davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
POLK COUNTY LEADS
in BUTTER SALES
Better Marketing Is Needed
Cutting Costs of Production
Increases the Returns.
by H. L. RUSSELL, Wisconsin College
of Agriculture.

by n. L. RUSSELL, Wisconsin College
of Agriculture.
There is q growing amount of dis
satisfaction with the prevailing sys-
TENS Of butter marketing. Butter has
long been marketed by the individual
creamery shipping the same to ada
cent available markets where it has
been sold presumably on it's merits but
often without any knowledge of it's
origin. In view of the fact that much
improved methods have already been
inaugurated in one Wisconsin county
and have resulted in such signal sue
cess in the cooperative marketing of
butter by shipping in car lots to east
ern markets it appears that state
wide cooperative organization for i'm
proveSnent in the marketing of butter
is readily possible.
Accordingly a survey of the opera
tons Of thirty-one creameries located
in the counties of La Crosse, Monroe,
and Vernon was undertaken for the
purpose of determining how co-opera-
tive creameries in general might inn
prove their marketing conditions. A
number of conclusions in accordance
with the experience of creamery oper-
ators have been reached.
Better Cream Needed.
Many farmers In each community
are not producing as high grade of
cream as is necessary to make the
highest quality of butter. If the
creamery refuses to accept the low
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
Chicken Flock Need Not
Be a Nuisance in Towns

Neighbors frequently object to the
keeping Of poultry in towns and cities,
most complaints being against the
vociferous rooster and disagreeable
odors. In some cities and towns there
are regulations to prevent or control
poultry keeping, but the United States
Department of Agriculture says that
the flock need not be a nuisance.
There will be no annoyance from oders
If the dropping boards are cleaned
daily and the yards are kept reason
ably clean. There is no necessity for
keeping rooster unless the owner In
tends to hatch chicks, and in that case
the rooster should be disposed of as
soon as the hens have been set. A
flock without a male will produce just
as many eggs and, what is more, the
eggs will be infertile and will keep
better.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
Troublesome Weeds
a Menace to Alfalfa

prepared by the United States Department
of Agriculture.)
Weeds are, perhaps, the greatest
enemy Of the alfalfa crop, says the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture. Dodder, which acts as a para
site on alfalfa plants, is very objec-
tionable in seed-producing districts. It
does not ordinarily give much trouble
in fields that are devoted entirely to
the production Of hay, but neverthe-
less there is great prejudice against
seed contaminated with dodder, and
most states have stringent laws against
the selling Of seed containing it. 1t is
relatively easy to kill out patches OF
dodder in hay field.
Other troublesome weeds are blue
grass and quack-grass in northeastern
United States; crab-grass and Ber-
muda-grass in the central and southern
states; and foxtail or wild millet in
the Middle West and the great plains.
In the irrigated sections of the West
the wild barleys, also known as fox
tail and squirrel-tail grass, are decid-
edly troublesome, as the boards ruin
the first crop of hay for feeding unless
it is cut very early.
Where weeds are troublesome in the
West, wheat is sometimes drilled in
the alfalfa in the fall. and as it comes
on early the growth of weeds is
checked. The first cutting of hay the
following spring consists of a mixture
of alfalfa and wheat. Cultivation of
established stands of alfalfa may help
to hold weeds in check, but unless
done with considerable care the crop
may suffer. The best way to fight
weeds is to make conditions SO favor
able for alfalfa that. they are smoth-
cred out.
When weeds become abundant in an
alfalfa field it is usually better to
pillow up the field and make fresh
start than to try to rogue them out.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21

