Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-06-26

Their House by Keeping It Clean.
conditions. A system of portable
houses is used in many parts of the
country whore poultry is kept extern
sively. With a portable house sys-
tenn, there is no excuse for the ground
becoming contaminated, as the houses
are moved from one field to another
before the ground becomes filthy, and
the fertilizer is saved for growing
crops. From the standpoint of fertil-
ity, this is by far the most economi-
cal system. The general farmer who
keeps only a few chickens should have
either two small houses, one for pull
lets and the other for hens in the fall
or else one house with a division in it,
In this way 1t is possible to make up
the breeding pens from the best hens
and pullets in the spring. and then
later to allow all to run together, if
advisable. In either case it is far bet
ter TO fence in the hens that are not
kept for breeding purposes, giving the
breeding flock free range of the farm.
No matter what system is used, it is
always best to encourage the hens to
range near their house and away from
the other farm buildings. To do this
keep the house clean. 1t often pays
to store some feed there so that the
hens expect to be fed from the house
and not from the barn.
~~~~~~~~-~~~~0-o~-o-o~
The stem rots at the point of attack;
first it turns dark purple. then. dying
in the center of the spot. it becomes
ashy gray and covered with very
small black pin-point-like dots, but al
ways retaining the purple at the mar
gin. The disease is often accompa-
MED by a purpiing OF the leaves OF
the injured seeding. Ii plants which
show this disease are set out in the
field, they will not head bit will rot
at the base of the stem the outer
leaves will wilt and turn purple and
finally the whole plant will topple
over, the stem breaking at the point
OF attack of the fungus.
Both these diseases are caused by
parasitic fungi which live from year
to year in the soil, so that if they are
once introduced into a field. there is
little hope of their eradication except
by long rotation of crops and the
omission of cabbage or related spe-
cies. such as caulitiower, rutabaga
turnip, etc, from this rotation for at
least eight years.
A third disease of cabbage which
is very serious in the east is the club
root See cut. This trouble has been
found in only one limited locality in
Wisconsin, and steps are being taken
here to stamp it out 1t is not of
economic Importance except for the
danger Of its further introduction
from the east. Any occurrence of
this trouble should be reported to the
experiment station and strict meas
ures taken for its eradication
The best means of controlling all
of these diseases is to prevent them
from entering the soil in new fields
Most important in this is the selec-
ton OF the 3eed-bed. which should al
ways be put on clean new ground.
Then the seed should De we'll selected
from known sources which are free
from disease. and disinfected With
tormalin if there is any doubt (15
minutes in 1900 dilution). Finally
the seedlings should be watched care
fully for the development of disease.
either blackleg, ycllows, or club root,
SO that no diseased plants be set in
the field.
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