Manchester Democrat., 1909-11-17
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dicates that Missourians hold the MIS-
souri, hog in higher esteem than any
sheep, however heavily coated with
wool. Maybe they are right. From
the way prices of pork and bacon have
gone up, hog stealing is likely in time
to become more unforgivable crime
than horse stealing.-St. Louis Re-
public.
How to Handle Pears.
When pears can be readily and
smoothly parted from the branch by
bending gently to one side. they are
ready to be gathered. Handle them
carefully and do not break the stems.
Sweat pears, and those that become
mealy. should be gathered as soon as
the skin changes from dark to
light green. If the fruit is to be rip
ened quickly and for market, place
them upon the floor of dry, cool
room in medium-sized piles. In a few
days assort them and place all good
sized, well-shaped ones in boxes. The
fruit should be handled by hand, and
not poured into the baskets or boxes.
Give good measure and mark each box
with the kind of fruit 1t contains.
Send to market before they are fully
ripe. Unless cold storage facilities can
be had 1t is doubtful II much will be-
gained by holding back the crop. Pears
kept in cool cellar ripen more slow
ly than in a warm upper room. 1t il
also true that Bartletts allowed to
hang on the tree until late will be
larger, though inferior in quality. But
the plan is unsatisfactory because SO
much fruit will be injured by drop
ping, and because the quality is SO
much poorer. Fruit intended for. ex.
hibition should be gathered with great
care. wrapped in soft, flexible paper
and stored in cool. dry cellar.
Converting the Hog Into q Rake.
A new method for eradicating tho
worst weeds that trouble the farmer
has been discovered.
The "bindweed" OF wild morning
glory" has proved very injurious to
various kinds of cultivated crops, such
as garden truck, small fruits and
commercial seeds. Where this weed
abounds, the tilling of the soil has
hitherto been very difficult, because
of the underground roots, but the new
method will entirely remove the plant.
tops and roots as we'll.
Based upon the fact that hogs are
very fond of the roots and rootsticks
of this plant, which taste very much
like the sweet potato, George Virgins,
farmer of Lodge. ILL.,. conceived the,
idea that hog pasturing might be re.
sorted to successfully to eradicate the
weed.
He. accordingly, turned loose about
100 hogs on field containing thirty.
acres which was overrun with bind
weed.
These hogs did not have their noseA
rung or slit, and Mr.. Virgins found
that they not only ate the tops OF the
weed closely, but also rooted to COM
siderable depth to obtain the under
ground parts. In comparatively.
short time the field was entirely clean
ed up, and after the process had been
repeated for three consecutive years
the farmer was able to raise large
crop of corn and oats on what had
heretofore been practically useless
| soil.
To produce the most satisfactory
results from this form of hog pas
turing only small quantity OF food
should be given the animals In order
that they be forced to depend upon
the bindweed. 1t has been found that
while the hogs do not make quite as
good gains on this diet as on others.
they do very well under the treat
ment.