tenn. The development of such CO.
operative creamery declarations that
can establish their own selling system
is the next logical step in the butter
industry.
That the dairy industry in the state
of Wisconsin needs a wider applica-
ton of such methods is apparent when
Polk county's achievements in this di-
rection for the past few years are
considered. Already Unit No. / OF
the Wisconsin Cooperative Creamery
association has been established In this
county, and I'll. P. Sondergaard at
Balsam lake is its field man. About
100000 pounds of butter were
shipped to New York and Philadelphia
during 1921, and according to John
Klinka, county agent for Polk county,
an increase Of approximately a million
pounds in these eastern shipments re-
suited in 1922. Twenty-eight cooper
alive creameries are included in this
shipping unit, and tWenty-one of them
are in the field unit. According to Mr.
Klinka, the organization has easily in
creased the income from butter for
this territory by $4,000 in a year.
Cut Heavy Shrinkage.
That there is every prospect of de-
veloping powerful statewide organiza-
ton out Of this Polk county idea is
evidenced by the fact that 65 creamer-
les are already members of the Wis
consin Cooperative Creameries associ-
alton. This organization has rendered
signal service in reducing the shrink
age, which is ordinarily experienced
in the shipping of butter, and in the
promotion of more exact methods In
the manufacture and handling Of the
product
With the premium that is offered for
butter scoring 93 on the eastern mark
cts, many Wisconsin creameries that
formerly only attempted to make
butter scoring 90 are learning that
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21

with a little extra effort they can OBJ
tain a product of such quality as will
enable them to receive the fancy
prices paid by the trade for butter
testing SO.
Through these efforts it is probable
that we shall soon reach the time
when all makers Of first-class- butter
will use only sweet cream and that but
ter makers who are trained to make
a frst-class product only will be en-
ployed. When a first-class product Is
combined with intelligent marketing,
Wisconsin dairymen will reap their
fullest reward for such effort. To
provide suitable brand names for Wis
consin butter and then to market it
through single representatives in the
large eastern cities is another step
which will naturally grow out of this
organization work; but this, too, will
depend for it's success upon the quality
of the product which is to be handled.
The Polk county idea, whereby the
quality of the product is so improved
by the producers themselves that there
will develop a market demand based
on merit, is probably the natural solu-
tion of the problems Of Wisconsin
dairymen, and it's gradual application
on wider areas appears desirable.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
Shade for Young Stock
Is of Great Importance

The Importance Of shade for young
stock should be constantly kept in
mind, especially for late Matched chicks
which have not had an opportunity to
get a good start before the scorching
weather sets in.
These chicks must be pushed along
without letup. given every advantage
of proper feeding and care. If this is
done, if they are supplied with fresh
water or milk to drink and the founts
are kept sterilized and clean and shade
is provided they will, in truth, grow
like weeds.
A range in the orchard is the best
place in which to start them out, after
which they can be transferred to the
edge of a field Of growing corn, provid-
ed colony coops are available, and
they should be. IL you wish the most
economical results in raising the young
flock.
But shade is imperative and should
not be neglected
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
PoULTR, Z POINTS

Good chicks can come only from
good parent stock.
Many chicks are handicapped at the
start by poor breeding and Matching.
A foot of feeding space for each six
hens is about right when 1t comes to
feed hoppers.
The Anconas are good layers and
are classed along with the Leghorns in
egg production.
The turkey is small eater for his
size. Many of the larger breeds OF
chickens eat more than the same num-
Der of turkeys.
Ducks need to be coy and warm the
first week Of their life; they grow
quickly and seem to have less resist
ance to exposure than chick.
You do not need to change your
breed so much as you need to change
the males of your breeds. Get new
ones from other and better fiocks Of
the same breed.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
Taking Tail From Lambs
Not Difficult Operation

The time to take the tail from the
lamb is in its second week Of life. The
operation is not difficult and docking
the lambs simply removes something
unnecessary to the lamb. Two men
and sharp knife or docking iron
are all that is necessary. Let one man
hold the lamb, while the other To-
Gates the joint in the tail by feeling
on the inside. Push back the loose
skin so that dap will grow over the
stub and cut the tail off at a joint
about one and one-half inches from
the body. The cut is simply made
with a sharp knife, in which case a
stout cord tightly tied about the stump
close to the body will stop unneces-
sary bleeding. This cord should be
removed in eight or ten-hours so that
there will be no slougning.
A much better way of docking the
lamb is the use of hot docking irons,
soaring the tail off with an iron heat
ed to cherry red. This cauterizes
the wound and prevents bleeding.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
Vaccination Recommended
for Control of Blackleg

