The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-10-20

box Is arranged SO that when the feed is
poured in it 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. Thu plan is a good one
and worth trying to ascertain If it 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 z indicates a board on the roof
which is hinged to the 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 that Is
desirable as a cover crop it 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 on
the fields that are sandy. We take pains,
however, to ~fcrtilize the soil before sowing
the rye, realizing that it has little ma
nurial value, but on the other hand, must
take some plant food from the soil for It's
i support. Tha main value of the rye is in
the fact that the soil is kept open by hav-
ing this growth on it hence obtains and
holds a certain quantity of moisture
which VIII be needed the following sum
mcr by the growing crops. What Will be
done 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 it would be most de-
siraDle to plOW 1t under in the spring to
benefit the next crop in the rotation no
matter what it may he. In any event have
some sort of cover crop for the SOL and
conserve the foods in 1t rather than let
them De destroyed to IA greater or less ex-
tent by the clements.
CEMENT BUILDING BLOCKS.
The Introduction OF cement building
blocks, better known as 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 arc
going higher in price and as our forests
are being rapidly cut away with little OF
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 If not carefully watched for
may abruptly destroy the industry. Wher
the blocks are properly made they are safe
and of the desired strength, but they may
be so carelessly made that they viii
cru:nble and even absorb moisture: ir
N'T' ne "SblH pV " Vi lIilSSS. US
sibly some way may be evolved whereof,
the manufacture of these blocks can be
under the supervision of competent au.
thorities. Ii is TO be hoped SO else compe.
tition is likely t. put on the market some
material THAI would constitute a menace
to l.fe under some circumstances.
SHARPENING THE HENS TEETH
AS all who raise poultry know the por
ton of the hens anatomy answering t
fnnFh c tln Eiy ~ nt] n -l L. t- +.
portant that material be provided which
will enable the gizzard 20 do it's duty fully
on" veteran pnultryman says he would az
socn think Of trying to raise fowls withou,
grain as without grit and he is very neal
right. While all sorts of things are rec.
commended for grit we believe that there
should he considerable mixture here as
wei! as in the food. A ~neighboring lorIs
willingly gives us all of the broken flow,
er pots we will cart away and these arc
broken IN still smaller pieces and mixed
with short bits of stone and ~irrcgula
pieces Of gravel. broken china and witt
the hard portions of Clam and oystcl
shells. All of this mass Is placed in a DO,
projected from soil as much as possibl,
and situated where the fowls can get at /
any time they please. We 20 to consider
able trouble to keep ii clean and free from
dirt SO that the fowls can pick out tn,
pieces they want as they please.
BUILDING THE WINTER RoosTs
Al! poultrymen do not realize the I'M
portance of care in constructing the roost.
n the winter poultry house. 1t Is wort!
spending considerable time to do thi
work properly in the beginning for les.
fighting of vermin will be necessary ii
consequence and there VIII be little dan
ger of injured birds. In the first plac,
construct ali roosts so thai they ar.
Sovable. This is easily done by arrang
ing the end pieces. the portions which
sustain the roosts, with deep cuts shape,
Ike the letter V into which the roost:
may set. The,' are easily removed If con
stricted n this manner. Then the roost.
must be placed low, from fifteen to eight
cen inches being about right, the Jesse
distance for the heavier breeds. If It II
necessary to place the roosts higher ther
a board with cleats across should be pro
vidcd so that the fowls may walk up t.
the first roost. but do not place them higl
if it can be avoided for the birds are like
" IN reach the pro,1nd nv H1,,,o l.. ~.