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The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
SUCCESS in ALFALFA SEED
Heaviest Yields Are Usually Obtained
on Adobe Land, from Slow
or Dwarfed Growth.


Much speculation exists why. west
ern farmers do not succeed better in
alfalfa seed production. The heaviest
yields. which run up to 10 bushels the
acre, are usually obtained on adobe
land, from slow or dwarfed growth.
New alfalfa is considered best for
seed production, as an old stand has
too great root development, induc-
ing too rapid growth which is not con-
,ducive to seed production. Two and
three-year-old stands give best results.
Such may be obtained from either the
first or second cutting, but the latter
gives more uniform ripening. The
field should be irrigated when in full
bloom to give the greatest yield. More
and better seed is usually to be had
when the plante are not crowded.
When the seed is sown in rows, bet
ter results are to be had than when
broadcasted, as cultivation can be
given and the crowns Of the plant are
not SO readily injured.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
CONSERVING WATER IN SOIL
One Great Source Of Loss Is by Evap.
oration-Land Should Be Guilt
waited at Right Time.

The great thing during seasons Of
scant or average rainfall is the con-
| servation of the water after it has
been stored in the soil. The one
great source of loss is evaporation
Few have any conception of how
| much water may be lost in this way.
The amount of course, will vary with
the situation, exposure, temperature,
etc. 1t is not known what the exact
loss from soils would be, but it is be-
lleved that so long as the soil is bare
and looks moist on the surface, evap-
Grafton is robbing it of it's moisture,
but as soon as the soil looks dry or
is hidden by crop, the rate of evap-
Grafton falls off very rapidly.
These latter conditions are best
brought about by cultivating and seed
ing as soon as the land is dry enough.
Ii there are two plots of soil side by
side, and one is cultivated and the
other is not, the evaporation from the
cultivated one is much greater for
a day or so than from the other,
but this evaporation takes place chief
ly from the loosened portion, and
hence in very short time, provided
no rain falls, this layer becomes dry
and acts as blanket to protect the
soil below, diminishing the evapora-
ton
Hence, it is a matter of vital i'm
portance that the soil should be cult.
waited at the earliest possible moment.
A delay Of one week in this operation
after the soil is fit will rob it of from
one to two inches of water, an amount
sufficient to tide the crop over
drought Deep cultivation is not adj
vlsable, for all of the loosened LAYER
dries out in dry weather, and since
the deep blanket is little, if any, more
effective than the thinner one. the
extra loss from the thicker blanket
is not atoned for by greater saving
OF water in the lower layers, and is a
net loss to the plant
With cereals the conservation of
moisture by cultivation may be con.
tlnued TILL the grain is nicely up. If a
ram has come, packing down the soil
ana destroying the loose blanket, and
thus setting up rapid evaporation
again, it is good practice to run over
the crop with light harrow and re-
store the blanket. The saving in mois-
ture will more than atone for any in
jury the harrow may do the young
plants. With hoed crops, theoretical
~ they should be cultivated after ev-
cry heavy rain.
In humid sections, where the rain
fall is usually sufficient to saturate
the soil, after harvest conservation of
moisture is not essential, but in semi
arid regions the tillage right after
harvest is essential for the purpose
of conserving moisture.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
CROP ROTATION AND DAIRY
Cows, with Sugar Reets and Alfalfa,
Has Proven to BE an Almost
Ideal System.

