The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1906-09-01
INQUIRIES


sufficiently in one or two articles in
The Ranch, owing to the length of
articles required for the purpose.
Whenever such a matter comes up we
suggest that the inquirer secure one
or more books in which the subject
is gone into at length. The silo ques-
ton is one of these, and we have
before us an inquiry from Humptulips,
Chehalis county, as to how the silo
should be built, dimensions, how to fill,
etc. This is very broad subject
and we suggest that our inquirer send
ten cents to the Poison Implement Co.,
Seattle, for copy of Modern Silage
Methods" or he can send 25 cents to
The Ranch and copy of VOLTS Book
on Silage" will be ordered sent to him.
Either book will tell him fully what he
wants to know.
To the Oak Harbor inquirer who
wants to know if we have any book on
testing milk we answer Eyes" Any
book relating to one or another branch
of farming can be secured through our
office. We may not have the partic-
ular book on hand just when asked for,
but we can get it for you and have it
in your hands within few days. For
the dairyman who is so progressive as
to test his milk regularly we urge the
purchase of Testing Milk and It's
Products" whose price is one dollar
and may be ordered through this Of
flee.
An Oregon subscriber wants to know
if sawdust, used as bedding in the
stable, will make the soil sour when
thrown on the land with the manure.
This question seems to be somewhat
unsettled many contending that it
INJURIES the soil and others holding to
the opposite. 1t is conceded by au-
thorities that when sawdust has thor
ough1y rotted it forms humus, which
is a very important element in the
soil, but previous to that time the
sawdust is detrimental to the soil.
IF conditions in the locality from
which the inquiry comes are favorable
to the rapid rotting of the sawdust
there need not be much apprehension
felt over little of it getting on the
soil with the manure. Flowing under
of the SaWduSt Will help the raplu
rotting of the stuff.
81 have some stubble ground that
I am going to make into chicken runs
this fall and would like to know what
would be the best to seed it down
with. SO as to have green food as early
as possible in the spring for my. chick
ems. and when would be the best time
to put in the seed-this fall or in the
spring? Is there anything that l could
put in that would keep green all sum-
mer? 1t gets very dry here in July
and August. I have no irrigation, but
the soil is very good and l had beard
less barley this year that grew nearly
six feet" Thus writes one OF our
valued lady subscribers in Grand
Forks. B. C. The question is open to
answers by such of our readers as
have had experience in similar lines.
Our correspondent might use either
one of the vetches, Dwarf Essex rape
or Thousand Headed kale. The vet
ches would furnish some green STUFF
all summer, and so would the rape.
The latter should be sown about June
1st, and care taken that there are not
too many fowls in the run, lest they
keep the rape down too close. VI the
vetches the hairy or sand variety
would probably do the best. 1t may be
sown either in the fall or spring In
this case the fall would no doubt be
the best time The chickens should
not be allowed to run on it in the
winter, as they are liable to kill it be-
fore it has attained sufficient growth.
Another excellent plan is to SOW rye
in the fall mixing it with some OF the
grasses. This will furnish lots or
green food in the chicken run.