Regardless of the perfection
achieved in the control of blackleg the
disease continues to exact consider
able toll every year. Treatment of the
sick animals, of course, is fruitless.
After death the carcasses should be
disposed of by deep burying or, better
still, by burning. The best way to
combat the disease is by building up
immunity in susceptible animals by
vaccination. It should, however, be
remembered that protection is not
built up until after eight to ten days
after vaccination. When the immunity
or protection is once established, it
continues from fifteen to eighteen
months. Ordinarily calves under six
months and cattle over four years are
not vaccinated, the disease being most
prevalent between these two ages.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
Total died in each 1000
\ 0R

narrowed BOB z42
These records serve to show that
fully one-fourth to one-third Of the
feed and other expense in keeping
sows is lost before weaving, by not
giving the sow proper feed and care
during CESSATION or proper narrowing
quarters, the department points out.
BY far the major share of losses in
pigs is due to improper handling and
feeding and not to disease.
Sows running on pastures while
Sucking pigs saved the largest filters.
Sows that were fed the following
quantities of feed, per one hundred
pounds overweight monthly, during the
CESSATION period, narrowed the largest
filters: 45 pounds of corn, 10 pounds
of oats, 15 pounds of tankage. Tried
sows that had produced pigs previous
" seemed in this study to show ten
dency to produce larger filters than
untried gifts.
Cause of Losses.
A similar study upon 1874 spring
pigs produced on these same farms in
the spring Of 1921 showed that $40 of
every LOCO pigs narrowed died before
the date Of weaving. The important
causes of losses in the spring of 1921,
as in 1922, were pigs laid on by the
motaer sow, and those born dead or so
weak they could not get up to suckle.
The 1921 pigs, however, were bothered
more with necrotic enteritis than were
those in the spring of 1922.
The study indicates that barring
fluctuations in prices of feeds and the
occurrence Of disease, the number of
thrifty pigs produced per SOW more
than any other factor influences the
cost of producing pork. All the care
in feeding possible after weaving the
pigs can very seldom overcome the
production cost due to small filters,
the department says. The figures show
that the majority of sows last winter
had carrying charge of $15 to $25
per head, which covered the cost Of
carrying them while producing a lit
ter Of pigs; with large share of the
sows this meant carrying charges for
twelve months.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
Free Choice System of
Mash Feeding to Fowls

A study of the free choice system of
mash feeding for chickens made by
the United States Department of Ag-
riculture at its experiment farm 10
Gated at Beltsville Nd, showed that
the best results and highest egg pro-
duction are obtained when hens are
allowed to select their own mash con-
stituents. 1t was found that hens Sc
lected a mash composed Of 66 parts
cornmea1, 20 parts meat scrap, A parts
wheat bran and parts wheat mid
dlings. This mash gives best results
with Leghorns, and less stimulating
mash, containing more bran and
ground oats, with less meat scrap, has
given better results with general-pur-
pose breeds.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
Fundamentals Of
Better Cowpeas
Wide Margin in Price Paid
to Growers and That
Given by Consumers.

