The Only Weekly Agricultural, Horticultural and Live Stock Journal in the State. VOL. CXXXIV. No. 25. Whole Number 3510. DETROIT Mien}, SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1910. 75 CENTS A YEAR “.50 THREE YEARS FARM NOTES. The Work and the Weather. The early June weather has certainly been' discouraging for Michigan farmers. The prospect for getting the corn crop started early has certainly not been ful- filled, yet this should not be allowed to discourage us as the law of compensa- tion generally holds good with the weather as with other things in nature and we are likely to be rccompensed for this bad weather by fine growing weather later in the season and perhaps by a late fall, which will give the corn ample time to mature if we keep right on doing our best to make a. good crop of it. Generally speaking, the fine weather early in the Spring gave more time than usual to get the corn ground plowed and well fitted, and the refitting which has in many cases been made necessary by the bad weather will be beneficial in preparing a better seed bed for the crop, killing the weeds when they are small and making the plant food in the soil more available for the growing crop when it is once started. In fact, it is probable that the corn planted in June may make as good a crop as that gotten in earlier and which has had unfavorable weather during the. first few weeks after planting. In the meantime, the cat'orop has been coming on in an unusual manner and with a large acreage sown to this crop, the supply of grain with which to maintain the live stock on the average farm may yet be adequate. Anyhow, “what can’t be cured must be endured,” and the farmers of Michigan may congratulate themselves upon the fact that the diversity of their agricul- ture is such as to increase the chance of the season‘s results proving satisfactory, since the weather which may be bad for any one crop will be favorable for some other and make things average all right when measured by the net income from the farm. The abundance of moisture in the soil will prove a favorable factor for those who have been unable to plow their po- tato ground early _in the season. Usually the writer gets his potato ground plowed quite early in the spring, since there is always danger of an early drouth which will make conditions unfavorable for the early and rapid development of the po- tato crop where the ground is plowed late and is too dry to fit properly or to plant without danger that a poor stand will result. This spring, however, there was so much work to be done and the weather has been so unfavorable that it seemed impossible to follow this custom. The manure, howchr, was put on the ground early and under prevailing weather conditions it would appear that nothing has been lost by this delay in plowing. \Vith anything like favorable wcathcr the crop should be in the ground by June 20, which is our usual time for planting the late potatoes. As before mentioned in these notes. the writcr will again sow eight acres of alfalfa. this season. This will be sown on last year‘s potato ground that has been fitted without plowing. A carload of ground limestone and enough ground lump lime and hydrated lime to make a com- parison of the results possible. was zip-- plied to this land early in the spring, and it has been cultivated or harrowcd as frequently as the surface dricd off to date. The seed will be sewn as soon as the weather conditions seem favorable. Most of the seed will be inoculated, leav— ing a check plot for comparison. although we hope to find by the development of the crop that the soil is pretty well inocu- lated with the alfalfa bacteria. since this land was in alfalfa two years ago and was well inoculated in patches scattered about the field. Perhaps the cultivation of the potato crop and the thorough prep- aration 0f the soil for the alfalfa this spring may spread this bacteria about so as .to make inoculation unnecessary, but it is best to take every precaution to get a good stand. Perseverance has seemed to be necessary to this end in our case, but. the value of this forage plant is un- many sections of the corn belt for many to be is since by cut- ground and is the practice considerable vegetable matter is added to the soil and years. “here the same land is planted to corn year after year, undoubtecly good practice, ting up the stalks upon the plowing them calm, as where this plan is followed, it An Example of How a Few Vines May be Made to Protect the Sunny Porch. doubtedly so great as to make persever- ance profitable it’ it is rewarded by suc- cess. Maintaining Humus Without Live Stock. I have some land and no stock; have to depend on commercial fertilizers to en- rich the soil and soil must have more humus. I haVc part of this land planted to corn and was wondering how it would be to husk the corn on the standing stalk and then turn the stalks undcr for ma— nure. \Vould the value of humus I would get from this plan be equal to the amount I could get in cash for stalks? Also, could I sow rye, cowpeas, buckwheat or mammoth clover between rows of corn at time of last cultivating and under the changeable weather conditions expect to get much green stuff to turn under (as manure) this fall? \Vhich of above men- tioned grains would give the most growth? \Vhich would you advise? My soil is a clay loam, with sandy spots and some dark soil. St. Clair Co. G. A. B. The plan suggested for handling this corn is one which has been followed in this is mcrt evenly distributed than i: generally the caste where the stall-4 are removed from the land. However. it is questionable in the writer‘s whether this practice would a able one in l\r1ichigan. Where the prob- lem of maintaining soil humus without the keeping of live stock confronts the Michigan farmer; the best method of sup- plying the humus is undoubtedly with the clovcr crop which will at the