The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-06-30

summer CULTIVATION with the cover crop
for winter Is profitable and get to work
now. There are still six weeks during
which the soil between the trees can be
cultivated so that there Is a good dust
mulch. Then stop this work and prepare
to SOW the cover crop. try winter vetch or
rye, to be plowed under in the spring add
ing humus 20 the soil: something which
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 is too
far advanced before cutting it: a serious
mistake because it gets woody If allowed
to ripen. The usual plan is to cut 1t when
it is from one-tifth to one-tenth in bloom,
doing the work In the morning and letting
it dry Just enough so that the leaves do
not fall. 1t Is then raked into small wind
rows and allowed to dry some more be-
core hauling 1t to the barn. How much it
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 1t dry enough so that the leaves
fall in handling. The windows should be
turned at least once so that the alfalfa
can dry some on the underside. Should it
rain while the crop is drying let it remain
out of doors another day, never put 1t into
the barn wet. Each crop may be cured
in the manner specified and when housed
will keep in good condition provided it 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
rot be neglected for it is one of the most
valuable foods of the farm. Sowed sweet
corn Is one Of the best of plants to help
out a short pasture and 1t makes good
enSila ge. The shelled sweet corn will
furnish variety as we'll as nutriment even
to stock that is being largely fed on field
corn; the stalks Of the sweet corn are
more tender than those Of the field varie-
ties. hence are correspondingly relished by
the stock. In feeding poultry we have al
ways felt that the sweet corn seemed to
be most desired by the birds, especially
when fed whole. 1t does not make so at
t%ractive an ear as the field corn when
cured, but 1t more than makes up in quail
ity. A good plan Is to make frequent SOW
ings of sweet corn during the summer; OF
course much Of it will not bear. but 1t will
be found very useful withal for feeding
green to any of the stock on the farm and
by careful storage it may be kept green
until quite late.
WATER FOR YOUR WORK HORSES
Remember that the stomach of the horse
is small. hence It should have frequent
- AAiN Va "oNSA uFiAiS tiic udJ did cSpc-
.cially in the summer; not only this but the
water should be fresh and cool and given
from a clean receptacle. During the day,
between meals, there Is no reason why the
horse should not have all the water it
wants, provided 1t Is 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 a large sponge go over the entire
head and shoulders with the water, re-
moving all the soil and perspira ton; let
the water be used freely about the ears,
the ~nostrils and in the mouth. Then go
, over the rest Of the body and wipe 1t thor
oughly with a wet sponge. This sort Of
treatment will do the animal a world Of
good and it will eat better, sleep better
and work better for this humane treat
ment. During the warm weather look out
for tender spots on the horse where the
harness chafes: be watchful that the har-
ness fits in every part SO that the work
may be done without finching. If the col
lar does not fit see that it IS attended to at
once for the harnessmaker's bill will be
less than the value Of the services of the
horse If 1t Is laid W for a week with a sore
shoulder. Don't forget the nightly groom
ing and see that 1t is thoroughly done.
CARE OF THE POULTRY YARD.
Where fowls are confined in rather close
quarters during the su1nmer it Is a good
plan to arrange so that the poultry yard
can be changed or else divided in two or
more sections so that one can be renovated
while the other Is being used. If the yard
Is of the ordinary garden soil it should be
spaded under to the depth of the spade
after first cleaning out the worst of the
filth. Then SOW this space to oats or rye
and allow 1t to grow for two weeks; then
turn the poultry into this yard and treat
the other yard In the same manner. The
fowls will do much better under this treat
ment and not be so likely to miss the
range. Another good pan is to nave a
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 it long
, enough at a time to soil the grass. Keep
grass growing throughout the season by
a little commercial fertilizer and plenty Of
water If needed. If the feeding is lon in
the yards all recept.cals both for food
and water should be kept as clean as pos
sible. These summer comforts will do
much toward making the hens keep in
good laying condition for fall and winter
instead of its taking until Christmas for
them to get in laying condition.
FOOD SAVING TROUGH.
That much wood Is lost by reason of
poorly constructed troughs anyone will
admit who has watched animals feed at
such troughs. True. some labor is saved
If troughs are constructed with but one
large place in which the food is placed,
but this Is more than lost in the waste of
food. An ideal trough, and one that Is
simple and easily constructed is made by
placing division boards in 1t so that each
animal has a place to itself. In this way
there is likely to be less crowding and, by