HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1924-8-28, Page 7'e
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Address communications to Agronomist, 73 Adelaide St. West, Toronto
AUTUMN CARE OF STOCK. animals much more quickly in con-
finement than •on range.
The care of live stock during the
stormy weather of autumn, and when
pastures are bare or dry, is an im-
portant factor in successful live stock
husbandry. There are many farmers
who feed 11 during the winter and
spring, b"ut allow their stock to receive
a severe setback in the autumn; due
largely to thoughtlessness for the com-
fort and food supply of the animals.
The cause of the setback is the deter-
ioration in the quality of the pastures
as the summer advances, and the
are ter need. of shelter in autumn than
uring the summer.
On the rich, succulent grass of June
which acts as a tonic as well as a food,
the cattle quickly make gains, and the
changed conditions come so gradually
as summer passes, that one is apt to
be caught unawares, particularly
when the pasture gets ahead of the
stock early in the season and appears
so much better than it really is. The
dry, woody stalks of the grasses and
Clovers require the addition of succu-
lent food to keep the cattle in condi-
tion to make profits for their owners.
The most valuable of these succulent
fodders are mixed grain (when cut in
the mills stage), corn and sunflowers,
when fed as soiling crops. Roots should
be added in the late autumn when the
above-mentioned fodders near matur-
,jyj,;vw It is very important in feeding,
that all changes be made gradually,
so that the digestive tract of the ani-
mal may not be disturbed unduly.
Late autumn feeding should thus
merge gradually into the early winter
ration.
The shelter and protection of the
animals from storms and cold are
quite as important as the feeding
during this period of the year. The
clump of trees or windbreak that was
of great value to the cattle during the
hot days of summer, is of little value
during the chill, driving rain or cold
storms of autumn. It requires more
mood than the animal can eat to sup-
ply sufficient body heat during a cold,
wet storm, and the animal has to fall.
back on its reserve supply of fat to
maintain its body heat. This results
in a more or less serious loss of
wit, Cattle should not be allowed
to lie on water -soaked ground, or when
it is covered with hoar frost. They
should always be protected from rain
storms and heavy winds that might
chill them from about September 1
until they are permanently stabled.
Frequently cattle that are in good con-
dition at the close of summer go into
winter quarters in poor shape, with
their vitality greatly impaired due to
lack of ordinary care on the part of
their owners.
Just as soon as the flies disappear,
the horned animals that are going to
be fed for beef should be dehorned.
This adds much to their comfort; they
feed better and can be marketed with
less loss from bruises. The teeth of
young animals should be examined,
and loose ones extracted. The teeth
of old cows should also be looked over,
to determine how their feed can best
be prepared for them.
All the stock`should be carefully ex-
amined fir lice, ringworm, or other
parasites and diseases. They should
be treated for all these pests and dis-
eases, which multiply and injure the
THINGS I'VE LEARNED ABOUT.
SILOS. .
Experience has taught mee a lot.
about silos. Six years ago Z was ready
for my first one. Four neighbors
bought together and saved about$2O
on each tank because they could be.
shipped together and the agent got
them all on one trip. Orders can be,
sent direct to the manufacturer where
there is no agent, and part or all of
the commission en the sales can be
kept by the farmers.
It doesn't matter what kind of a
silo you get. There is a competitor
who wants to sell. Let 'em all bid; it
may cit the price.
I used to think that the base for a
wooden silo needed to be built on the
rock. I've made three bases, each
of the latter two lighter than the one
before it. A ten -foot wooden silo
weighs from. 3,000 to 5,000 pounds. A
wagonload of corn weighs that.
I don't use any floor. Put in a foot
of straw and let the silo filler get busy,
I don't have a foot of juicy water in
the bottom. The soil absorbs the juice.
I have learned to build the founda-
tion wall in circular farm. It saves.
material; it looks better. Half-inch or
thinner house siding, wet and slowly
bent to shape, makes the best form
material Use sod for the inside form.
Use plenty of stones in the cement. It
'is cheaper and the mixture holds as
well,
Use a sand -and -cement top coat.
Make it smooth. Slope the whole wall
to the outside. Staves set out at the
bottom if. it is level.
Setting up. Hire a man who knows
to help you: Building a scaffold is
cheaper than broken legs. Use the
plumb or level often. Crooked silos
are a nuisance.
