tn
bread crumb and the oatmeal period, bu
there is danger in prolonging these day
and not Starting the chicks to grow a
soon as one ought. When they are tire
or four weeks old they should have NOR
substantial meals: there is nothing bette
for bone and muscle forming than a DIR
mash composed of wheat, corn and cat
ground and well mixed and mulstened wit
milk Cnot sour until II Will crumble Xix
bread. This mash should be fed at morn
ing and night, while at noon a little fine
.ly cracked corn should be S~cattere
through some fine straw SO that they wi
scratch for ii. the green food shout
he given. several times daily and in sma
quantities. Do not feed them anything
the way of animal food until they ar
kurned on to the ang where they wi
learn 10 catch insects and thus get all c
this sort Of food they will need until fal
Above all things do not neglect the coo
fresh water and the abundance OF shade