The Exeter Advocate, 1924-7-31, Page 7e r
•
Address communications to Agronomist,73 Adelaide St, West, Toronto
cult to provide accommodation for,
Wherever these factors can be over-
come the purchase of such a proven
sire is undoubtedly a. move in the right
h" desir-
CHOOSING THE DAIRY HERD
SIRE.
The choosing of the sire is un-
doubtedly the most important factor
in a constructive breeding policy. It
is the sire 'th his influence over the
, whole t rather than the female
with her 'limited sphere of influence
that raises the standard of the herd
when the choice is good, or lowers it
when the choice is a poor one. Not
only is .the sire the most important
factor in a constructive breeding pol-
icy but he is, in addition, the most
;nomica1 one. More rapid improve..
ment in a herd could be made by the
addition of high class, females, but
such a method requires much more
capital than the average farmer has
at his, disposal these days..
In choosing a herd sire, pure -breed-
ing, size, type, character, individual-
ity, quality, record backing and if pos-
sible, proved breeding ability are the
main requirements that must be kept
in mind. The successful buyer is the
one who has the .ability to know an
animal with the proper combination of
the above requirements, and the cour-
age of his convictions to pay what
such an animal is worth,
It is the experience of the Central
Experimental Farm and no doubt, of
many breeders that individuals in-
uiring re breeding bulls often stipu-
! that the animal must embody
some 'specific character such as a
specified color, regardless of his mer-
its otherwise. In other words, they
are following a fad. Color is not im-
portant so long as it is within the
requirements for the registration of
the breed. Pure breeding, size, con-
formation, quality and record backing
should be given first consideration.
The desirability of pure breeding lies
in the fact that a buII whose ancestors
have been bred for many generations
for one purpose (milk production) is
more certain to transmit that char-
acter than one whose ancestry is mix-
ed. Size for age is important, for,
other things being equal, the larger
the animal the more economical the
production. Size without the recog-
nized ideal dairy conformation for the
bree Is not desirable. There aro too
mar %sfits...as regards conformation
in most breeds at present without per-
petuating them. Size without quality
is even less desirable than size with-
out desirable conformation, for the
big, rough,lcoarse animal is rarely a
good producer.
While an animal embodying the
above characteristics in high degree
is to be preferred to one with these
characteristics in lesser degree, never-
theless he is not to be compared with
an animal that has both individuality
and milk record backing. In sizing
up the milk records on a pedigree, it
should be remembered that. the im-
portant records are those close .up.
Too many animals are bought and
sold on the strength of the record of
,some individual three or four genera -
Nees removed. The influence of such
an individual on the value of the ani-
mal bought is so small that it hardly
merits consideration. Insist on high
production records in the dam and,the
two grand dams. If such records can
be obtained for individuals further
back in the pedigree as well, so much
the better. In the case of the sires in
the pedigree, some stress should be
laid on their breeding qualities as
represented by the number of qualified
daughters they have sired. Such in-
formation 'is now available for prac-
tically all the dairy breeds of cattle.
It may be possible in some cases to.
purchase a proven sire, that is, one
that has proven his ability to get
calves, and possibly old enough to
havedaughters that have proved
themselves heavy producers. When
such a bull goes on the market, it is
usually because it can no longer be
used in its owner's herd, and he,
knowing the value of the bull, offers it
for sale' for breeding' purposes rather
than for beef. Many buyers are diffi-
dent about buying such bulls on ac-
, count of their being vicious and diffi-
I direction, for, apart from is
ability as a proven sire, ther' e is the
added desirability of breeding from a
mature bell whish undoubtedly has its
advantages, An important point to
keep in mind is that if improvement
iii the herd is to take place, then the
I herd sire must be of better quality
than any of the other animals in the
I,
herd. Similarly, if improvement- in
i the herd is to continue each successive
1 sire must be at least equal and pre-
ferably superior in all points to his
immediate predecessor.
CULLING THE LAYERS.