Put a roof 'on—for looks and con-
venience only. I've one silo with and
one without. Silage is better without
a roof, I believe. Extend the roof
three or four feet above the top of
the silo. This gives you head and
filling room. Fill in the space between
the top of the staves and the roof with
sheet or galvanized iron. When the
silage settles you'll have full silo.
I used to keep three or four men in-
side filling. Now one man with a dis-
tributor pipe does as well. Men will,
increase capacity but won't improve
the silage. Even distribution is the'.
main point.
Fne cutting pays. Our cutter makes
it a quarter of an inch. Finer cutting
packs better and makes better silage.
Own your own cutter if possible.
Two or three farmers can buy one co-
operatively.
I've tried everything I've ever heard
of for sealing silage until wanted for
feeding—oats, straw, sawdust, tramp-
ing, roofing paper, newspapers—and it
always spoils on top. Always wanted
to try paraffin like women do for jell.
Keep the hoops tight or the silo
painted or coated inside, depending on
the kind. They all need some care.
Build a house at the bottom of the
chute bigger than you think necessary.
It won't be. Set two silos so one chute
can be used. Cheaper. More conven-
ient. Use windows in chute and house.
—Earl Rogers.
Mineral Matter for Hogs.
An experiment in hog feeding has
been carried on at the Experimental
Farm at Agassiz, B.C., to determine
the influence of feeding mineral mat-
ter to hogs. The mineral mixture con-
sisted of ground bone meal, 8 pounds,
ground charcoal 5 pounds, ground
rock phosphate 5 pounds, and salt 3
pounds. This mixtufe'was fed at the
rate of 3 per cent. of the grain ration.
The other foods consisted of a mixture
of shorts, four parts, -and one part
each of corn meal, chopped oats, and
chopped barley. The results showed
that, in every instance where the min-
eral was fed, greater and cheaper
gains were made. Some of the lots
received boiled potatoes in addition to
the other feeds. It is reported by Mr. thinking of installing a modern water
W. H. hicks, the superintendent who t and plumbingalhn d his home
conducted the experiment, that the po- y
tatoes apparently had a good effect, should make sure that his water sup-
especially on the health of the pigs, ply is both plentiful and safely pro -
more particularly in relation to rheu- tested from all possible sources of con-
neatism, as no stiffness was present in tamination. Much more water will be
any of the pens where potatoes wore used daily under modern than under
fed. Some of the pigs were fed regu- old conditions of service—about 30
'larly at meal time, while other pens gallons per person per day. Ask the
had access to self -feeders. The pigs 0. A. College to assist you in solving
that had free access to the self- the following problems in this matter
of water supply, so says. Prof. R. R.
Graham:
1. How to increase- the well and
spring supplies of water.
2. How to safeguard these supplies
from surface contamination.
3. How to make more use of the
rain water supply.
4. How to get that fine spring water
the top of the ground. In this way
these friendly bacteria are enabled to
do a very valuable work for ns. This
is science applied to a useful purpose,
so says Prof. R. R. Graham.
We supply bulletin and blue -print
to any .one wishing to build a septic
tank. All necessary information is
given in these, and by thEir helpful
suggestions any handy man can build
it. Cost for cement, siphon, fittings
and tile amounts to about $53. The
tank may be located close to the
house and the tile laid under the lawn
or garden. -
The Farm Water Supply.
There are two main sources, name-
ly, well and spring (both hard water)
and rain water (soft). Any one
feeders and received no mineral were
v the greatest_ sufferers from rheuma-
tism.
The Septic Tank.
It consists of a large concrete tank
divided into two compartments by a
vertical partition. The size for a
single house is about 4'x8' and 31/2'I running through your house and
deep. • This tank holds the sewage l stables by installing the hydraulic ram
long enough, for a certain kind of ' near the spring,
baeteria to destroy the solid matter.
When the liquid accumulates to a cer-
tain amount a non -chemical affair
Iris and madonna lilies can be
planted in August. Hollyhock seed
called a siphon empties :ore of the can be planted for next year's flower -
chambers into a system of field tile, big. Ever try the double hollyhocks?
called the aeserption bed, laid shallow He who permits his hens to roost.
under the (;round. Any remaining upon the wagon wheels in winter, need
sewage is destroyed in the, soil by an -1 not be surprised if there are no eggs.
uth.:r i mel er hex:tn-rka that live near, Comfort is a factorin egg production.
