Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-12-29

ends of the boards are cut if the gate IS
erected as a part of a board fence. Two
strong strips are nailed on the gate por-
ton and there strong strap hinges are
fastened on the boards where cut next to
the post. Strong hooks and screw eyes
serve as fastenings at the other end Of the
gate. 1t costs but little to arrange several
of the handy gates about the farm and
they will be found useful. The illustration
shows the idea clearly.
PROTECTING THE MANURE.
The annual question concerning the dis
position Of the stable-made manure CONES
up as the pile begins to assume formidable
proportions. BY far the best way of taxi
ing care OF 1t is to spread on the fields
where it will go down into the soil and be
In readiness for the crop which is to be
sown in the spring. If it is to be stored
the ideal place is the pit with cement
bottom which will hold the liquid eXcre-
ment. If this cannot be done then store it
under a shed, placing it in layers and let
the hogs root it over. IL even this is not
feasible then put 1t In piles not very high
and cover with any old rough boards; al
most anything that will keep out the rain
which causes the liquid portions to leach
away. An excellent plan Is to choose a
place where the soil is a clay nature and
dig a trench all around the space where
the pile is TO be and in this way save some
Of the liquid which may be scooped up
and poured back on the pile. Use the pile
as a receiver for the slop from the house
and see that it is forked over several times
during the winter The main thing, how
ever, is to see that it is protected from
the elements as much as possible.
WHAT PURE MILK MEANS.
Many dalrymen are complaining that
they cannot get an increased price for
their milk; the same ~beggarly sum year
after year, while certain dairy concerns
are selling certified milk at prices which
seem very high. Our friends do not con-
slider that In order to produce the milk
which will pass inspection many thing
are required which the average dairyman
utterly ignores. The rules governing in
spected or certified milk in many states
are too lengthy to give here but the one
Item of the care of stables, as required by
the law OF the state of New York, which
Is similar to the law In other states, will
interest the dairymen. The ventilation
must be sufficient, so that the barn shall
be light and the air never close. TIL floor
ing shall be Of wood or cement. The cell
ing shall be tight if there is a loft above
that is used, Basins, hand brushes, clean
water, soap and clean towels shall be pro-
vided in the barn adjacent dairy room. The
stable shall be whitewashed in the fan
and in the spring If necessary. A sufficient
number Of lanterns shall be provided TO
permit the milking 10 be carried on proper
ly. Clean the ceilings and sidings once a
month. The bedding shall be shavings,
sawdust, dried leaves, cut straw or other
material that meets with the approval of
the commission The soiled bedding must
be renewed daily. The manure must be
removed daily from the stalls and open
manure gutter. If a covered manure gutter
is used IL must be kept In a sanitary con-
dition. The application of Ian plaster or
lime on the floor daily is recommended.
Sweep the floor outside the stalls dealy, at
least an hour before milking Is begun. If
your dairy Is run on this line, reader, so
far, as the stables are concerned you would
be in line to market certified milk because
you would be willing to meet the other re-
quirements. If you are in line look up the
commissioners In a near by city and get
a higher price for milk.
MISTAKES I'M TREATING ROTA-
TON CROPS.
1t is granted by every Intelligent farmer
thai rotation of crops Is necessary in or
der to properly preserve soil fertility;
there may be differences of opinion as TO
the crops which should follow each other,
but this IS largely due to what individuals
find works best In their own particular
cases. 1t Is an accepted fact that any soil
that will produce good grain crops will
produce good grass crops so that corn
and grasses are two OF the natural rota-
tive crops although they are not always
correctly treated. What Is meant is this:
Timothy Is frequently sown in clover, the
idea being that the clover will fertiliZe
the soil and largely die out the first win
ter leaving the soil free for the timothy.
This Is good argument of course, and the
plan works nicely when the timothy is cut
the following season, but, too often, II is
permitted to make a second crop and in
the making OF IT. uses up the nitrogen
taken into the soil by the clover so that
none OF it is left for the benefit OF the
grain crop which IL TO follow In the rota-
ton. To a certain extent the mistake Is
made with the grain crop In the same
way, the first crop being so large the own
er is tempted to try a second sowing of
the same crop on the soil and thu breaks
the chain In his system OF rotation and
fails ON the second gram crop or on the
next crop In the rotation which follows the
grain crop. The future fertility of the
soil depends, in a larger degree than we
think, on the rotation OF crops, but this
rotation. whatever II may be. must be
carefully and reiiglously carried on year
after year to produce results.
PLANNING FOR LARGER FLocKs
Many farmers have gone into white.
quarters greatly discouraged thar they
have 30 little cash TO show for their sea-
son of hard work and especially are they
discouraged at the prospects for the com
ing season. There are as many causes for
this encouragement as there are men and.
In many cases. the man has only himself
10 blame. There are cases. however,
where everything points to a change In
crops being desirable and I'm such cases
u where one IL advantageously located,
sr.oAlfry may be oAeis salvation Suppope