The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-01-04
FARM FACTS.


FARM FACTS.
The first loss Is frequently the best
loss. Fit your minds, accept the iuev-
liable. n when YOU sec there Ia nc
profit IN further reeding any animal
get rid OF il and do not lose good feed
by Allowing IL to be eaten by An ami
mai that Will not return more than II
Is worth on the market. Ii takes nerve
sometimes to acknowledge Il loss. but
who has not seen the time when he
should have done SO sooner With more
profit than came from holding out. Al
unthrifty animal Will not pay to win
ter.
The best rat trap is a good cat. There
are cats that are no good and others
that are worth very much. A friend
OF ours moved n the family moving
out failed to get the cat they wanted
unusual number of strangers and vas
not to be oun Later their new oc-
cupant of the farm said he would not
take SIS for "Buttercup." as she was
such a killer of rats. There might be
a business for some one breeding cats
that are ratters.
A scotsman tells mo that every ex-
pertinent that he has made with seed
potatoes shows that moro uniform po-
~ SSAhAS " q 8 10 SSSd. 4 has
cut large potatoes In two. but this
turned u about the same as plant
ing whole small potatoes-there would
be one or two large potatoes in each
hill, but a great many small ones. He
also says he finds that whole large
seed are more nearly scab resistant
than The small seed.
Careful hog raisers are getting rid of
plank floors in the sleeping quarters
and also the feeding floors. Wood floors
become saturated With urine. they
make a fine place for rats or mice,
and many suspect that here is the
breeding place of many hog diseases.
Cement floors may cost more to start
with. but they are lasting, more sani-
tary, and by looking up the matter
some, n can build the floors him
self.
1t is said that seven-eighths of the
farmers of the United States do not
have fruit gardens OF any kind. This
seems incredible. but facts like this
are often found existing in other parts
of the country. Fruits OF some sort
should be on every farm. and during
the summer fresh fruits should be part
of the daily diet. Such a course would
add to the length of life and the pleas
ures OF living. Are you one of the few !?
Real prosperity-the real thtng-did
not come until farmers learned to d.
versify their crops. Now very few will
risk all their eggs in one basket. The
exclusive grain armer has no stand
ing; even way up north, where they
used to think they could not raise any
thing but wheat, stock raising, dairy
Ing and poultry are now all sources Of
profit.
Red ants nave given considerable
trouble to corn prOVarS In Illinois onI
in some sections of Missouri during
the last year, and many We're compelled
to replant the second time. The corn
plant has been ~singularly free from
many insect pests, but vigorous meas
ures viii now have to be employed to
combat or keep in check this new
enemy.
1t seems many are going corn crazy.
Corn is a great crop n we want all
We can get of 1T, but it should not be
grown at the expense of other crops,
or on such a scale as to decrease the
value of land. So long as corn grow
Ing and stock feeding 80 together there
will not be much danger. But drop one
n a different proposition looms up.
Don't compromise on the seed oats.
Make them clean. free from weed
seeds n put on enough wind to blow
over everything but the very heavy
grains. Every experiment proves that
heavy seed yields the biggest crops. A
day spent now in cleaning the seed
oats will make good money for you
next harvest.
1t is a a sign. Too many feed lots
are empty this winter, and too much
corn is going into the cribs. Raising
and feeding stock has been the biggest
factor in placing farm values where
they are today. When ever you quit
feeding stock you will have to COM
mence to buy commercial fertilizers.
This has been a hard nusking season.
Fields nave been muddy, and there has
not been enough freezing weather to
make husking busy. Help has been
scarce, and the crop has been big.
Good, hard weather may be expected
now any time. Better finish the husk-
ing job as soon as possible.
Doing things right and doing them
at the right time will win. The dilly-
dallying farmer or business man can
never make much Roadway until he
learns to do things at the right time.
A few days late in planting corn may
make a big difference in the growth
and outcome Of the crop.
Mouldy corn fodder may be eaten by
stock, in the absence Of other feed,
Oul lldl OOeS not mean mat II Is
equally as good as bright fodder. Cat
tie will often cat the dry, leafless corn
stalks during the winter. but they are
compelled to eat that or nothing.
Breeding sows should now be kept in
a roomy yard where they can get plen-
ty of exercise. The mistake is often
made Of combining the brood SOW in an
5 by s pen all winter. Then feed SPAR
ingly Of corn, but literally Of shorts,
ground oats and middlings.
On the whole 1t has been a pretty
good year. But bigger things can still
be done. What we have learned his
year about producing big crops will
give us just that nue. more help in