same time supply needed nitrogen for the soil. From the wording of this inquiry, it Would ap- pear that it is contemplated to sow some crop in the standing corn which may be plowed down for green manure this fall. In this case, it would, in the writer's opinion_ be much better practice to keep the corn well cultivated, cutting it as early as possible and sowing the land to wheat, seeding the wheat to clever and supplying the needed humust to the soil through the agency of this clever crop opiniol , ho lll‘Illil Popular and Satisfactory Type. of Concrete Silo. (See accompanying description). by which means it can be done more cheaply and with better results than any other way. The clover will improve the mechanical condition of this ground, by loosening it up through the ramification of its deep rooting system, as well as supply it with humus and available nitro- gen and will, at the same time,‘tend to bring up and make available the mineral plant food contained in the lower strata of soil. The value of the clover crop as a soil improvcr is so great that one can nonafford to neglect it in the crop rota- tion, particularly where no live stock is maintained and no stable manure is available for application to the land and crop rotation in which clover occurs once in three or four years at the most, is quite as essential where land is farmed without live as whcre live stock is maintaincd and the clever is needed for winter forage. a stock PROTECT THE SUNNY PORCH WITH VINES. I have oftcn bocn rcquested by friends who admiro our back porch, to send pic- ture of tho Htllllt‘ to the Michigan Farmer that may what a few wild v'H‘rtlIil-wl and moining glories will 'l‘ln- faces the south. It is screened ill and completely covered with vines, making an ideal place to work, rest or read‘ in during the hot summer days. lngham oliu-rs slit,“ \ lllt‘r (in, lltli'l'li (“o Mus. E. J. CREYTs. THE SOLID CONCRETE SILO. The, accompanying cut shows the meth- od of constructing a concrete silo that is uscd to a great cxtcnt by the dairy farm- ers of the eastern part of Michigan. This, particular silo was built in the carly part of last summer, and has boon tilled but: once), but has givcn its owncr complete. satisfaction. ’l‘hcrc arc a number of these silos in this vicinity. and the farm- ers who use them say they are hunt to boat. The concrcte is laid in a. steel form as shown at the top of the silo in the pic- ture. which can be raised by tho derrick. ’l‘he dcrrick is also uscd to ('lt*\'{1(t‘ the mixed concrcto. A foundation of stones and mortar, made from cement and sand, is built lil'st. 'l‘his foundation extends a few inches bcyond thc wall of the silo proper. ’l‘hc slccl form is then placed upon this foundation and the concrete poured in. A, nlixturo of onc part of cc- mcnt to six parts of gravcl. inixcd quite soft, is: uscd: and thc concrctc which will form tho inside and ihc outside of the wall is puddlcd with a shovcl in ordcr to force the Inigo gi'avcl sloncs hack into the com-rclo so as to how a smooth sur- facc whcu tho concroto scts. After the. concrete has hardcncd sutlicicntly' the forms are iaiscd and a ncw course of concr~lc applied, 'l‘ho walls arc made [on inches thick at tho foundation. and they tapcr to six inchcs thick at the top. This makes them strong enough to withstand the wind and outward pros-sure of the silage when Iillt-d. A No. 1! wire is laid around lllt' silo in the concrotc work at cvcry fool in height. \Vooden forms may be madc for the, door opcnings and set into phlt'o whcrovcr a doorway is desired. Shoulders are made on the inside of the door openings. and no olhcr door frame is used. The doors lit closcly against the shoulders and are kept air tight bv the pressure of the silago behind them.- One of the most important steps in the building of the concrete silo is the finish- ing of the walls so that they will be air tight. A good. cheap way to finish the walls is to use a cement wash made of pure cement and water mixed to a paste. This can be applied with a white-wash 614 brush. Two coats are necessary. One can be put on when the silo is being built before the staging is moved, and tlte other some time after the first one has firmly set. This will make the walls air tight if applied in the right manner. The actual cost of tltis silo and the ma- terial used is as follows: Labor ................. ....$104.00 Forty—four bbls._ccmcnt at $1.237. 55.88 (2) 100 lbs. No. 9 Wire ............ 3.00 It ifty yards gravel . . . .. ............ 12.50 Roof ....... . ....... ...... 25.00 Chute ...... .. .. 1100 Total ......$?15.:i3 The 14x35 ft. silo complete, costs about $215. Estimating the daily consumption per cow at 40 lbs., aitd the feeding sea- son as six months, it will hold enough silage for 30 cows and require eight to nine acres of good corn to fill it. The silage keeps in first-class condition, and when tlte walls are finished properly, the silage is just as good next to the wall as it is in the center of the silo. Ingham Co. C. ll. SHALL WE HAVE A CORN CROP? SP UlUVA Y. This is a question that is puzzling some farmers now, especially if their corn field is on low ground. It is a fair average to say that one-half of the farmers of this section tltat got their corn in between the 10th atid 20th, have re;plattted. Fields tltat have been planted more than two weeks are hardly tip yet, and those that are up are not making any growtlt to speak of, and the corn has a very yellow color. 01‘ course, conditions may change any time and the eorti make a rapid growth, but it will have to change soon it the crop is not later than the average season. We thought titat we might have a very early scasott iii March and April whcii the warm upott us aitd trccs were budding ottt a month ahead of time. now we are wondering if the 80‘1— son will not be later than usual. This is simply an illustration tltat the of farm crops is a somewhat unccrtaitt investment, and that w.