Dairy COWS with a crop rotation of
sugar beets and alfalfa has proven to
be an almost ideal system. A greater
part OF the food values that the beet
takes from the soil is returned by the
alfalfa and the COW. 1t is case Of
carrying out the Japanese maxim,
which is: THE greater portion of
that which l take from the soil is re-
turned by nature, the rest must be re-
turned by me or the soil will be robbed
of its fertility and become worthless"
has been grown makes the best beet
land and alfalfa will produce more
milk pound for pound when fed to
dairy stock than any other food stuff,
so the three branches of farming work
hand in hand.
. The alfalfa incorporates nitrogen
into the soil and the manure from the
dairy, when added to the soil, decays,
freeing the vegetable acids and the
carbon dioXide formed has tendency
to bring the insoluable potash and 9TH
er ash constituents into available
form. The manure also forms hui
mas which makes the soil porous and
gives the air chance to circulate
through it. This sweetens the soil
and warns it; also increases its ca
pacity to hold water, which is neces-
sary to dissolve the food contained in
the soil and put it in an available
form for the plants use.
This is not a system which calls for
an extra outlay of money to put it
into effect. On the other hand, it is one
which brings money to the pocket of
the farmer every month in the year.
These monthly payments credited to
the COW because of her cream check
will enable the farmer to do his bust
ness upon cash basis and thereby
get more for his money
But the farmer should buy the COW
not from the standpoint of the amount
of manure that he will get for ferti-
lizer, but from the record of her abili-
ty to produce milk. Along with this
system can be added the raising of
hogs, for you have the skim milk, an
other by-product of your dairy, upon
which to feed them
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05

jelly, unfermented Juice. ETC., is all
Important factor in balancing the
markets. We are building a factory at
North East The company is capital
lied at 100000 and plans to have one
of the largest plants in the United
States. This will greatly affect the
shipment of grapes from our station
and give us home market for much
of the grapes of our vineyards.
Women help board themselves in
the boarding houses that most of the
growers have built. These houses are
furnished with stoves, tables, chairs
and mattresses. The pickers provide
their own sheets, quilts and provisions.
Butchers. bakers and grocery wagons
visit those houses away from the town
and keep them supplied from the
stores. We have found it necessary to
insist on certain rules among our help.
There are always some Of the girls
who will keep late hours if we allow
it, and by disturbing the tired ones,
put the whole force on the dry dock
for the next day. Therefore. fixed
hour for retiring is one of the most
important.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
PICKING AND PACKING
OF THE GRAPE CROP
How the Work. Pennsylvania Vineyard
Women Perform Much Labor-By
L. G. Youngs

The harvesting of Concord grapes
in our section usually begins about
September 25. Picking is mostly done
by women. The picking price varies
from one to one and one-half cents for
the eight-pound baskets; for the 40
pound crate three and four cents is
paid. A days work consists of 1875
to IT'S eight-pound baskets, but some
extra swift pickers reach 200 baskets
in day. The cost of the eight-pound
basket with cover is two cents each;
that of the 40-pound crate, six cents.
Most of the packing is now done in
the field. A light stand is used hold
ing three baskets. When the basket is
full, the picker, who is known by a
number, places the number on the
handle of the basket, also the number
of baskets she has picked during the
day, and places the basket under the
vines out of the way of the gathering
wagon. The driver. whose duty it is
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05

a man 80 years of age, who had
been sentenced for life, has been par
doned and released from the New Jer.
sey state prison at Trenton. He was
committed many years ago, and he
comes forth to a world which Devil.
ders him because it is SO different
from that which he knew. He had
never seen trolley car, the automo-
bile was an undreamed-of machine for
general use when he was incarcerated
and In many other respects extraor-
binary changes have been wrought
during the term of his Imprisonment.
Such an incident gives the world IT.
self little opportunity to note how
fast It is going. though very likely
the old globe will not take time to
give the matter much heed, but will
let out another speed notch and hus.
tie On to still greater things.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
COW PEAS
GREAT CROP
An Acre wi11 Pasture Twenty
Hogs Several Weeks, Giving
Superior Quality of Meat.

