The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-03-16
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all but IL space in the middle which is left
for the hands. The material to be carried
may be loaded on this then the whole thing
folded together and easily carried The
appliance is easily made, costs but a trifle
and will save much labor and the loss OF
material. The illustration shows the idea
plainly and portions market A. a.. being
the spaces left for the hands to carry it by
WORKING POULTRY AND STRAW
BERRIES.
When one speaks of poultry in connec-
ton with any low-growing plant most peo-
pie can see only the scratching birds and
the ruined plants but the combination mas
been and Is being probably carried out
If one selects one of the larger breeds or
hens for this combination the scratching
part of the proposition will be reduced to
a minimum and If the fowls are not re-
CURED to obtain their entire living from the
patch of strawberry plants, they Will DO
comparatively little damage. 1t Is. OF
course, understood that the fowls are not
allowed on the patch until after the fruit
has been gathered but from that time until
they go into winter quarters they will be
exceedingly useful for they will take care
of all the insects do little damage in the
way of scratching which can be readily
repaired by going over the plat each day,
and their droppngs will add materially to
the richness of the plot. II the plantation
covers considerable area it will be a good
plan to have several small colony houses
on the plot so that the hens may have
their own quarters and thus work over a
smaller area. The profit from this COM
bination is good and neither will interfere
with the other especially If the fowls are
raised for egg production. Try 1t on a
small scale and increase as experience
proves 1t pays.
COSTLY STABLE MANURE.
Unquesttonably If one can raise the food
on the farm which Is fed to the stock that
supplies the manure, stable manure is the
most profitable fertilizer to use, but if the
manure must be bought and carried a con-
siderable distance then it is a question
If one can afford to use it entirely or even
in considerable quantity. Indeed, in the
event Of one raising truck in considerable
quantity the commercial fertilizers will
give the best returns. While it is not
advised to do away with stable manure
entirely, by any means. there are truckers
who use little of it relying upon the high
grade commercial fertilizers entirely and
keeping up the humus in the soil by green
manuring. Local conditions must deter
mine if this is the most profitable plan but
it is true in any case that If a high grade
of commercial fertilizer is used and it is
suited to the crop 1t Is generally profitable;
stable manure to be equally profitable
should be from grain fed animals and be
raised on the farm or bought at a low price
with q short haul. The combination of
stable manure at a low price and of high
grade fertilizers is probably to be pre-
ferred to the commercial fertilizer and the
green nianuring though this can be only
worked out by trying it under local condi-
| lions. The experiments along this line will
not. Of necessity be costly and 1t will GER
tainly prove interesting and likely profit
| able in the end.
USING TOO MUCH LIME.
Experience has shown that too much
lime is often used through the impression
that it contains, of itself, considerable
fertilizing value. If, as explained several
| weeks ago. 1t Is used with an idea of set
ting free some of the plant foods in the
soil that is one thing but If the idea is to
J use 1t largely for soil acidity then u little
will often suffice. Especially on sandy
soils is the lime overdone for if used to cor
rect soil acidity on such soils % bushels
per acre of slaked lime is generally suffici-
ent and on heavy soils double that guam
| tity or 70 bushels at most Is ample. II
should be remembered that while the
litmus paper test is generally reliable there
| are chemicals in the soil Which has the
same effect on the litmus paper as the
| dCLOlty VI liiS sui So lldl tIle SuTGSC Way
is to test portion of the plot If the sol
| is thought to be sour by using lime on II
at the rate Of so bushels per acre and com.
| pairing the result in the crop with an equa
area not lined Another season one will
know exactly what to do.
PREPARING THE POTATO GROUND
All potato growers admit that soil thai
is mellow and well-drained is absolutel,
essential for the best success In potato
growing: this is more than half the battle
| and in this age OF insects and bacteria
diseases one cannot afford to grow pota
/ toes for market unless he can supply the
| soil and the soil condition mentioned. The
thorough preparation of the seed bed /.
also important and the best growers pre-
pare the soil as thoroughly as they would
! for wheat. First grade tubers for sect
and then constant cultivation to keep tn,
weeds down are the rest of the essential.
in successful potato culture. In almost al
sections near large markets ptotato grow
ing is exceedingly profitable and the mai
4 with the soil and equipment to raise pota
toes will find 1t profitable to thorough,
4 study the situation particularly the de
mands of the markets nearest him ant
then go at the work in earnest
RAISING THE EARLY CHICKS.
Many poultrymen experts as well a
novices do well with the incubator blu
fail to raise fair proportion of the chicks
4 to say the least this Is discouraging but
| little study of the situation should convin
one that the trouble is largely due to to,
much heat in the breeders. In our expert
/ ence the best way to overcome this is t,
locate the brooders indoors where they will
not require to be heated to such degree
!, as they do when the breeders are in al
Il open shed or a not-too-warm poultr,
house. The cool and damp shed or hous
together with the practice of permitting
the chicks to run out Of doors too soon ha
much to do with the great mortality whic]
exists among chicks raised in brooders
Then too, many breeders are 30 con
structed that much OF the heat Is at on
end while the other portion Of the broode
Is nearly cold; as q consequence the chick