The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1913-01-03
MANY GO TO FARMERS SCHOOL
Ranchers Show Keen Interest in Short Course
of Lectures and Demonstrations by
State College Experts

Prof. R. c. Ashby, head Cf the
Extension Department of the Wash
ington State College, at Pullman,
opened the weeks session of the
Farmers School in the gymnasium
of the high school, at 1Oa. M, Mon
day. The attendance varied some
what from day to day, but it is safe
to say that from so to Is Of our
most intelligent and progressive far
mers were present at each lesson.
Prof Ashby led with a discussion
on Swine Feeding.
A ration is the amount of feed
necessary for an animal for one
day. A four per cent ration is four
pounds Of grain to 100 pounds of
hog. A two per cent ration is two
pounds of grain to 100 pounds of
hog, etc. A four per cent ration is
a full ration. The best ration is al
falfa pasture or alfalfa hay with a
grain ration, say two per cent for
shoats, never less than one per cent.
Pigs should be put on a grain ration
as soon as possible.
Skim milk, as feed for hogs, is
worth from 80 cents to Is cents per
hundredweight. If fed while warm
it is one-fifth better than when cold i.
If sour milk is fed it should be all
sour. 1t does not do to mix it..
Even hogs stomach may be up
set. Grind the grain and feed it
dry. The best grain is corn, but
wheat, rye and barley are good. If
whole wheat is fed it may be soaked,
but not boiled. If potatoes are fed
they should be boiled,
Keep everything clean. Dirty
water, dirty troughs, dirty houses,
all are prolific sources of disease.
See that hogs are kept free from
vermin and worms.
Cholera germs easily spread. Pre-
vention is the best way. Keep new
hogs in separate pens for two or
three weeks. Have clean pens,
plenty of clean, fresh water, etc.
The hog business is no bonanza,
but there is sure money in it.
At II a. M. Prof. w. G.. Brierley
spoke on Orchard Pruning. In the
ory he does not differ materially
from Prof. Thornber, whose work
was described in these columns re-
Gently, except in this, that he does
not advise late summer pruning for
producing early bearing trees. So
far as it is selective process, thin
out and getting rid Of extra wood,
it is all right. Summer pruning is
overdone. There IS danger Of over
forcing the trees.
Apples and pears may be pruned
at any time in the late fall or win
ter. With the peach it is better to
wait till hard freezing is over. If
pruning early leave a longer stub.
Use only good tools and see that
they are kept in the best shape. A
single-edge saw with good handle
and pair of hand pruning shears
are all the tools usually necessary.
He did not recommend the open
vase shape. We have plenty of
light and are not troubled with fun
gus. 1t is largely a question of
bearing area.
In the afternoon a demonstration
of pruning was given in the orchard
of G.. M. Annis.
Tuesday morning Prof. .ofierley
gave an interesting lecture on Fruit
Markets and Marketing. One great
trouble at present is that a few
great markets are over supplied,
while in the many small markets
the demand is not fully met.
The remedy is better distribution,
and this may be secured by cooper
alton. A large association is a rea-
sonable thing and if we'll managed
and Loyalty supported it will elm
mate competition and secure the
necessary distribution. One indi-