Some varieties of COW peas nave up
right. bushy forms of growth; some
trail along on the ground like vines.
The pods vary in length from four to
~ inches.
The colors are as various as those
of the rainbow white, red, green,
brown, pink. purple, black or mottled.
In shape they also differ; some are
round, others fiat or kidney shaped.
The time for maturing ranges from
60 days to three or four months.
Drilling the seed is preferable when
hay is wanted.
After corn is laid by COW peas are
drilled in between rows and they will
yield a fine pasture for stock after
the corn is gathered When drilling
for this purpose the later kind are
best.
Three pecks to the acre for this
work. Peas should be sown not over
three inches deep and the soil must
be dry and warm.
When drilling for hay any after
culture aids very much in the yield.
When the peas begin to show signs
Of ripening, by the pods and foliage
beginning to turn yellow, we NOW
for hay.
Let the vines remain as cut for at
least "a hours, to cause whiting, and
throw into small piles or cocks to dry
out thoroughly.
They should not be drawn in for
several days if the weather will allow /
After hay is well cured it NAV he
drawn to the barn or shed.
If the trailing sort are planted care
m must be taken in stacking that good
ventilation is given to prevent mold !
a a good stand will yield from .one
and one-half to two tons per acre,
In the north 1t is valuable drought.
resisting plant and will grow where
almost any other plants would perish
Many farmers save only seed snfa
Client for their own use, as tie ,ab ,,
Is tedious. --.Dol
The pods are plucked ~ hand q
when the bush sort is grown the plant
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
VEST POCKET RANCH
Crops on Irrigated Farms Almost
Miraculous in Productivity.
Alfalfa is Sure Winner Under Irr'-
cation and Immense Yields Of Bar
ley, Rye, Potatoes and Other
~. Crops Grown Profitably.

BY n. A. BERGMAN, Editor Of Farm
ers' Voice.
For years there have been a num-
| her of small irrigated farms in the
| arid section of the west, lying close
to the streams where primitive sys-
TENS of irrigation have been followed.
Their limitations of water and their
desirable homes and no real develop
ment of the country was possible, I'M
til, in large way, the government
segregated such lands as could be wa
tered and under the Carey act opened
them up for settlement. The crops
grown on the little, vest-pocket
ranches are almost miraculous in
their productivity, Wheat often runs
as high as 60 bushels and oats 1875
bushels per acre. Alfalfa is q sure
winner under irrigation and immense
yields of barley, rye. potatoes and
other crops are grown wherever the
magic touch of water is applied. 1t
is hard for farmers in the east to
comprehend these big yields. They
do not appreciate that these inter
mountain soils are often hundred
feet deep, waiting for centuries, I'M
touched In their virginity, for modern
irrigation methods to unlock the treas
ure house of their wealth. If the av-
erage New Highlander or corn belt
farmer were to visit some of these
places he would never go back to the
old. inhospitable conditions. If they
would apply here the same careful
and painstaking methods they would
become little kings of the soil IN
stead of working like a drudge six
months out of the year in order to
struggle through the other six months,
they would see the actual eXemplifica-
ton of the saying: Tickle the soil
with pillow and it will laugh har-
vest" Instead of conserving the soil
and spending profits on fertilizers
they would find these irrigated soils
of the intermountain region inexhaust
ible.
Another peculiar fact which eastern
ers unacquainted with western life
SaIliioI uuuGlSldli Is liidl WGSlSlu dSo'
rlcultural products need not be shipped
to the great commercial centers of the
east and middle west in order to find
a market.
One farmer sold $500 worth of but
ter year from six scrub Hereford
Shorthorn COWS with udders about the
size OF quart cup. Poultry, eggs,
malk, hay, grains. potatoes and every
garden vegetable grown north of Ma
son and Dixon's line can be grown
with profit and the local demand is
away out of proportion to the supply.
Range stock has fattened on the
heavy grass and the absence of sage
brush will make an easy job for the
settlers in getting crops under cult
walton next season. This country, ow-
ing to its good range and equable eli
mate. has been the greatest cattle
country in the United States. Hun
dreds of thousands of horses, cattle
and sheep have been fattened here
and the cattle baron has been the lit
tie lord of creation. Now that irriga-
ton has made SO much of these lands
available for general farming, the land
Is too good to waste as range and the
wire fence and permanent homes are
driving the range cattle elsewhere
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05