- oxalic Lo per Ct'ltt on ottr iii‘cstiuent lose it the next. The only to do tltc itcst we can and go right just the the favorable or unfavorable, by accurate accounts for a series of years that under our certain crop is unprofitable to grow. in which case we are justified iii gradually dropping it and expanding in something that has proven more pt'olitablc. But to return to the subject. The rea- son for the unprofitable start of the corn trop is ascribtd partly to the wct wcatlicr attd partly to the cutwortns, the days were growing may year a lid way is tHlt‘ Stilt} alone, St‘tls‘tili or saittc, bc price tiiilcss v.0 prove conditions a L't )lti, two sccming to go well together. I do itot know as l have seen as many cut— worms before as there are this spring. lr'sually they are confined to ground that was iii sod, bttt this year they are quite bad oii fields that wcrc givctt clcati cul- ture in beans or potatoes last year. The fact that the cold, wct weather holds the coin back so it does not git ahcad ol‘ the worms, and also prevents the Working of the ground which usually many of them, itiakcs the pest much worse. It has not been possible to work on the average corn ticld more. than a couple of days iii the last two weeks. so the worms are making up for what man can itot do. destroys , o Matty rctncdics have bccn suggested to prcvcttt serious the corn crop by the worms, bttt the fact that there are damage to so many so—cztllcd remedies lcads one to infer that none of them are efficient or practical or, at least, not both. (‘om- stock states that if holes are ntadc about a foot dccp with a smooth stick like a broom handle near the bills the worms will crawl into thcnt and can not get out. This is probably true, and iiiigltt bc prac— tical for a few cabbage but how about doing it for 20 or 50 acres of corn? plants, I’t‘iisoning the worms by means of clovcr or ground feed soaked iii l’aris green water is anothcr rcincdy, wltich is more practiwtl than the first, but rather c):— pcnsivc also, as the bait must be renewed days, and thcn hey are likely thc corn. ("hie farther statcs corn is cultivated with it leaves furrow the worms will get can not get out. This true. but I would trial before vouchitig cvcry few to prefer that if titt- tivator which next to the rows the furrow and would be practical, if prcfcr to give it a for the rcmcdy. Probably the followed remedy is to work the ground all we can. so as to disturb the worms and keep them turned up to the sun, and the birds. attd to keep the corn growing so it will get ahead of them as soon as possible. If too badly eaten the field may be dragged tip thor- oughly and re-planted, if the damage is cut- open into quilc .‘t niost THE IVIICHIGAN FARMER. only slight it is preferable tovreplant the hills eaten down too far to grow well. If the corn is eaten at about the surface of the ground and was planted fairly dee'p it will grow again and be ahead of newly planted corn. “'0 should bear this in mind when replanting or we may get too many double hills. It tnay not be generally known that ctttworms are the larvae of owletmoths which lay their gas iti midsummer, gen—- erally in grass lands. The eggs hatch into the little cutworins which feed upon the roots and shoots of grass and other herbs, btit they are small, their food abundant, and tltcy are little noticed. On the approach of winter tlicy bury them- selves in tltc ground where they pass the winter and renew their attacks on the vegetation in the. spring. They are now laxgcr and where the, fields are planted to corn or other hoed crops there is so little food that they are noticed, especially as they have a habit of eating the plant off near the surface of the ground, thus de- stroying much more food tltan they eat. Their work is done mostly at night, and tltcy remain concealed in the ground dur— ing the daytime. The larvae usually be- come full grown by July and change ittto again to lay tnore eggs to hatch more cutworms. Calhoun Co. moths S. B. H. HAY CAPS. My clover hay was out last year in two different times. The first field was cut when all heads were in full bloom, w-ry few had ripened. The second field was cut when blossoms were half dead and as this last field is the way everybody cuts same through here. I found that my cows would eat clover hay front the first ticld very greedily, relishing it and mak- ing good in the milk pail. \Vhen I changed to second field I discovered they would hardly eat it, leaving half of it and losing on their flow of milk. I had a few t'ccds left of the first field, and when offered this they cleaned it tip with a desire for more. Now I know when to cut my clover hay but as I have for a few ycars cured a load or two for brood sows and calves in cocks, watching it and gctting it iii before rain. 1 know I could not do tha. with an entire field. so 1 suppose hay caps arc the only solution. and hct't is whctc 1 want 1: get a little iiii‘crtut‘tiion 1 would like n. btor from Mr. i.liiit as to how he feels towaid the use of [my cups: if his il.’I_\' kept liit't’ and grrcn till it :w, and it' he thinks the benefit warrants the investment. Would heaVY muslin, oiled. be satist'ai-tro‘vmr muslin without ilt ug oi‘cd. and what would be :hcir c «‘t \\'ottld also like to know what it cost Mr. Lillie for his ducking. The (i expense t the caps seems a good deal to invest. Please let me hear from you iii your earlicst publication. St. Joseph ('o. J. R. I 'lltl very god indeed to get this ex— ]il‘t's.‘liiill from Mr. l‘ticnstra with regard to (lovcr hay. This is just the idea that l have advocated for a number of years. The most of us do not cut our clover hay early enough, but wait until it is past its best. That is Otic reason why people think alfalfa so much better than red clovcr hay. 