Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1905-06-22
POOR BEN DAVIS AGAIN.

POOR BEN DAVIS AGAIN.
Statistics from a certain section of the
country where there are extensive nursar-
les indicate that the Ben Davis appiu
is still in great favor among planters. not
witllstandnng all that is known concern
Ing the absolute worthlesSness of the var-
iety from the standpoint of the consumer.
We believe growers are making a serious
mistake IN extending their area of this
variety for c~onsun. ers are rapidly growing
familiar with 1t and, in large cities at
least, are buying less every year. 1t is
not, of course. advised that any orchards
be rooted up that are profitable. but SIM
ply that no more Ben Davis be planted.
One eastern grower of prominence claims
that the quality of Ben Davis is not mn
proving: there is some question, however:
If there Is any material change in the
quality of the variety; 1t is poor enough
at best and Notwithstanding Its most at
tractive kin 1t probably has the poorest
t9tti4a MIR aIaple on the Wvarket,
previously handled thousands OF Dar1eis
of Ben Davis yearly says that his output
at present is now hundreds instead of
thousands. OF course the consumer Us at
the bottom Of It. Again we advise DO not
set Ben Davis.
COAL ASHES IN THE GARDEN.
We frequently see the advice given to
ASC oSAS oS l1iiHSA, out tiS WIllSTS VI
such items do not always specify whether
wood ashes or coal ashes is meant. AS is
generally known wood ashes have a con-
siderable value as fertilizer, largely be-
cause OF the amount Of potash contained
in them. Large quantities of unleached
wood ashes are yearly brought from
Canada and used on our farms. in some
sections they are extensively used on grass
land. The late Robert Bonner, the noted
horseman, applied wood ashes for several
years in succession to his meadows and
for something like twelve years after the
last application of wood ashes these
meadows have had no fertilizer except a
moderately heavy top dressing of stable
manure each fall; the crop yearly has been
a most satisfactory one. Coal ashes can
be utilized to advantage around orchard
trees where the soil is heavy or clayey in
character: they may also be used az a
mulch around shrubbery and small trees
to conserve the moisture in the soil. These
ashes are less Objectionable for such pur-
poses thai the coarse stable manure gen.
orally used.
HOOP ROT IN cows.
Any one whose COW stables are fitted
with board floors n no provision made SO
that the liquid excrement can pass of will
find their animals suffering more or less
with a difficulty Of the hoof. II the un-
cleanliness Of the stable is allowed to
reach the point where the solid manure
accumulates as we'll, the bad disease
known as hoof rot is likely to be the re-
suit. II there Is anything the matter with
the hoofs of your COWS the first thing to
do Is to provide for clean table floors.
This viii be the prevention part Of the
work and the cure consists in. first soften
ing the hoof az much as possible by pre-
pairing a mixture Of a half pound Of sul-
phate of copper dissolved In two gallons
of hot water, place this in a proper re-
ceptacle and allow the COW to stand with
the diseased hoof In 1t for half an hour.
Have the water as hot AS the COW can
bear 1t. This treatment should be given
three or four times weekly and in addition
to 1t an ointment consisting Of three
ounces of linseed oil, one ounce each Of
tar and Oil Of turpentine should be thor
oughly mixed and a portion Of the mix
ture rubbed thoroughly into the hoof. This
part Of the treatment should be given
daily. Bear in mind, however, that by far
the best plan is to prevent disease by hav-
ing a clean stable.