careful thought had been given to the
question of how to secure the very
best results. Not only thought, but
judicious and careful work had been
done. This corn was of the best, of
good color. sturdy, stout and with
large ears which gave promise of a
bountiful crop. The soil looked rich
and productive. There were no weeds,
but there was good dust mulch, and
it was plainly evident on the face of
everything about the farm why one
failed and the other succeeded.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05

the growers themselves. who are or
ganized into an association with man
ager, secretary and board of directors
Each grower pays this organization
one-half cent basket and one dollar
ton on bulk grapes, as the expense
fund for loading and marketing. If
this is more than sufficient for the
purpose, the balance is returned. The
sales of grapes are pooled in periods
OF three days. each grower receiving
the same price on shipments made
during the period All the large asso-
Citations keep representative or agent
in the principal distributing centers
like Chicago, Pittsburg and New York.
If from any cause the market becomes
bad, the agent notifies the home office
and shipments cease for a time to that
point. If the markets become general.
ly disorganized, word is passed to the
growers, and picking and loading is
suspended until the markets rally.
The manufacture of grapes into
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
PEANUT CROP ALWAYS SURE
Coarse Sandy Soil Most Conducive to
Its Growth-Matures Only in
Warm Climates.

The peanut is a food found in stores
and peanut shops in most parts of the
civilized world. Many of the clerks
and shop men, who handle peanuts
every day, know very little of how
they are grown.
The peanut thoroughly natures only
in warm climates, where the growing
season lasts from eight to ten months
in the year.
The class of soil most conducive to
their growth is a coarse sandy loan.
The selection of the seed is much
the same as that of other vegetables;
to reap the best harvest, the choicest
seed must be planted
The ground is to be laid off in shall
low burrows about two feet apart. Into
these burrows, the peanuts after hav-
ing been broken SO as to have one
nut only in a piece of a shell, are
dropped from 18 inches to two feet
apart. When the ground has all
been planted it is leveled smoothly
again; covering the seed with from
two to four inches of soil.
After about two weeks, from the
time of planting, two little leaves,
somewhat the shape and much like a
lucern leaf, appear above the ground.
These two leaves after several months.
will have developed into many small
branches which spread out on the
ground for foot or more in all di-
rections. From these branches small
tender shoots grow down into the
ground. On the end of these shoots
grow the peanuts; not on the main
roots, as might be supposed.
The peanut needs but very little cul-
tivation. It will mature with less wa
ter than almcAt any other vegetable.
ALI one has to do is to keep the
weeds from among the vines, and kill
all rats and gophers that appear on
the lasd.
Harvesting is perhaps the most la
borious part about the raising of pea
nuts. The vines must be pulled up
by hand. If the ground is in proper
condition, most of the peanuts will
hang to the vine, when pulled up.
The nuts are, then picked from the
vines and laid in the sun. When thor.
oughly dry, they are sacked and sent
to be roasted ready for eating.
The crop is always sure, and brings
good returns because of the great de-
mand. in all markets of the world.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
Don't XIII of. Hens.

Do not go to killing off your hens
that do not lay up to the $50 a year
standard. Work for as high an aver
age in your flock as you can. but do
not insist upon the impossible. You
read good deal about the wonderful
record some individual hen has made.
but the money makers are the good
all around average f1ocks giving us
about $50 eggs to the hen. Let the
good work go on
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
Trees in Chicken Yard.

II you are arranging for new poultry
yards, locate them permanently, and
in the fall set them with fruit trees,
plums, pears, etc. Poultry and fruit
OF these kinds seem to work hand in
hand. The trees will furnish shade
for the chickens, while the chickens
will. gather the insects which ordinari.
" :njure the fruit.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05

The French minister Of justice has
sent orders to the district attorneys
throughout France to prosecute vigor.
,ously the cases Of cruelty to domestic
animals. He adds that the prevalence
OF this evil is distressing and that
y p largely caused by the indifrer.
ience Of the authorities. II ofiicials
would heartily co-operated with the
anti y cruelty societies here our own
streets might be saved some revolving
revelations Of brutality.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
Mash for Chickens.