'l‘hcy always cut‘ the. alfalfa \‘.’itt‘ll it is fit to cut, bttt pttt tltc cutting of the clover off. But, as Mr, Reinstra says if We cut the clover hay early the only way we can do is to cure it iii the lock, and when we attempt to handle the whole clover field the only safe way then is to have hay caps. Now. answering his question. 1 ant \vcll satisfied with my hay caps, and l intcnd to gct more this year. 1 am of the opinion. howcver, that it is not ncccssary to gct cight ounce duckiti: for hay caps. t‘onttnott unbleached cotton cloth will answer the pttrposc and will last practically as long as eight ounce ducking. i\i_\' caps cost me $33: per 100. They are licnintcd aitd have cyclcts on the corncis. and arc wcll made. I intend to gct common cotton cloth about 43 inches wide for caps this year and ctit it into squares. and at thc prcscnt time 1 do not intcnd to bout the edges. I tltitik thcy will last just as long as hay caps will. and i think a wire or a string put around the corncr of tltc hay cap will answcr cvcry purpose just as well as the cvclct. It would probably be better not to oil the cloth at all. You not only want the cap to shed the rain. but you want the cap to allow the evaporation of moisture from the hay on the inside of the cap, and common cotton cloth will prevent any amount of water front going through. Cocos: C. LILLIE. GRASSES FOR A PERMANENT PAS- TURE ON CLAY SOIL. I‘Vliat would make a good mixture of seed for a permanent pasture on heavy clav, well drained? ’iarry Co. F, A. S. I think you could get no better mixture of grasses for permanent pasture on well drained clay soil than red clover, alsike clover, timothy, orchard grass, red top and tall meadow oat grass. All of these grasses will do well and also the clover upon this soil it' it is well prepared before the seed is sown. If I wished to seed this summer I would plow the land just'as soon aspossible and work it occasionally until about the first of August. If at that time we had proper moisture so that you cottld get good germination. I would sow the grass alone. using about 6 lbs. of clover, 2 lbs. of alsike, 2 lbs. of timothy. 1 peck of orchard grass, about 5 lbs. of red top and 2 lbs. of tall meadow Oztt grass per acre. If you have prepared the land earlier in the season, I would prefer to sow earlier, and if a suitable time for sowing does not come by the first of Au- gust and you have to put it off until too late, I would defer the seeding until next spring early, and make my plans accord- ingly now. I would not think it wise to atempt to pasture this permanent pasture the first ycar. Let the grass becotne well established and a good sod forms before you turn animals iii to tramp it down and to tear much of it up by the roots. A new seeding like this is not well root- cd and inuclt of the grass is pulled up by the roots and the surface is not firmed down by rains but is loose aitd when the cattle tramp upon it, ntatty of the young plants are destroyed. But if the animals are kept off for the first season the soil will not only become firm but the grasses y'ill become well established so that they will not be injured so much by the tramp— ing of the animals. COLON C. LILLIE. HARVESTING THE HAY CROP. The fortunate owner of luxuriant fields of clover and alfalfa will feel a satisfac- tion and independence when these crops are stored securely against the needs of next winter. \‘Vith plenty of well cured hay he has a sound basis to figure upon in making up the rations for his farm stock during the winter. Hay is an easy crop to raise, btit its value is not assured until it is in the barn safe from the water atid sun. No man knows exactly how far-reach- ing and'detrimenial are the feulit-g rain and niow-dt'tniag‘ed ha), evct'y expcricnccd feeder aversion cfl'rcts of but has an to bleached and mouldy roughage. Ilay that is left in the swath or windrow ex— posed to the water and sun Discs not only its in‘igiitlicss and aroma but l‘t'cqucntiy more than Ullt‘dilil'ti o." its feeding value. Add to this the detrimental effects of the dust and mould of the damaged ltay to the respiratory and digestive systems of the animals and the losses from careless hay making are enormous, In the eastern attd southern states the first cutting of clover and alfalfa seldom escape more or less rainy weather. It is difficult to harvest these crops during catchy weather aitd requires skillful man— agement to overcome the ccccntricities of the weather. Uur most carefully laid plans are oftcn thwarted by the \vcatlicr. There is no escape from labor itt hand- ling carly ctit hay that must lie two or more days before it can be placed iii the mow. ()nc practice that I have always found safe is to ctit only what can be easily ltandlcd the same day with the available help. t‘ut in the morning and shake out iii the at'tcinoon with tile tcdder and rake and cocl; bct‘ore tltc dcw bcgins to gather in the c\cnittg. l’rotccttd in ncr front too rapid the ing comparatively whcn cocked, rclicve the stems of iitoisture (Ind cscapc the drying t)p- cncd tip the morning of the third day the moisture having gone from tltc stcnis to the leaves during the sweating quickly evaporates and the hay is itt ex- cellent condition to be hauled to the barn immct’liatcly after noon. this inatt- lcavcs lit?