The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1921-05-26
MODERN FARMING
CONTINUED from page u

Clover seed that used to be threshed out
by hand is now being done by machine
that threshes out the seed from the stand
ing crop. This machine does not cut the
hay but leaves it remaining in the field
to be used as forage crop or turned un-
der as fertilizer. Many other machines
are in use or upon the market. There
are even machines for picking his fruits
and berries.
With valuable assistance being given by
the Federal, State and County authorities,
the farmer is continuously fighting the
hordes of rodent and insect pests, moths,
and various other parasites. Through this
aid diseases affecting his herds and hocks
are being studied and fought The Foot
and Mouth disease, Black Leg, Hog
Cholera, Swamp fever, Chambers, Rabies,
and great many others are being re-
duced to a minimum, some having been
eradicated entirely. The numerous ticks
that affect his horses, cattle, and sheep,
and through which many of these diseases
are introduced into his herds and Aocks
are being rapidly eradicated.
The Boil Weevil that caused whole
counties in the cotton districts of the South
to abandon this crop, in favor of a more
diversified form of farming, is gradually
being conquered, as are the Cut and Hook
worms, SuckAy, Flea Beetle, which cause
such havoc with the tobacco crops, and a
horde of other pests and parasites that
affect all crops and fruits. In this cam
paign every resort is practised. The
many insecticides and fungicides, as Boz
deaux mixture, self-boiled lime, sulphur,
and lead arsenate; disinfectants like hydro
cyanic gas; in fact everything that is ef-
fective against these diseases, pests, and
parasites is brought into use.
In taking care of his herds and Aocks
the farmer has made splendid improve
ments-well drained, well ventilated and
substantially built barns and stables are
provided, while a careful study as to the
best forms of feed is continually being
made. Instead of the old ration of hay
and oats and barley, we find him making
use of the mangels, kohl rabbi, bran, glu
ten, oilcake, oilmeal, and other feeds, while
through the long winter months green
foods are provided by means of the silo.
Great care is necessary in preparing this
ncs1 = hn roI cd ~ <ha
time the silo is filled in order to prevent
mildew or fermentation from setting in,
either of which will cause serious illness
amongst the stock.
The farmer is no longer satisfied to keep
"scrub" stock, he is gradually leaning to-
wards the bloods. Among his horses we
find such breeds as Clydesdales, Belgians
and Percherons; his cattle are Jerseys,
Gurnseys, Holstein, Freisians; his hogs are
Berkshires, Poland Chinas, or some other
we'll bred strain is there. If these are not
in evidence we find him with we'll
stocked yard of poultry, ducks, geese,
guinea fowls, and turkeys often abound;
WullC olAOuS uAo CulChSHS We iiuN SuSh
we'll known breeds as: Dramas, Cochins,
Javas, Leghorns, Minorcas, Plymouth
Rocks, Wyandottes, etc.
The Federal government is constantly
trying to help the farmer through the ex-
perimental department of the Department
of Agriculture, the Information Bureau,
the Bureaus of Chemistry, Entomology,
and Plant industry. Through the expert
mental department of the Department of
Agriculture it spent $4,000 to introduce
Egyptian rice but it has been repaid with
an annual crop valued at $20,0o0,Oo0.
Durum wheat cost $250,00o to introduce,
its annual yield is now valued at $780,
100000. Many other crops were intro
duced the same way.
Through the reclamation service hun
dreds of thousands of acres of what was
once arid and useless land have been