Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1908-01-01
FOR THE FARM, ORCHARD AND GARDEN
Matters Of Importance 10 The AgrIcutusl and HOPcuNuPst

| y. -. NdlNiil, SeNItNdiN VI sue WIS
Virginia state board of agriculture. II,
says: THE live stock that is destined
ITO become the most profitable of all
other animals in West Virginia, is tn,
sheep. In the past this industry, has
been very much retarded on account
of lack of legislation giving protection
to sheep against the ravages of dogs
The last legislature settled this long.
! felt want, and hereafter the shepherd
may feel secure, for the strength Of
The law will be around his flock
There are hundreds of farmers in West
Virginia who are making 100 per cent
on the money invested in their flocks
/ yer and above the expenses of keeping
them" Mr. Garvin writes that there
are number of farmers in West Vir-
ginia who handle from 1000 to 1000
sheep every year. and that they re-
spond very quickly TO scientific feed
ing. Farmers here are improving the
grade OF their flocks by keeping their
best lambs for breeders and disposing
Of the old sheep with broken mouths,
but the lamb market for the past few
years has been so good that few farm
ers have had the nerve to keep their
best eve lambs. AS a result, good
Young stock ewes are hard to ouy at
aly price
Condemned BY tuberculosis.
According to Secretary Wilson'S an
nual reuort during nine months of the
last fiscal year S4,991 carcasses and
375,09S parts of carcasses were con-
demned by the federal inspectors on
account of tuberculosis. This looks
pretty big, and 1t is a large proper
ton of total COMBINATIONS which
for all causes 1872 carcasses and
529,S76 parts of carcasses In other
words tuberculosis was responsible
for Sc per cent Of all condemnations
OF carcasses and over 20 per cent of
parts of carcasses. Clearly 1t is a
more serious menace TO the producer
and the slaughterer than any other
or all other diseases not visible in
external inspection. But 50,935,216
animals were inspected, and in view
of this fact the number of condemna-
tons does not look quite so formid-
able. In carcasses alone tuberculosis
causes the loss of a little over 16
animals in every 10000 killed. From
this and from the total condemna-
tons 1t appears that the health OF our
animals is pretty good. as the inspec-
| ton Is very rigid. But this loss Is
| entirely too great. 1t amounts prob
ably to as much as the cost of the fed
eral inspection system, and counting
everything is heavy tax on the
| American live stock industry. There
| is no excuse for carelessness In re-
| gard to tuberculosis. 1t is an insid-
ious disease, spreading rapidly; and
| while it may cause the loss of only
16 animals in 10000 now II not check
ed it will in a few years result in
much heavier losses. 1t is an inter-
esting fact that no sheep or goats
were condemned, cattle and hogs fur
nishing all of the tuberculosis ami
mails.
Winter Flowing.
Because of the fact that the teams
are in good condition, and for the
| further reason that they are apt &c
be idle at this season unless thus
engaged, it is a good plan 0 pillow the
corn ground soon, provided ii is land
| that will not run together ] know
there are objections to early blowing
some plant food will be leached out
some may be carried away by the
winds.b ut taking all things into con-
sideration | think the preponderance
of evidence is in favor of early plow-
| ing on many soils. There will be
fewer worms, the soil will hold moist
ure better by being more thoroughly
pulverized and the corn will start
better, both on account of the moist
ure and the fact that the freezing
and thawing during the winter have
made available so much plant food
If the land is steep early blowing
will make 1t wash worse and conse-
quently should not be practiced.
w. d. ZINN,
Phillip, w. Va