— the the brittleness. drying dry hay is‘ process. The hay cock and covers are essential to the proper cur'ng of the first cuttings of clover and alfalfa. A field of clover or alfalfa properly cocked and covcrcd with Hilt‘d cloth covers, so far as immunity from water soaking is concerned, has a great advantage, but one reason why many farmers object to this method is because it precludes the use of the hay— loader. The expense of curing alfalfa and clover in the cock is about 75 cents a ton but it is easy to see that much actual difference between bright, clean hay with the leaves on and a mass of bleached, naked stems. Clover and alfalfa leaves are nearly as valuable. pound for pound, as wheat bran, consequently every effort should be made to save them in a more palatable and nutritious form. ‘The de- terioration from exposure, the loss from mould and the danger of the hay heating in the mow will more than pay for a set JUNE 18, 1910. of oiled covers the first time they fire used. Properly handled, the hay tedder im- proves the quality of hay if the yield is heavy. It hastens its curing and enables us to secure many tons that would other— wise be left in the field exposed to the water and sun. The tedding of clever and alfalfa must be stopped before the leaves get dry and the hay thrown into windrows. After going over the clover and alfalfa once with a tedder it is best to turn the windrows with a side delivery rake, simply rollitig it over and exposing all sides to the free circulation of the air and sunshine. In this way the loss of leaves is reduced to a minimum and the hay is rapidly cured and ready to be placed iii cocks. For years the rule was to cut alfalfa. when one-tenth of the crop was in bios- Now the expcriencgd growers prefer to begin cutting when the crown throws ottt new shoots about one ittch long. \Vith tltc clover crop the best time to begin cutting is just before the field is in full blossom. Then it contains more juice, fat and richness. These are the sub- stances that make hay; without them there would be little left except wood. It is prudent practice to mow at one time only what can do (.ist'y handled With the available help. Another advantage of cutting clover early is the fact that a vig— orous second growth starts up rapidly. Many farmers sacrifice the intrinsic value of their hay crops for the satisfaction and ease of cutting and hauling it to the bartt the same day. Other men go to the extreme of cutting it when its chief asset is water and an expanding root and leaf system capable of gathering great quan- tities of animal food if allowed to stand a few days ltniger. Avoid extremes. If you have a large acretge the work must be begun early, before the grass is just right to cut, but it is wrong to cut half-grown clover and alfalfa. The drier air and soil of late summer makes the harvesting of timothy less hazardous. Tlte handling of timothy or mixed hay is less difficult for the hay is soon ready to go into the mow when the days are but and the Sun shines brightly. ’l’iinotliy had best be cut, when in full bloom; the best time to cut it is in the ttfti‘l‘ittmn wltvn the plants contain less moisture than at any time during the dry. When it is cut ir the afternoon. a tain the same night. will not do any ser- ious damage. especially if the tedder can be. staited early in the morning. The sooner we loosen tip the swath and allow the air to dry it, the sooner it will be ready for the mow. After it is teddcd a few times it may be raked into the witt- drow and tcddcd two or three times. If the weather is right it should be ready for the mow the next afternoon after it is cut It should not be cocked iii the field unless the weather is threatening. \‘v'hcn placid iii the mow care must be taken to keep it spread and tramped down, especially if a horsefork is used in unloading. The time for cutting timothy should be governed largely by the animals that are bring fed and the uses to be made of it. (‘ows that are giving milk will thrive best on early cut, sweet hay. Horses that are being Wotkcd hard will thrive full as well if itot bctter, on hay that is cut when a little ottt of blossom. Thus the first: cut- tings will make better cow hay and the l.ttr-r cutting good horse hay. Many still cling to the old idea that because late cut ltay will analyze better than early cut hay it possesses a highci‘ food value, but it is a mistake for us to view the matter Still). from that standpoint. If We i‘ccd late cut hay to vent g cattle during the winter they will become thin; thcti turtt tltein out to pasture in the spring and they will shed off their old hair and take 011 a look of prosperity, llow is this explained? Not that grass contains more protcin or that it is a more balanced feed. 11 is mechanical condition, them to obtain from it. It is s‘I‘CUu and succulent and easier to digest attd assimilate. Grass is nature‘s cattle food and the more nearly “.0 can approach to saving it iii its natu- tal conditiotr the nearer we will come to having an ideal food for our stock. If we preserve that rich succtilcnce that nature puts into our grasses we will St’tuuPe the highest deVClODment that our animals are capable of reaching. New York. “K due to its which cit- nourishment nearly better ables more MILTON KELLY. Exports of provisions from this . country are only about half as lar e ‘ r a year ago. g in \olume as *\ Since March there ltas been a f 11' of 1,480,000 hogs in the western apalglgiti: .‘(a ,tzq—um— 4 .1. .._.':-:~ :1.“ 1‘ 4..» MM — A—-_—+~.‘— .-.Q‘.*.——n.-§w«.-4~.v-' . JUNE 18, 1910. AMONG THE WORKERS. “Our hired man milks othe cowsu feeds the stock and follows the team all day," said a woman. “I told our hired man What do do while I was away,” said her husband. Now in the light of the history of labor and to conform to the facts, as well as to preserve the elegance of the English language. I would suggest that the Sign of possession. “Our,” and the condition of co‘mpcnsatimi. “Hired." be eliminated as not in accord with the facts and spirit of the present time. During,r the period of slavery Often free labor was employed in the fields alongside of the slave. Our slave and our hired man were the distinguishing: terms. The one re- ceived pay while the slave, like the little pig in the nu‘rscry rhyme. “received none.” Our slave picked cotton while our hired man plowed and, as a distinguishing feature relating to working- for hire, the term hired man stuck and still attaches itself to tgricultural labor. The cmploycs of a factory or a railroad are not referred to as hired men. A bank cashier or an attorney are employed and work for hire, but are not referred to as hired men. Every member of industrial life is work- ing for some one else quite as much as the farm laborer. and yet the term does not attach. Socially the term hired man smacks of just a step beyond slavery and is a repetition of known fact or surplusage because no one willingly works without hire and is quite as expressive in incle- gance as “widow woman.