Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1905-10-26

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the third box for grit and change the
grains OF alternate days. This feeding
box is arranged so that when the feed Is
poured in 1t rolls down the sloping floor to
a tray at one end which Is also divided.
The fowls are thus at liberty to eat Of any
grain they prefer. The plan is a good one
and worth trying to ascertain II 1t will
work with ones individual flock. In the
illustration the top picture shows how the
roof slopes backward and the dotted lines
indicate the divisions Of the feed boxes.
Letter B indicates a board on the roof
which is hinged to tho regular roof boards
and Is lifted when the compartments are
to be filled. Letter A indicates the divided
compartments.
RYE AS A SOIL PROTECTOR.
While rye Is not considered all hat Is
desirable as a cover crop 1t certainly is
far better than to allow the soil to remain
uncovered all winter. We have found
great benefits In sowing rye after harvest
ing the last potato crop and especially OF
the fields that are sandy. We take pains,
however. to ~fertilize the soil before sowing
the rye. realizing that 1t has little ma
nurial value. but on the other hand. must
take some plant food from the soil for its
support. The main value OF the rye is in
the fact that the soil Is kept open by hav-
ing this growth on 1t hence obtains and
holds a certain quantity of moisture
which Will be needed the following sum-
mer by the growing crops. What will be
lone with the crop in the spring must be
decided by conditions. 1t may be desir-
able to feed 1t to stock, but If this Is not
necessary and the soil on which 1t grew
Is lacking in humus 1t would be most de-
sirable to pillow 1t under in the spring to
benefit the next crop in the rotation no
matter what 1t may be. In any event have
some sort Of cover crop for the soil and
conserve the foods in 1t rather thar let
them be destroyed to a greater or less ex-
tent by the elements.
CEMENT BUILDING BLOCKS.
The Introduction of cement building
blocks, better known a. artificial stone,
promises to revolutionize the building in
dustry, and 1t is to be hoped that the time
is not far distant when this manufacture
will be so perfected that one can erect
much needed buildings at comparatively
small expense for materials. Bricks are
going higher in price and as our forests
are being rapidly cut away with little or
no provision being made for growing other
trees. the cost Of lumber promises before
another quarter century to be prohibitive
except for people of wealth. There Is one
element OF danger in the cement building
block. which II not carefully watched for
may abruptly destroy the industry. When
the blocks are properly made they are safe
and OF the desired strength. but they may
be so carelessly made that they viii
crumble and even absorb moisture; in
either case they would be worthless. Pos
sibly some way may be evolved whereby
the manufacture of these blocks can be
under the supervision Of competent au.
thorities. 1t Is to be hoped SO else compe-
tition Is likely to put or thr market some
material that would constitute a menace
to life under some circumstances.
SHARPENING THE HENS TEETH
AS all who raise poultry know the .por-
ton of the hens anatomy answering to
teeth is the gizzard and 1t is therefore i'm.
portant that material be provided which
will enable the gizzard to do its duty fully
One veteran poultryman says he would as
soon think Of trying to raise fowls without
grain as without grit and he Is very near
right. While all sorts of things are rec
commended for grit we believe that there
should be considerable mixture here as
well as In the food. A neighboring florist
willingly gives us all Of the broken fow.
er pots we will cart away n these are
broken in still smaller pieces and mixed
with short bits OF stone and Irregular
pieces Of gravel. broken china and with
inc nara portions OF clam and oyster
shells. All of this mass 10 placed in a box
protected from soil az much as possible
and situated where the fowls can get at 1t
any time they please. We go to consider.
able trouble to keep II clean and free from
dirt 80 that the fowls can pick out the
pieces they want as they please.
BUILDING THE WINTER Roosrs
All pou'trymcn do not realize the inn
p%ortance of care in constructing the roosts
IN the winter poultry house. It Is worth
spending considerable time to do this
work properly in the beginning for less
fighting OF vermin will be necessary in
consequence and there Will b. little dan
ger Of injured birds. In the first place
construct all roosts so that they arc
Movable. This in easily lone by arranR-
ing the end pieces. the portions which
sustain the roosts. with deep cuts shaped
like the letter v Into which the roosts
may set. They are easily removed IL COM
structed m this manner. Then the roosts
must be placed low, from fifteen to eiRht-
cen inches being about right. the lesser
distance for the heavier breeds. II II Il
necessary to place the roosts higher then
a board with cleats across should be pro-
vided SO that the fowls may walk up to
the first roost. but do not place them Mar
II It can be avoided for the birds are me.
ly to reach the ground by flying. In the
mnrnfnO vN VnANtoM No., -