Prepared by the United States Department
of Agriculture)
There is usually wide margin be-
tween the average price received by
growers of eowpeas and the price paid
by consuming farmers. Much of this
margin is for services in the channels
of trade that can be rendered more eco
nomically by the grower on the farm,
says j. E. Barr, investigator in mar
keting seeds, who has recently conclud-
ed for the United States Department
of Agriculture an investigation Of meth
DDS Of marketing cowpeas. Any effort
on the part of growers to improve the
quality of their cowpeas will inevitably
bring them larger returns, Mr.. Barr
says.
Better Marketing.
The fundamentals of better market
ing of. cowpeas are better preparation
for market and care in determining the
time of marketing and in selecting the
agency through which the crop is sold.
Better preparation for market includes
reeleaning, after threshing or hulling,
so as to remove all foreign matter and
lightweight and broken seeds; and the
use of sound sacks, securely tied or
sewed. The services of rec1eaning and
sacking necessarily carry cost With
them, but by performing these services
on the farm the grower will receive an
increased price for his cowpeas.
Unstable markets for cowpeas are
found to be due largely to the variation
in demand and uncertainty of produc-
tion in any section from year to year.
The demand for cowpeas is limited and
is affected by the buying power of the
farmer, the quality of the crop for
planting purposes and the comparative
price and supply of seed of other
crops, notably soy beans and velvet
beans, which compete in the crop rota-
ton. Geographical preference for va
rieties is also an important factor in
the commercial distribution of cow
peas.
Selling Price Varies.
The selling price of cowpeas varies
with the commercial supply, the quail
1ty for seed, the variety, and the near
ness to planting date. The price paid
growers for cowpeas is almost invari-
ably higher, as the planting season APP.
proaches. Some varieties sell at pre-
MUM of % to 50 per cent over the low
est-priced variety, while mixed" vari-
cites sell at a discount of 10 to 25 per.
cent under straight varieties. Grow
ers should recognize this fact, says Mr..
Barr, and plant only pure seed of
known varieties If it is intended to
market the seed crop.
The results of Mr. Bars investiga-
lions are contained in Farmers Bulle-
tin 1903, marketing the Cowpea Seed
Crop" copies of which may be OBJ
tanned free upon request to the United
States Department of Agriculture,
Washington
Four principal agencies through
which growers may market their cow
peas are ~ neighboring farmers; (2)
local shippers; (3) distant seedsmen or
dealers; ~ through farm paper adj
vertising direct to other farmers. The
advantages and disadvantages of each
of these methods are presented in the
bulletin, so that the grower may be
guided in choosing the agency which
win return him the largest net amount
for his product.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
Clean Chicken House to
Eradicate Harmful Mites

To eradicate mites thorough clean
ing of the chicken houses and spray
ing with a suitable disinfectant having
a sufficient body is all that is neces-
sary. All roosts, loose boards, and
boxes should be removed and the dis
infectant applied in the form of
rather coarse spray, using suitable
pump. Some Of the best materials for
the purpose are the so-called wood pre-
servers which consist of anthracene
oil and zinc Chord AS a mixture Of
this kind is little too heavy to spray
well, it may be thinned with an equal
part Of the kerosene Crude petroleum
is almost equally effective and is
usually cheaper. It should be thinned
by adding one part of kerosene to four
parts of crude oil.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
Outline Of Method for
Seeding Sweet Glover

A good method of seeding sweet
clover or other clovers is to SOW it
on oats ground. 1t may be sowed at
the same time and with the same ma
chine If a drill with grass seed attach
ment is used or it may be sowed after
the oats are sowed and the seed COW
cred by narrowing or rolling. Sweet
clover is not likely to smother out the
oats, though on some timber lands
which are rich in minerals and poor in
organic matter it might happen that
the clover would tend to check the
growth of the oats. If the land is
1ich enough in organic matter to grow
good oats the clover will not be likely
to injure the oats to any extent.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
Brooder Pneumonia Is
Caused by Common Mold

Brooder pneumonia is caused by
common mold present in the incubator,
brooder or In straw; often the egg
producing organs are affected by 1t, so
that chick Matched from an infected
egg has the disease. 1t affects chicks
under four weeks old, they become
sleepy, with feathers ruffled and the
head drawn down; breathing Is la
bored and the windpipe is patched
with the mold spores. The disease
usually is not cured once it attacks the
chicks, and when q brooder is known
to be contaminated 1t should be fumi-
gated, the old straw removed and
fresh litter provided, and the poultry
dying from this disease should always
be burned.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21