“ In Mexico on the large estates called Haciehdas are many peons, or laborers, attached to the estate. I’eonzgc seems to be a handicap of indebtedness in the start and never ending: The pcon is always in debt to the landlord until this condition becomes callouscd and a species of slavery by book—keeping ensues. Mex- ican laws are made to severely punish any avoidance of debt and the peon seems to rather like the arrangement of living: Without responsibility. His living is corn, ground or parched. beans and chili pep- pers. 'Tlie “baiie” or dance and innu— merable festivals and holy days seem to be admiiably arranged to keen the peons balance in the lcducr red ink Much of the cotton raised in the south is grown owned by another for a share “The making of a crop," as it is called. involves the landlord. the laborer and the merchant store— ikeepcr advances the living from the store and has a mortg. go on the crop for corn- meal. side pork, molasses. etc, furnished during~ the season. It requires a full 12 months or even longer to completely handle the cotton crop so that the condi— tion of indebtedness is perrcnial, There is a queer statute in early Ens:- lish law which prescribed that all idlo vagabonds should he made slaves and fed upon bread and water. or small drink and refuse meat, should wear a ring; of iron around their necks. arms or legs and should be. compelled by beating. chaining or otherwise, to perform the work as- signed to them, be it ever so vile. This statute was so harsh that it was eventu- in on land of the crop. The ally repealed. In view of modern agricultural condi— tions the man who handles teams and equipment in agricultural pursuits. where cost approximates into four figures in money, whose skill in adjusting planting and harvesting machinery which means profit to the farmer, is deserving of a better term than “our hired man." The opportunity for ilR‘i'ictllttii‘zil labor to rise from the ranks exists at thcprcst-nt time Skilled dairynien and stock feeders. with reading: matter on farm subjects added to practical experience gained at active work, will make valuable men. The difference in viewpoint between the labor employed on the farm and at other pursuits is noticeable. The city employed man regards the advanced prices of farm products unjustifiable and his fellow laborer on the, farm as very slow. Tue leVlll’lCll’lg‘ farm prices and investment in farms is calling for respt'msible farm cm— ployes. One great manufacturing com- pany is so anxious for well trained men that they propose giving a college educa— tion to some of their employes entirely at the expense of the company. “'hat would be the result of an experiment for the agricultural college to give at some agri- cultural center a six weeks winter course in the fundamentals of farming adapted to the needs of farm employes? Shiawassee Co. JAS. N. MCBRIDE. as The account book you send free as a premium with a trial subscription to Nov. 1, for 250, .I think is fine. Your paper seems to answer my questions 63va week before I have a chance to ask them. En— closed find $i.50 for renewal for three years—Paul H. Roberts, Oak Grove. lefllE MICHIGAN FARMER. vaVVVYVYVVYYVY'YYYW LLIVE srogig » PROBLEMS, FEEDERS' When to Wean the Lambs. The sheep owner who breeds early lambs should study this question care— fully, as weaning time is an important period in the life of the young mutton producers. Generally speaking, the wean- int,r of the lamb crop is more often de- layed too long than accomplished too soon upon the average farm. \\'hile the iains are frequent and the pasture is good the lambs will do well running,r wit-h the ewes, even if almost half the size of their dams. But when the pasture begins to fail and the. ewes to dry up. the lambs might better be separated from the ewes, so they can be given a choice bit of pas— ture and a little grain. to keep them growing without any check due to wean« ing, which is too often apparent with the lambs as usually handled upon the aver-- age farm. If proper preparation has been made for this event some choice bit of pasture will available to turn the lambs into after “'here some early rape. has this makes ideal forage for the young lambs after weaning. 'iut where this prt‘icautionary measure has not been takcn the next best thing; and it good indeed. is rim them on an eaily cut clover meadow as soon as the crop is off and the clover plants have started tip. If a new seeding of clover this will he clcau pasture US could be provided, since it will harbor of the internal parasites which are so destructiVe the lamb crop during the summer months. But in this Connection the water supply should be given attention. This should be both abundant and pure. drinking of stagnant water is a of frequent infection of lambs with these harmful parasites. Clean pasture and a pure water supply are essential factors in the develoi’uncnt of the lamb crop atid should be weaning. been sown. very substitute to US lltlllt" often to as the St‘llll‘t't‘ li(‘\'tr be neglected. Then the lambs should be supplied with a proper grain ration for best results A small feed of bran and oats will prove most beneficial to the lambs. and \\'lll rc- pay the cost of the. grain times over in the better growth sccurcd in the lambs. Vthre the lambs were suppliid with a grain ration in a compartment of the stable to which they are given access many and the ewes excluded bcfore the pas— turing‘ season