"a mixture of bran, shorts and corn
meal in equal parts kept in the kltch-
en- makes the preparation of a mash
for laying hens easy. While the din
ner is cooking throw all table waste,
vegetable and apple parings into q
kettle and boil till done. season as
for the table with salt and pepper, and
5thieken with the mixing meals. II
there are no meat scraps, add a table
spoonful Of beef scraps for each hen
every other day.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05

Signs OF progress: Railroads carrys
Ing more freight than ever before. al
though the great grain movement is
Just beginning. Demand for more roll.
Ing stock. Iron and steel mills rushed
with orders. Farmers asking for help
TO gather crops. Wholesale and retail
trade improving daily. Money easy
and payments prompt. That optimistic
feeling all along the line. Get aboard.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
Benefit q LARGE Corn cron.

All We need is q large corn crop to
put the price of shoats and steers
ready for the feed lot almost on the
prohibitive list, a few are always
ready 70 pay almost any price to get
something to feed when grain Il
plenty.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
What the Ayers need to make them
happy = petrol put UP In tabloid form.

I New York city now talks Of shay.
ms 4 -. 600 900 automobile and aero.
plane racing park over on the
a New Jersey meadows. The park viii
AZ reached az TIE Hudson tunnels,
'sig resting TIE three modes 81 locomo.
Sttonln der The ground, On the earth
md "a a Thea Some d the partici.
n pants = mag So higher III to he hoped
not ioNer. i7ss5 &,
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
4 Care 81 Colts.

The colts training must begin
shortly after birth. a halter should
he put on. 30 he can 81 caught and
shapdled; every day. Never tense him.
Never deceiye him, Ent treat him
kindly and nrmly
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
CROPS AND cosr OF LIVING.

Predictions of cheaper living, based
upon ample crops, must be taken with
some caution We are not confronted
by the problem of two-dollar wheat,
which Mr.. Patten probably did not ex-
pect when he was predicting it last
spring. His prediction served his
purpose admirably. Instead of ship
ping wheat into Chicago and breaking
the May market-the sort of thing that
has broken nearly every predecessor
OF Mr.. Patterns "bull' operations-th
farmers held on to their wheat and
waited for that two-dollar quotation,
says the Philadelphia Record The
harvest began less than month after
the May option closed, and we now
have every assurance that the wheat
crop will exceed 70O,OO0,O0O bushels,
and may reach 100000 bushels.
Wheat is selling in Chicago for less
than dollar. Food ought to be, and
probably will be, cheaper than it has
been lately. But cotton and wool are
p
high and textile prices show no dis
position to recede. Most of the prices
are rising. Structural steel is not
commodity that the average citizen
purchases, but he is affected by its
price; and all steel prices are up.
Hides are on the free list, but the
shoe stores and factories are stocked
up with goods purchased before the
repeal of the hide duty. and prices are
not yet coming down. The most i'm
portant item of expense is rent, and
with the growth of population that
tends upward, but the extensive build
ing operations all over the country
may keep abreast of the demand.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
Blood tor r ~.

s. butchering. place NJ bucket 81;
bran or shorts where It VIII catch
the blood. and use - mash With scald
'eSl anna sss
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05

You cannot expect your apple trees
TO bear much fruit until they have
been planted six or eight Tears
Willmar tribune., 1909-03-24
Among Our Neighb0rS.
Sifted out by Ludwig S. Dale.

By the way, our city council is a
hummer and no mistake. 1t is cos
mopolitan, international. varied
and variegated, the complexion
ranging from bleached blonde to
FURNISHED brunette, the hair shad-
ing from black down thru brown,
coon-color, grizzly and taffy to the
invisible, and varying in build from
the fineness of corn floss to the
thickness of tallow candles and in
compatibility from sleeps wool to
the surface of the mill pond in
winter. In height the members
vary from 3ft. Gin. to 6ft. 3in.. and
in heft from 81 lbs, 2 scruples
apothecary's weight to 200 lbs. z or.
avoirdupois. Their hats range in