The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-10-19


mo third box for grit md change the
grains on alternate days. This feeding
box In arranged 40 that when the feed 10
poured In II rolls down the sloping floor 10
n tray at ono end which n also divided.
The fowls are thus at liberty 20 cat OF any
grain they prefer. The plan Is n good ono
and worth trying to ascertain II IL will
work with ones individual flock. In the
Illustration the top picture shows how tho
roof slopes backward and tho dotted lines
indicate the divisions OF tho feed boxes.
Letter II indicates a board on M roof
which II hinged 20 tho regular roof boards
and II lifted when tho compartments arc
TO DO filled. Letter A indicates tho divided
compartments.
RYE As A SOIL PROTECTOR.
While rye n not considered all that In
desirable as n cover crop Il certainly r.
far better than 20 allow the soil 10 remain
uncovered all winter. We have found
great benefits In sowing rye after harvest
Ing the last potato crop n especially on
the fields that are sandy. We take pains.
however. TO ~fcrtilizo the soil before sowing
the rye. realizing that 10 has little ma
nuriai value. but on tho other hand. must
take some plant food from the soil for Its
support. The main vaiu OF the rye In In
the fact hat the soil In kept open by hav-
ing this growth on ~ hence obtains and
holds n certain quantity OF moisture
which Will DO needed tho following sum-
mcr by the growing crops. what viii be
done with the crop In tho spring must DO
decided by conditions. IL may bo dcsir-
able TO feed % TO stock. but II this IN not
necessary and the soil on which IL grew
In lacking In humus ~ would be most de-
sirRble TO plow IL under In the spring TO
benefit the next crop In the rotation no
matter what IL may be. In any event have
some sort OF cover crop for the soil and
conserve the foods In IL rather han 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 as artificial stone.
promises 10 revolutionize tho building In
dustry. and IL IA to be hoped that the time
ls not far distant when this manufacture
will be so perfected that one can erect
much needed buildings at comparatively
small expense for materials. Bricks arc
going higher In price n as eur forests
arc being rapidly cut away with little or
no provision being made for growing other
trees. the cost or lumber promises before
another quarter century 90 DO prohibiiiye
except for people OF wealth. There In one
element OF danger In tho cement building
block. which IL 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 TO carelcssly made that they will
crumble and sven absorb moisture: In
either case they would be worthless. Pos
sibly some way may be evolved whereby
the manufacture OF these blocks can be
andcr tho supervision OF competent au-
Jhoritics. II IL to be hoped no else compe-
tition is likely 20 put on the market some
material that would constitute n menace
TO life under some circumstances
SHARPENING THE HENS TEETH
As all who raise poultry know the por-
don OF tho hen's anatomy answering 20
teeth IL the gixzard and 10 Is therefore i'm
portant that material DO provided which
will enable the gizzard TO do It's duty fully.
ono veteran poultryman says he would ns
soon think OF trying TO raise fowls without
grain ~ without grit and he In very rear
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 ncighboring florist
willingly gives us all OF tho broken now
err pots we will cart away and these arc
broken I'm still smaller pieces and mixed
with short bits OF stone and irregular
pieces OF gravel. broken china and with
the hard portions OF clam and oyster
shells. All OF this mass n placed In a box
projected from SOIL m much rs possible
and situated where the fowls can get ut II
any time they please. We 70 10 consider
able trouble TO keep IL clean and free from
dirt so that the fowls can pick out the
pieces they wan as they please.
BUILDING THE WINTER BOOSTS
All poultrymen do not realize tho i'm
~portance OF care In constructing the roosts
In the winter poultry house. II L. worth
spending considerable time 10 do this
work properly In the beginning for less
hghting OF yermin will be necessary IN
consequence n there Will be little dan
ger Of injured birds. In the FIRST place
construct all roostA so that they are
movable. This In easily lone by arrang-
ing the end pieces. the portions which
sustain the roosts. with deep cuts shaped
like the letter v INTO which tho roosts
may set. They are easily removed II con-
structed In this manner. Then the roosts
must be placed low. from fifteen TO eight
cen inches being about right. the lesser
distance for the heavier breeds. II Il "a
necessary 10 place tho roosts higher then
q board with cleats across should be pro-
vided 40 that the fowls may walk up 20
the frat roost. but do not place them high
n 10 can be avoided for the birds are like