The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-07-03

sour milk or buttermilk that they will
eat. These are substitutes for foods
which the hens would get were they
running at large.
Other things touching sunshine, mois-
ture and soil fertility being equal, the
tomato vine which is pruned and al
lowed to mature but limited amount
of fruit will produce that Of much
larger size. This can be done most eff
fectively by training the vines on a
trellis or on individual stakes.
Any old pail, can or paint key that
may be on the place containing water
is quite likely to serve as prolific
breeding place for mosquitoes during
the rainy season. Empty all such re-
ceptacles and place piece Of wire
screen over the rain barrel at the cor
ner of the house, and the supply Of
mosquitoes about the place will be ma
terially decreased.
Careful experiments show that un-
der average outdoor conditions manure
will lose so per cent Of its fertilizing
value In q period of five months. 1t Is
this loss that furnishes such strong
argument for the purchase Of the ma
nure spreader, which not only effects
a big saving along the line mentioned,
but makes possible the handling of the
farm fertilizers at a much less cost in
labor.
That there seems to be a delicate
and nicely adjusted instinct in even so
low an organism as plant life Is shown
in the fact that the reaching tendril Of
climbing vine will most always
the nearest support, while the sprouts
on the potatoes that may be in the
cellar grow always toward rather than
away from the light that streams in
at the window.
AS a result of careful feeding expert
ments it has been found that If fed I'M
der favorable conditions 100 pounds OF
buttermilk or skimmilk are worth half
a bushel Of corn In feeding value, while
II fed with corn at the ratio Of three
parts to one pork can be produced at
less cost than with any other ration.
It has been further ascertained that If
fed fresh from the separator skimmilk
has a maximum feeding value.
Reports which seem almost unbe-
ievable are to the effect that In one
section Of Oklahoma there fell during
one Of the May storms twenty inches
Of water within a period Of twenty
four hours. This would seem to have
been literally q cloudburst, II the use
Of the word is ever justiaable. One
realizes more fully how great pre-
cipitation this was when he knows
that the average annual rainfall for
that section Of the country Is about
thirty-fve inches.
$50 -
e A large per cent Of the poor stick
and slipshod farmers to be found In
any locality usually rate themselves as
too experienced and well posted to
learn anything Of the experience Of
others through the avenue Of books
or farm journals. Much Of the adj
vance which has been made along ag-
ricultural lines tn the past has been
the direct result Of the experimenting
and research Of college professors,
dubbed by many as lead pencil farm
er. However, with the more intelli-
gent and progressive practical farmers
of the country there is disposition to
give full credit for what these men
have accomplished and to give heed to
any suggestions which they may make.
A first and necessary step in the con-
servation of our natural resources as a
| country is the sending Of legislators to
Washington who will be sufficiently
alert and patriotic to prevent the spoil
alton Of these same interests by repre-
sentatives of mining, timber and water
| power companies. We can talk about
forest preservation until we are black
In the face, but 1t will be to little pur-
pose until we can pass effective nation
al laws. The truth Of the above state
ment is pointed out in the pitiable dis
posal that was made Of the Appala-
chan forest reserve bill, which was to
all intents and purposes strangled OF
effectively emasculated through the In
fuence of interested business corpora
lions upon members of congress who
had the fate of the bill in their hands
The upshot of the matter is that the
people, the individual voters Of the
country, will have to begin an effective
campaign along the line suggested by
electing the right kind Of men to rep
resent them in congress.
Automobile manufacturers are slow
" getting on to the fact that there arr
country folks who are just as able ant
quite as likely to buy machines as PEG
Die Of like means In the city. Thi'
was brought to notice recently by see
ing an advertisement of q leading autt
company In an agricultural paper
This field Of country buyers has beer
but slightly worked, yet there are host!
Of well to do farmers who might b.
induced to purchase an automobile L
| the matter were brought to their atten
ton In an effective manner.
AS showing how highly priced com
i mon black dirt may be under certain
circumstances 1t Is interesting to nott
the shipment Of fifty tons of it recent.
from Honolulu to Midway island. l.SO'
miles to the northwest, which is