grade cream, patrons Shift from one
creamery to another, and more cream
cries than are necessary to handle
the butterfat are kept open for bust
ness with the result that unnecessary
running expenses are incurred.
It is found that the cost Of assem-
bling butterfat, making butter, and
placing it on the market by different
creameries varied from slightly less
than 2 cents per pound to TO cents
in 1921. Transportation cost varied
from almost nothing to 3.75 cents per
pound, and creamery operating costs
ranged from 10 cents to 5.3 cents
per pound. Generally the larger
creameries can make butter at small
er cost per pound.
The size Of the creamery seems to
bear no relation to transportation costs
of cream and butter, but it does bear
a direct relation to the cost of the
creamery operations, which shows that
the creamery manager is usually more
expert in the making Of butter than
in marketing it.
There is a great variation in the
prices which the different creameries
receive for their butter from month to
month and for the year. This is in
part due to differences in the quality
of the product, but undoubtedly the
plan of selling also exerts an effect
The average price Of butter sold to
retailers was cents per pound above
that sold to wholesalers. Though the
disposal of their product to retailers
pays best, few creameries have de-
veloped this kind of market.
Expert Service Required.
While there is room for improve
ment in all phases of creamery opera
fions, the greatest need lies in the
marketing end of the business where
more expert service is required.
Expert sales service at reasonable
cost per pound cannot very well be
obtained by local creamerfes individual
~, because they have too little butter
to market. A better sales servire, how
ever, is possible at small cost by
federating cooperative creameries so
that large volume of butter will go
to market through single sales sys-
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
Important to See That
Goslings Are Kept Dry

Goslings should not be removed from
the nest until the third day after hatch
ing, as 1t is important to see that they
are quite dry, and should be kept
warm and dry until they are feathered
out.
They should not be fed until thirty
six to forty-eight hours old, at the
same time be offered a lukewarm drink.
Their first few days feed. consists Of
oatmeal, hard-boiled egg and shorts or
bran,. thoroughly mixed to crumbly
mass. Lettuce or red clover chopped
fine and mixed with the food serves
as tonic and is greatly relished by
them. Feed every two or three hours
just what they will clean up quickly.
After the first few days the egg may be
omitted and the food slightly mois-
tened, but never be fed sloppy, sticky,
nor too dry; cornmeal may also be
added to the mixture.
After the first few weeks gradually
begin feeding cracked corn and shorts
or bran, mixed and moistened as stated
above; whole wheat may be added to
Lu0 dUON0 luIAIuIO, Dul u great pO4lAOA
should be grass food
They should not be allowed to get
wet; their water should always be
fresh but not cold, and plenty of sand
should always be near, though the
sand should never be mixed with their
food.
Goslings require dry and warm quar-
tiers at night, at the same time plenty
of ventilation, and their quarters kept
clean and sanitary; damp quarters will
cause them to become lame. Their
sleeping compartment is best when
thickly bedded with straw.
After the first week, when the wealth
er is warm and dry, they will grow
faster when given free range to roam
about, for they enjoy feeding on tender
green grass.
If hens are used for incubation they
should be kept free from lice by FREE
quently busting them with good in
sect powder.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
Many More Elemental Eggs
Than Any Hen Can Develop

A pullet at maturity has a certain
number of elemental eggs which may
be developed. Counts at the Maine ex-
pertinent station show from 1000 to
$500. More recent investigations show
even greater numbers. There are al
ways a great many more elemental
eggs than any hen is capable of de-
veloping.
The rapidly with which eggs are
developed will depend upon the hens
inherited ability to produce eggs and
upon the feed and management Of the
flock.
Profits from the flock will depend
upon securing as many eggs as pos
sible during the first couple of years
of each hens life. In addition to
proper housing and feeding we must:
1. Breed from the best layers.
2. Hatch chicks early so that pull
lets will be ready for winter egg pro-
duction
8. Break broody hens as soon as
possible and thus avoid long resting
periods.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
DEEP TILLAGE Is
NOT PROFITABLE

Experiments at the Ashland agricul-
turaI experiment station for several
years have shown that deep tillage in
creases slightly the yields obtained
from most crops, but the difference pro-
duced by this treatment is not enough
70 make it profitable. The cost Of ap-
plying such treatment is too high, and
the returns last year corroborated
those reported earlier that make 1t In
advisable to advocate this method.
The result of trials for several years
Is that fall blowing to a depth of six
or seven inches is the most satisfactory
practice in the long run; and on the
heavy soils IN that section Of the state
this practice is recommended.