arrived. they will have a well developed appetite for this feed and no trouble or delay will be experienced in getting them on this grain ration. \\‘hcrc this has not been done it will take a little time to get them to catinp; the grain. but a little patience will accomplish the trick. Care should be exercised not to feed much at a time, and to iii— crcasc the ration gradually until they are eating as us thought desirable. It will not. take a heavy grain ration to make a marked difference in the growth of the lambs. and the man who has tiied it will be surprised at the results which will be attained by a little feeding. of this kind from the lambs are weaned during the season. There no time can fcd liberally. have not been in the habit practice. tut) much however. judicious time the balance (if when grain Try it. if you of ft’illowing’ lllt‘ is be more this SHOEING FARM HORSES. I would like to few words in rcsard to Mr. \Vaugh‘s theory of shoeing draft horses. In your last issue Mr. \\'augh said that if was not careful they would run quite a shoeing bill in ’1 year. I claim that it is the best policy: to keep the draft team shod. for I save from a quarter to a third of oats by so doing. I do not see where it expensive to keep them shod. As a rule. out set of new at $2.“) will last a year. and having them set every six or seven weeks would make about six times, which at $l.‘_’0 for setting, would make $20.00 for the year. I think that the horse wants just as badly as Mr. \Vaugh needs his. I think that if the poor horse could talk. he would say so too. He has feelings as well as we do. I claim that there are more horses hurt and ruined by not beinhr shod than by being shod. \Vhen it rains we must go to mill or we have to go to town for something, or there is some other thing to do. If you want to draw a load. your horses, if not shod, will slip and slide and the road is not wide enough to hold them. I will take mine out any say a (Ill O can toy is shoes his shoes day; they are always shod and sharp on the toe calks besides. and I do not pull off more flesh in a five mile draw than I can put on in two weeks. “'hcn you take your horses to the shop do not tie them tip and go away and let the smith chop off the front of the toe and rasp the heel down to nothing, but stay there and have something to say about it yourself. Just have the heels lcvtl and cut the toe on the bottom down to the white line and then lit the shoe to the foot. not make the shoeeiantl fit the foot to it. If this plan is followed I do not think there will be very litany bad feet from shoeing, for that has been my experience for the last 20 have had some horses with very bad feet. but after shoeing them properly for six months their feet improved. Monroe Co. \V, C. years. l or so, SELECTING THE BOAR. success of the farmer and breeder either for market or to depends on the judicious The remark is often The who raises hogs, sell as breeders. selection of the sire. made that “the sire is half of the herd.” 'l‘hat statement is true as far as the transmitted characteristics are concerned. The man who raises hogs for the. pork market is often careless about his selec- tions of sires, acting as many cattle breeders do. accepting; anything that; will set the sows in pig. As some keep— iis say. “anything; to make the cows freshen and give milk." It will pay wed for the men who just raise. pork to select the right kind of a sire. for the pies from one may be more thrifty and more econ- omical pork than others. It is a g‘tltul rule to tix in mind. “Know what producers you want and then secure it." Before one can know just what they want they must be familiar with what can be depended upon with the sire. One should know what influence both sire and dam are to exert the It is a rule. pretty generally acCcpted, that the sire imparts the general outward ("'lll- formation. while the dam chiefly deter- mines the internal structure of the off- spring. This rule proven by looking at the mob llll'lllil that l.\ pretty good imitation of as as out~ wurd looks go. but and has constitutional vigor what is ;‘i\'oii him till» on progeny. is {I ll l'ui iii.- sirc. lie is ‘ara‘cr according to dam If the by ll is we» “'6‘ reduced very ross stallion op >pp ass. lui‘ 1- .‘t lipnllllwl litil‘Ht in size. tvouitl much It seems clear from this illustration that: which to raise pork hogs. it is a of prime im- poiiance that the conformation of the sire should be pretty nearly what we desire the external of the pigs to be. from matter external in selecting a boar If the sows are large. long and raiig‘y, then by all means secure a boar that is compact and broad at the head. neck, shoulder, chine. loin and ham. and is car— ll. lllt- stom— ‘ttliillfll't'lliVCly short lees, have lungs. then we that the- pic's from tr-oiioitiimil meat and make good consumed. After the merits lit 4] sows on such instances large llt'llll and expect will be taters that if such :i great that lauded by language. when. in an illustration of a that to he stood. It is in :1: 11. can cotili— dcntly producers. of the seeing" the itiiprovenicnt of the extravagant is but nature under- cross gullil food icsult is so llHt' is cross, the the of fact. the general not lit‘iZli‘ used is use rcsult law of well seems very at this time when the improved of are so numerous. and the tlf‘Sit‘dltlw qualities are that it would unwise to anythingr but a pure—bred sire in to f.'.