IJrsus Kerneodei of Victoria, B.C., is the only bear of his kind in cap-
tivity. He was captured recently on Princess Royal Island, northern British
Columbia, by Indians, and carried by them into civilization. He is pure white
in color, but differs from the Polar bear:
', star appeared way up in the sky.
Little Jackie Rabb:t spied it first.
THE CHILDREN'S "Star light, star bright,
The first star I have seen to -night,
I wish you may, I wish you might
Bring me the wish I have to -night,"
THREE GOOD GAMES.
To play "Through the Circle," pro-
vide two pieces of elastic a yard in
length and sew the ends of each piece'
securely together. Form players in
two lines; at a given word the race
begins. Each leader places one of the
elastic bands over the head and goes
through it; as the leaders step out;
the next player in each line grabs the
circle and does likewise, and so on
down the line, three times, starting at
the signal each time. The best two
out of three wins, In case of accident,
such as .catching the elastic on a but-.
ton, or breaking, the manager calls
"Time," and the other side must stop
until repairs are made.
"Jump the Shot" may be played by
from ten to sixty or more players. A
bean-bag tide to a rope is needed. The
players stand in a circle, with one in
the centre holding the end of the rope.
This player swings the rope around so
describe a large circle on the floor or
ground, with a sufficient length of
rope to place the bag in line with the
feet of those in the circle. Players
jump to avoid being caught around the
ankles by the rope. Any one caught
in this way must retire frdm the
circle. The player wins who longest
retains his place; or the one caught
may be required to chance places
with the centre player and in turn
swing the rope.
To play "Seat Relay," divide play-
ers in two equal groups. Each group
gets chairs and arranges them in an
even line, far enough apart to allow
roo mto run around each line without
interfering with. the other. A bean-
bag is given to each leader. At the
starting signal he quickly passes it to
his neighbor, who passes it on to his
neighbor, and so on to the end of the
line. As soon as the last player gets
it, he jumps up and runs down to the
other end of the line and sits down in
the leader's chair, immediately passing
the bean-bag toward the end of the
line again. (To make room for him
every player in the line has shifted
one chair toward the end of the line).
The game continues in this manner,
the whole line being ready to shift as
soon as the bag reaches the end player,
until the leader gets back in his orig-
inal place. This ends the game. Lines
one andtwo play simultaneously. The
first one through wins.
THE SHIPWRECK.
The three little Woodland boys,
Jackie Rabbit; Willie Woodchuck and
Johnnie Muskrat, were thinking hard
how they might get to shore as they
drifted, drifted toward the Big Sea on
their funny little ship, the old fishing
log.
Of course, Johnnie Muskrat could
get back, for he could swim. But he;
was trying to think of some way to
get his two little friends back with
him.
"If we only had a paddle," said
Willie. �
"Yes, and if we had wings we
might fly," said Johnnie.
"Perhaps the wind will change and
a merry little breeze will blow us to
shdre," said Jackie.
But no paddle drifted by and they
did not have wings and the merry lit-
tle breeze they, wished for did not
come. So it was three frightened little
boys that sailed along their log ship.
As they drifted along the shadows
on the shore grew longer. .Soon the.
sun went to bed behind a hill, and still
they kept on drifting. Then a little
ag ac e.
"I bet I can guess your wish," said
Willie. You wish you were home for,
a nice warm supper."
"I guess he's not the only one who'
wishes it," said Johnnie Muskrat.
But the three little Woodland boys
kept on drifting, for they could not
think of any way to get to shore. As
it grew dark, they were tired, fright-{
ened and sleepy. Finally the old moon I
peeped his head over the hill, and to
keep from getting lonesome, they told
stories about him.
When it was only an hour past bed-
time, they just couldn't keep awake
any longer and one after another went
to sleep. It was then that something
happened.
"Kerplunk, perchug, slash, splash."
The old log ship had hit a stump j
and off went the three little sleepy
Woodland boys into the water.
Fencing the Poultry Yard.
The first rule for fencing poultry is
not to fence it at all, if you can get as `
good results by fencing the garden
and lawn. Fowls on range will re-
main in a more healthy condition and
also gather considerable feed that
would otherwise be wasted.
But if they insist upon visiting the
neighbor's garden, or range too much
upon a public road, it will be neces-
sary to fence them. In that case, one
must be sure to allow them enough
room. For a flock of 100 layers, a
square lot 100 feet on a side is as
small as is considered safe. If double
yarding is practiced, from one-half
to one-fourth as much may be suffi-
cient, but where land is not too ex-
pensive,
xpensive, single yarding will probably
prove more satisfactory.
