Middletown transcript., 1909-01-30
Farm NEWS AND VIEWS

dOce in q year l07 pounds OF nitrogen, 3
pounds of phorphoric acid and about s
pounds of potash. At this rate it is cas-
to see why dairy cows are such powerful
factor in increasing the fertility of th
farm, when the manure is properly care'
for.
During January and February heav!
mulches of stables manure may be place.
about perennial fruits and vegetables
The manure will act as a protection Il
the plants, some of its richness will soal
into the soil and weathering will causl
the manure to become mild, so that j
may be safely used for any of the garder
crops next spring. There is little danger
of scattering too much manure in our gar
dens aud orchards.
DIR. Salmon, of the Bureau of Anima
Industry, lays down this rule for telling
the health of the bird by its droppings.
The city health Office of Nashville,
Tenn, has completed a test to determine
whether poultry drawn and packed in
ice would last longer than poultry un-
drawn and carried under the same con-
ditions. A half dozen drawn chickens
and an equal number OF chickens not
drawn were placed on ice for some days,
anl then taken from the ice for examine
ton. The result of the experiment showed
that the poultry packed undraWn kept
better, being in good condition, whereas
the drawn poultry had deteriorated ma
terially.
More than half the weight OF manure
stored all winter in an open barnyard
consists of water, which must be lifted
into the wagon, drawn oger tie. e6it roads
and lifted out Of the wagon again when
it is spread upon the soil. II this manure
had been drawn directly from the stalls
when they were cleaned out, thrown into
wagon and carried to the fields, the
weight would be only hall as much, and
only half the work when moving it.
According to the last census, there are
23S, ,598, ,OO5 chickens Of laying age in the
United States. These are valued at $70,-
900, 0,0O0, and the eggs they lay would, il
divided, allow 203 eggs annually to every
peTson-man, woman and child-in the
United States. The value of all the fowls,
$5S, 800, ,o0O would entitle every person
in the country to 81. IL if they we're sold
and the:proceeds divided. Alithe weight
of the animal products exported, the pork,
beef, taIlow, ham, bacon and sausage,
weigh S46, $50 tons, while the weight of
eggs laid yearly tip the scales at $40, 1858
tons.
The largest cucumber ever raised in
Berks county, Pa, is the product OF the
farm of William Hoffman, near Birds
boro, last year. 1t is 43 inches long and
its greatest diameter is 81 inches.
Extra large specimens of vegetables are
all right for exhibition purposes, aud to
win prizes with, but they are not what |
the average customer wants and is willing |
to- pay, freight on. Quality, uniformity
OF size and smoothness are what the aver
age man wants.
There is no age limit to dairy cows |
usefulness least no period that can be |
set down as a rule. 1t is more a matter |
Of individuality. Barring accident, one
dairy COW will be useful for two or three
times the age Of another one. One COW
breaks down and ceases to be profitable |
when che is or years old, while an
other may last until she is 10 or 20 years |
old, and sometimes longer.
The milk of the Jersey COW is very rich |
and the cream rises more readily than
fromsthe milk Of most other breeds. For
this reason some milkmen do not like
Jersey milk for long-distanCe shipping.
1t is generally believed that the load
pulls easier If put we'll forward on the
wagon. But this is not SO on the ordi-
nary wagon, where the hind wheels are
larger than the front ones. Should the
wheels be equal in size, the load should
be equally distributed. II the trucks are
so low down that the horses have an up
ward pull on the load, then it would be
all right to put the load well forward.
The load should be proportioned to the
surface contact of the wheels. A large
wheel sfnks less than small one; there
fore, the load should be heaviest on the
hind wheels. Distribute the weight so
that no one wheel or no one side is carry.
ing the greater share, lest it make the
draft excessive for the tonnage carried.
For a farm covering, good barnyard
manure is much better than mortgage;
aud iudiciously applied the former will
speedily remove the latter.
A mule may never be known to kick
and yet around his heels is no place for
small children.
See to it that your straw and clover
stacks are not eaten from beneath, so the
March winds will blow them over on the
stock. Ii
Throw the henhoase wide open for an
hour or SO on pleasant days, and give a
airing. II
! February is the beginning Of the duck
laying season, but not before the latter
end of the month. Young duckliugs,
well reared, are laying now, ybut there is
not much profit in their eggs, as they are
not suitable for Matching.
Heat is needed in the poultry house
sally when the ventilation is so bad that
The air would be moist withont the heat
to compel the air TO absorb it. But it is
more reasonable properly to ventilate the
poultry house and keep it dry in that
way.
If tlsece is any bad weather coming to
IS, itgeBeraliy makes its appearance dur
ng February. The wise ponltryman Is
he one who has already prepared Tor
has emergency. and his hens are not
a 4 = u