\‘l profitable returns. grade mongiil. no matter how well may thH ancestral that the pure—bred has behind him. No ani- mal should expected to transmit what he has not within him in makeup or here- ditary influences. it is far to trust to {1 pure—brcd sire that has some det‘ccts niedlcss to say breeds swinc understood lic sch ict 4“ he influence til'tlt’l' til‘ appear. lacks lit‘ safer than to use a cross—bred or grade that may outdo it in general looks. The pure— brctds have been bred and selected with the idea of economical productit'ui in mind for so long a pcriod of years that they can be depended upon to reproduce their leading,~ characteristics with a great deal of certainty. \thn to make the selection is a mat— ter of impm‘tauce with both the breeder and the purchaser. While in some rc- spicts. at weaning; time the pigs look well and the breeder desires to sell as fast as possible to save feed. room and trouble. there are some reasons why it, is safer to wait a few weeks at least. The breeder has the facilities for feeding and caring for a bunch of boars better than were to, such a‘ \ n _. l s , QT;— "' _ thugso DIP “6'33: - A Real Necesslty About Poultry Yards and Bulldlngs. INEXPENSIVE. EFFICIENT. EASY TO USE. KRESO DIP N0.l will put an end to LICE and MITES; stop loss from contagious disease; CLEANSE, PURIFY AND DEODORIZE. One Gallon Makes 100 Gallons of disinfectant solution ready for imme- diate use. Spray or sprinkle it about the poultry buildings and runs. Put a little in the drinking water. Dip the birds if they are badly infested with lice. This is the best possible means of in- suring the health and thrift of your flock. It will do just as much for Horses, Cattle, Sheep as Hogs. The ideal material for killing lice, treating scab, mange and ringworm and protecting against Hog Cholera and other contagious diseases. Write for our free booklets giving in- formation about common animal dis- eases and suggestions for treatment. Kreso Dip No. 1 is for sale by all druggists. PARKE, DAVIS 8: COMPANY Dept. of Animal Industry. Detroit, Mich. l’llSave You $50 On a Manure Spreader .- If You'll Let Me This is iust a little ad—lvut a postal will bring my BIO Book—and give you my $50.00 Saving Price and Special Proposition You can save as much answering this little ad- vertisement as it? it COVCICtl .1 page. My Spreader positively will do better work and last longer than any Spreader llh’ltlt‘mno mat- ter what the price-so why pay $50, ,. more? 40.000 farmer. have UNIFORM. my spreader and money . luvlng prlco. My Special Proposition will interest you. Just a postal addressed to (lal- s lows}! of Waterloo. Iowa. will — l>' _ . WM. GALLOWAV co. ‘ 049 Galloway Sn. Wltorloo. In. bring you everything postpaid. “4 A / Wlll You Pay I Penny For . I‘FKQIF‘ / The POI'II and Save $50.00? ’1 V/qil" ‘ Address Wm. Galloway, Prob. \‘ / 25$? My Auto-Seat Buggy Saves $26.50 SEND me your name on a postal and I‘ll pay the postage to you. to prove how to save $26.50 and up on any Split Hickory Vehicle of over 125 Styles Shown in My FREE BOOK All my vehicles made-to-order- _ sold direct. on 30 Days’ Road Test. ' ZYears’ -"" Guarantee. Book shows astonishingly low prices. Also photos in colors. Also Harness. Write H. c. Phelps, Pres. The Ohlo Oarrlage Mfg. Co. Sta. 32, Columbus, 0. N EWTON’S H EAVE °§£§lh Blélé'llfiiu“ C U R E The Standard Veterinary Remedy. 20 years sale. Send for booklet. / 3;: t R , 4:... , v§fi“""’:4”flll‘ ”Milli/little? t o. . ‘\ " s Jl \\\ ‘\\\A.'—-‘ ~.,— SAFE TO USE HEINOLLIGNOD 1.838 DEATH TO HEAVES The first or second $1.00 can cures. The third can is guaranteed to cure or money refunded. $1.00 per can at dealers. or express prepaid. THE NEWTON REMEDY C0.. Toledo. Ohio LAMENESS from in Bone S avln Bone, Splint. Curb, Side Bgne ol- 51:3?- lar trouble can be stopped with ABSORBINE Full directions in pamphlet with h bottle. $2.00 a bottle at. dealer ‘ one Horse ‘Book 9 D free. a or delivered. ABSORBINE, JR., for mankind. $1 a bottle. removes Painful Swellings, En- larged Glands. Goitre. Wens, Bruises, Varl cose Veins. Varicositles, Old Sores, Alluys Pain. W. F. YOUNG. P.D.F., 268 Temple St. Springfield. Ila”. 616 (4): a farmer can, generally, for only one. To turn a little boar in with a larger number of older hogs, is bad policy. and will be very likely to greatly retard__his growth, if it does not spoil him. \‘Vhen a breeder has a bunch of boars of about the same age he can feed and care for them all alike, and develop them to make the most of them_ as it is to his interest to do. To keep them steadily thriving means that they will look well when the customers come to make a se- lection later on. By the time the boars are from six to eight months old. those that are good enough for herd headers will show their outstanding qualities, and can be set aside. with an extra price at- tached. waiting for the brother breeders who can afford to pay a good, big,r price, for an extra good animal. The breeder should be seeking something that repre- sents. the highest type of the breed and should not rest short of it. \Vith the raiser of pork hogs the mat- ter of breed type need not be given so much consideration. He should look for. and secure, an excellent type of a hog in general appearance and constitutional vigor. and be well sexed. (of a masculine type), but he need not conform so closely to all that professional breeders, who are breed improvers, may demand. After the selection of a boar has been made, the manner in which lie is handled will have much to do with the success attained with him. To turn a young; boar loose with a lot of sows is bad practice. as he will worry, become emaciated, and fail to meet all that is expected of liinl. ilemeiiibcr that the boar needs to be kept in good condition. not fat. but strong. pltiiiip, and healthy. It is always best to give him a comfortable pen by himself iii which to sleep. and lay when he desires to. and a yard in which to ex- ercise. If he can have some grass to run on, all the better. Do not keep the lions in an adjoining yard as it “'11. cause more or less worry and trouble. it is best to turn the sows to the boar at time of servne. a... ilet- I “-r will be more cozm-ntm] if Ilt .s kept in his place all in: lll'l' lemovc the sow as soon as sirvcd and nevi-i lct ont- :‘t:t_" Innuei . .i solutely tlct'tssatv for Various 1 ‘. ".‘czit kindl'. l