Poultry netting should be stretched
on posts about 'twelve feet apart. For
the heavier breeds, this fence may be
about five feet high, but for Leg -
horns, it should be as high as seven or
even eight feet.
It will be easier to keep chickens in
a yard where shade, feed, and water
are always available. But if the fly-
ing habit starts, it must be curbed at
once. When one flies out of the pen,
others are likely to follow. You will
find that certain chickens are the
worst offenders at flying out, and in
certain cases, it may be necessary to
resort to cropping of wings. Of course,
chickens immediately begin to grow
new feathers, and use nutrients that
should be expended for growth on
eggs. Crop only one wing on each
fowl.
For fences six feet or more in
height, a neater job can usually be
had by using two strips of netting.
If the smaller size mesh is used at the
bottom, the fence will turn little chick-
ens at the minimum expense.
Happy Prospect Indeed.
"You say they anticipate a very
happy married life?"
"My dear, all their relative& are so
angry with them because they got
married they've vowed 'they'll never
visit them."
EATING RIGHT TO FEEL. RIGHT
BY JULIET
Since time began we have entertain
ed many superstitions regarding feed
Little girls haveeaten bread crusts
to make their hair curl,' while older
girls have eaten carrots to make thorn.
beautiful; Yet how few people step and
think seriously and sanely about the
food which they take into their bodies
and put before their families. Scien-
tists tell us that we have entirely new
bodies every few years, how are you
building yours?
While the whole truth about food is
not yet known, there are some things
that we do know, and if acted upon
would save us much anxiety and
actual suffering. The day is fast ap-
proaching when we shall have doctors
(we have a few of them now) who
will treat through food and the ali-
mentary tract in a highly specialized
way, just as certain schools treat the
muscles.
If we choose food wisely we have a
right to expect it to build for us new
tissues, repair old tissues, regulate
body processes, correct certain weak-
nesses and protect us from disease.
But we must choose intelligently if
we are to get these results.
We can not do what we have done
for so many years --think of what
"Walter would like best," and "what
Susan positively refuses to eat," what
is easiest to prepare, and what we
have in the house. These things must
be taken into consideration to a cer-
tain extent, but we must also have
some other guiding principles.
Heretofore, our chief principal
seems to have been to put everything
we could think of on the table and
trust to providence that we were get-
ting the right things to eat. All sorts
of ills followed. Many of them just
"worked off," we paid no attention to
them and in time they ceased to
trouble us. Others wore so insistent
that we finally had to consult a doctor.
How many of these troubles were
caused by improper food, we shall
never know. But it is safe to say
that food has caused more ills than
have ever been suspected by either
patient or doctor. Your doctor can not
possibly know what foods you have
been eating and often attributes your
difficulties to other causes, when food
either directly or indirectly was re-
sponsible.
Foods have been sorted out in many
ways. Three divisions prove quite
satisfactory: Foods for maintenance,
foods for corrective purposes, and
foods for protective purposes. In the
first class we put the fats, the starch-
es and sugars, the tissue -building
foods, water and the minerals.
If you weigh too much, or toe little,
if you are troubled with constipation,
or diabetes, or many of the other dis-
turbances caused from lack of proper
food, you can correct these troubles
by choosing food wisely. The starches
and sugars build fatty tissues if they
are not all burned for energy and heat.
Avoid them in large amounts if you
would cut down your weight. Bulky
foods such as watery vegetables,
fruits, and cereals made from the
whole grain are all very valuable in
curing constipation.
A farmer said recently: "There is
something to this feeding business.
My son can feed the dairy cows and
feed them less than I do, and it costs
less, too, and they will give more milk
than when I feed then. Pll tell you
there is something to this if you just
study it out."
LITA BANE.
- And -there is. The farmer is profit.-
. ing by the facts that have been learn-
ed about feeding stock. It is just as
important that he and his family pro-
fit by the information now at hand
regarding food for themselves, for ii,
has been proved beyond a doubt that
there is more ill health' in country dis-
tricts than there should be,
When we read such articles as "The
National Menace of Rural Bad
Health," which appeared in one of our
magazines not long ago, and read
similar reports in other periodicals,
we should think twice before making
the boast which we have made for so
many years that the country was a
very healhtful place in which to live.
