The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-12-22

for exarn,e one has a farm that is quite
sandy and generally of poor soil. Maure
is not made on the farm IN sutnqeht
quantities to give paying crops aho'he
contents Of the pocketbook Will hotper-
nit tho purchase Of commercial iertlisers
IN any needed quantities. 1T within reaon-
able distance Of q market such a rrm
could be gradually turned into a poury
farm, and, at least. make a GOOD nlng
for the family. The sandy soil wouldbe
ideal for poultry and still some OF 1t wdid
be rood enough to grow the bulk OF telr
food, while the fertilizers could be Dre
heavily used on the portions which INST
furnish the crops for home use or FOR ne
other farm animals. 1t Is not possibleto
70 into details in q short item, but ay
one with the farm, the right spirit ana
little money could embark in the pouty
business. growing the birds for market I'd
! raising eggs, with every prospect OF W
cess.
lcouNTlNG THE COST OF FARMlfs
The harvest is over and farmers aren
a position to know pretty well II the OPP
atoms Of the past year have been prof.
able. In some sections crops have be
partial failures, in others some crops ha1
been so good that prices rule exceeding
low but, taking the country throug
farmers should have had q prosperol
wear. If not what has been the troubl
One thing worthy OF serious thought
whether one is wearing out his farm; thy
is quite likely to be the case In the olde
states. If the crops have been satisfactory
have we, in growing them, furnished Z
the soil enough fertility to grow the crol
and still return to the soil the plant Ioo'
which it contained before the seed wai
sown? If not, we may consider mat JUS
so much we have, taken from the vitality
of the soil and that, in consequence, tnt
next crop will be correspondingly sInallef
!, OF course there are some exceptions u
, thiGa as for example. Assume that by un
usual cultivation We have released an ex
I ceptionally amount Of the potash IN I'M
t soil and made it available for plant food
: it would not be necessary, under such CIR
cumstances, to replace that potash II
I chemical form. Indeed, we might no
t apply any potash at all and yet, the secon.
year, by still continuing the plan OF cui
~tivation release enough more potash 10
n another crop. While old time farmers
h like the writer, thoroughly believe In tn
a old rule of making the farm grow every
d thing needed for the living OF the famil
e food) and stock before planning to Sc
e any part Of the crops, condition ma
D change this rule slightly. One would ne
lie be justified in raising hay for one or Nv
,e animals when the soil would bring him
much better return If 1t grew strawberrie
for example. At this season OF rest eac
of us should carefully look over the pa
and search for the mistakes quite {
earnestly as for the successes.
At FEEDING THE IDLE HORSE.
or The farm horse who has practical
ar nothing to do during the months OF wint
MS is a costly proposition to feed II he mu
be kept on the regulation ration. 1T
really more profitable to find some wo
lk for the animal to do which will enable o
ny to afford full %rations, as in the summt
an for then the horse is likely to be In mu
better shape to a up the spring wo1
les OF course IL one is located where the nor
can be on pasture more or less during I
winter months the cost OF W1nter1ng I
ch animal is materially reduced. In colo
iii sections one must rely on the shelter
on ward to give the horse needed exercise q
all largely on the grain one has; do not
or tempt to keep the horse through the w
ell ter on roughage alone for the plan v
,ve only result in having a rundown amin
AN in the spring which will be a costly expe
ro- ment. Horses are not fed nearly the gu;
The tity OF roots they should nave ana III
fall who winter idle animals will find 1t pro
emf able TO grow roots especially for them
to feed with the grain ration. In the
,nr- sence Of roots, oil meal bran or SO
G a similar article which will keep the dig
,gs, tive organs in good condition must o'
her part OF the daily ration. One can
of along very nicely on feeding considera
INST ~youghage and corn If considerable bran
he root crops is also used. Remember
pen that good grooming and a clean II
tier stable will do much toward keeping
on animal in good health and help to ens
r or him to enjoy the roughage.
led. PIANO BOX POULTRY HOUSE:
; d New lumber is very high In price
~ likely to be higher 80 that poultrymen
/, ~ farmers are put to all sorts OF make-sh
To one who lives near a large town or
suse the problem Of providing lumber for 81
e structures is easily solved for boxe:
W. various sizes may be bought for much
ee' than the original cost of the lumoe
them. Upright piano boxes are usu
IA sold at IS each new but any plano de
with a surplus Of boxes OH hand vii
'mer glad 10 sell them for much less than
or sum named. A practical poultry h
lily; may be built Of four upright piano b
~ to in this tanner. The backs and
her, which come together are removed toge
uals with two of the tops. The two RENAL
.ular tops are enclosed at the middle end Of
soil house and at the front and a small
will made in the gable end of one, which
corn ton Of the house is used for the ste
Of grain. See figure in the DRAWN
uyo wa .#.