Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1905-10-26
RYE AS A SOIL PROTECTOR.

RYE AS A SOIL PROTECTOR.
While rye Is not considered all that Is
desirable as a cover crop 1t certainly is
far better than to allow the soil to rema!n
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 ~fertilize the soil before sowing
the rye. realizing that 1t has little ma
nurial value. but on the other hand, must
take some plant food from the soil for its
support. The main value Of the rye is in
the fact that the soil is kept open by hay
ing this growth on 1t hence obtains and
hoids a certain quantity of moisture
which VIII be needed the following sum
mer 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 It grew
is lacking In humus 1t would be most de-
sirable 20 pillow 1t under in the spring to
benefit TIE next crop in the rotation no
matter what it may be. In any event have
some sort Of cover crop for the soil and
conserve the foods in 1t rather than let
Them be destroyed to a greater or less ex-
tent by the elements.
CEMENT BUILDING BLOCKS.
n Introduction Of cement building
docks, 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 comparativelv
small expense for materials. Bricks are
gong higher In price and as our forests
are being rapidly cut away with little or
no provision being made for growing other
trees, the cost of lumber promises before
announcer quarter century to be prohibitive
except for people of wealth. There IA one
element of danger in the cement b,ildinc
block. which If not carefully wal ror
may abruptly destroy the industry. When
the blocks are properly made they are safe
ana OF the desired strength, but thew NAV
DE so careiessly made that they will
crumbie and even absorb moisture: in
eitner case they would be worthless. Pos
s,oiy some way may be evolved whereby
the manufacture Of these blocks can he
under the supervision Of comne.ent auS
thorities. 1t is to be hoped 80 else compe-
,ltioh Is ilkeiy to put on Tire market some
material that would constitute a menace
10 LIE under some circumstances.
SHARPENING THE HENS rEEru
AS all VINO raise poultry know the nor
ton OF the hens anatomy answer,n1 n
teeth Is the gizzard and 1t is therefore inn
portant that material be provided which
~nl ehanie the gizzard to do Its duty fully.
RONAeA A1IdIi says ne would QQ
soon think OF trying to raise fowls Whom
gram as without grit and he is very near
right. While all sorts Of things are rec.
commended for grit We believe that there
should be considerable mixture here "a
Wen as In the food. A ~neighborinr morris,
wlillnsiy gives us all Of the broken low
er pots we will cart away and these aro
broken in still smaller pieces and m,~ad
with short bits of stone and irreoular
pieces OF gravel. broken china and WITH
the hard portions of clam and ovator
sheiis. All OF this mass IL placed in a box
protected from soil as much "a nossihle
ana situated where the fowls can get at ~
any time they please. We SO to consider
able u to keep II clean and free from
dirt SO that the fowls can pick out the
pieces they as they please.
BUILDING THE WINTER Roosrs
All pou'trymcn do not realize the i'm.
portance OF care in constructing the roo.t.
m the winter poultry house. II "a worth
spending considerable time to do ri.
"ork properly In the beginning for less
nehting OF vermin will be NECESSARY IN
and there VIII be little dan.
ger OF injured birds. In the frat Mac
construct all roosts 30 that thew a.
AoVaoie. This In easily done by arranr.
ing the end pieces. the portions uh,ch
sustain the roosts. with deem cuts .h.nsa
IKE the letter v into which tho ronsts
may set They are easily removed IL con.
structed N this manner Then the 1900.
U be placed low, from fifteen to eisht.
cen inches being about right. the lesss,
ois,ance Tor the heavier breeds, n n !.
necessary to place the roosts higher thes
a BOARD with cleats across should be m.
vided so that the fowls may wax IN e
.ne nrst roost. but do not place them ~
II 1t can be avoided for the birds ara ~
y TO reach the glound by ny:ns. In ~
morning. no matter how much care -