One of the favorite reasons given by
investigators for this condition is the
fact that we have not chosen wisely
in selecting food for ourselves and
for our children.
A new phase of the question of
feeding is the problem of .taking food
for protection against disease. Dr.
E. V. McCollum, of Johns Hopkins
University, has given us some inter-
esting facts, but only a beginning has
been made in this field. He recom-
mends that we use whole milk, a quart
a day for every child and at least a
pint each day for grown-ups. We
have not realized the food value and
the protective value of milk. Dr. Mc-
Collum also recommends a large use
of leafy vegetables for the same rea-
, son.
The classification of foods will prove
helpful in the planning of meals whe-
ther for a family or a large group.
Foods are grouped as follows:
Group 1.—Body building foods in -
elude lean meats, poultry, fish, oys-
ters, clams, milk, cheese, eggs, dried
legumes, nuts, and other protein rich
foods.
Group 2.—Starchy foods furnish
energy and consist of bread, crackers,
macaroni, rice, cereals, breakfast
I foods, meals, flours and other cereal
foods.
Group 3.—Fatty foods furnish en-
ergy and include butter, cream, lard,
vegetable fats, salt pork, bacon, choc-
olate and other fatty foods.
Group 4.—Fruits and vegetables
furnish mineral matter. They are
spinach, peas, Iettuce, potatoes, tur-
nips, apples, oranges, berries, other
vegetables and fruits, raw or cooked.
Group 5.—Sugar foods furnish en-
ergy. They are syrup, honey, jellies,'
dried fruits and candy.
All five groups should be represent-
ed in the diet every day, and about
one-tenth of the entire amount should
be chosen from the first group. This
will insure enough building and repair
I material A generous selection from
the fourth group will insure the nec-
I essary bulk, mineral substances, and
organic acids. Many times when a
meal is analyzed one finds too much
fat, too much protein, or too much
, starch, or perhaps not enough mineral
I matter present. With a little atten-
iition to selection, using this simple
, classification as a guide, the meal may
I be planned easily.
i While it is not possible to say the
i last word on what to eat and what not
Ito eat, there are many principles
which if followed wisely would make
for better health, which is the founda-
tion of better living. It might be well
to "think twice before you eat." At
any rate think more about it in the
future than you have thought of -it in
'the past, act on the information you
have, seek more information, and bet-
ter health is sure to be your reward.
Planting Currants.
The best time to plant currants is
in the autumn, says the Dominion
Horticulturist, Mr. W. T. Macoun,
who continues: If planted in the
spring they will probably have sprout-
ed somewhat before planting, and on
this account their growth in the first
season will be checked. Where the soil
is in good condition, currants, espe-
cially the black varieties; make strong
growth, and the bushes reach a large
size; hence it is better to give them
plenty of space, as they will do better
and are easier picked than if crowded.
Five to six feet is a good distance to
plant. If planted closer, especially
in good soil, the bushes become very
crowded before it is time to' renew the
plantation. Strong one -year-old plants
are the best, but two-year-old plants
are better than poorly rooted year-
lings. It is better to err on the side
of planting a little deeper than is
necessary than to plant too shallow.
A good rule to follow is to set the
plants at least an inch deeper than
they were in the nursery. The soil
?s•
should be well tramped about the
young plants to prevent its drying out.
After planting, the soil should be
levelled and the surface loosened to
help retain moisture.
Would Se Wholly Undeserved.
"They say she'll probably win the
peace prize."
"What, slie! Why, to my certain
knowledge that w.ouran's responsible
for at least a dozen marriages."
Yams belong to the Yarn family,.
while sweet potatoes belong to the
Morning-glory family 1-1141 potatoes
belong to the night ,Wade family.
The windmill is the cheapest source
of farm power, and it ought to have
more credit than it gets. One draw-
back to its usefulness is that frequent-
ly it is placed too high up in the air,
When the manufacturer sells the
farmer a windmill, he wants to sell
him a high tower to put it on. That
is good business for the maker, blit
not always for the farmer, because
there are some locations where the
windmill will do better worn nearer
the ground, and there will be'lesa dare -
ger from heavy winds. Give the old
motor fair play. and it will do its, fair
Waving a little spare time on his hands the cameraman decided on an airplane trip and this view of Montroaf share of the world's wore aired he.~ard
from Mount Royal, looking south, is the result. ' itsrkia