Culling, generally speaking, should
be continued throughout the year and
should include the elimination 'of hens
that are non-productive, sick, thin, of
poor vitality. At some one time, how-
1 ever, the whole flock should be given
a careful and systematic culling. Each
1 hen should be gone over carefully with
the object of picking out and retain-
' ing
etainling the better producers and market-
ing the others. At this ,time it is ad-
visable to select hens that will be
needed for breeders the following
spring. These should be leg -banded
and their eggs savd efor hatching.
The poor producers should be market-
ed as soon as. possible.
The best time to cull is during the
latter part of August or the first part
of September. Hens that show indica-,
tions of laying at this time have as a
rule been the better producers for the
year, Hens that have been good lay-
ers during their first laying year are
generally the ones that will be the
better producers in the second and
third years, Good producers through-
out the year should be retained for
the next year regardless of age. Re-
latively few hens, however, will prove
to be profitable producers beyond
their second laying year, if they are
of the heavier breeds such as the Ply-
mouth Rock or Wyandotte, or beyond
their third laying year, if they are of
the lighter breeds, such as Leghorns.
It is also advisable to cull thoroughly
during July in order to eliminate hens
which have started to molt and have
stopped laying.
Hens possessing the following char-
acteristics or a combination of such
characteristics should be culled as
poor producers: sick, weak, lacking
vigor, inactive, poor eaters, those that
have molted or started to molt early,
those with small, dry, puckered vents,
with small shrivelled, hard, dull color-
ed combs, with thick, rigid pelvic
bones and rear end keel, and small
hard abdomen. In yellow -skinned
breeds, poor producers also should
show yellow or medium yellow shanks,
yellow beaks and vent.
In a good producers, when Iaying,
the abdomen is soft and flexible, owing
to its increased size, and there is less
tendency at this time to but on fat.
As - laying ceases, the abdomen be-
comes smaller, feels harder. When
culling, remember to depend upon a
combination of these characteristics
rather than on any one point alone.
It will be found that birds of the
Smaller breeds lay very few eggs
after the molting . period starts,
whereas the general-purpose breeds
such as the Plymouth Rock, Rhode Is-
land Reds, Wyandottes and Oxping-
tons often lay well into the molt.
A moist mash, being stimulating, is
of greater value at this time as an.
emergency feed, that is, during the
production decline; than when fed
daily during the year. If a moist
mash has not been fed, it may be used
to maintain a higher and more steady
lay during the summer and fall
months. Most poultry men prefer to
give a moist mash, feed at noon. The
regular dry mash is moistened to a
crumbly consistency, with either sour
milk, buttermilk or water. This sys-
tem followed during the summer
months in connection with a reason-
able amount of culling proves very
successful
Bone-Dry Crib Floors:
A cement floor in the corncrib may
berat proof, but if constructed care-
lessly it will absorb moisture from the
ground and cause the grain to mold.
In the general construction of foun-.
dations and floors of this sort, the
concrete is mixed. -'and poured directly
upon the ground- so that when the job.
is completed- rain or surface water.
eeile ssili be carried up through the porous
cement in the same manner that ker-
osene is drawn' up through a lamp
wick.
To. overcome any • such possibility,
strips of tar paper should be employed
in the building of the foundation
floors. A layer ofconcrete is poured
in theusual manner and smoothed
carefully so that no sharp stones will
protrude. Over this -surface the lay-
ers of tar paper arelaid, lapping them
an inch or so to cover safely every.
square inch of the cbndrete. Several
inches of. concrete are added to coo-
' plete the work.
A flour of this- kind, when finished,
will. be insulated against all moisture
will remain as dry as when placed
upon a flooring of boards or planks.
Painting the Engine.
It. is .a good practice to keep the
engine, transmission;; and the like on
the farm tractor encl.-truck well paint
ed, as it not only preserves the metal.
from : corrosion or rust, :but it also
makes them easier to clean -end keep
clean and to .work on , _
However, the job roust be -done
properly or the paint will not stick.
First •remove the battery or at least
make sure to disconnect it in order to
avoid any danger from sparks,as the
engine must be cleaned thoroughly
with gasoline and a brush. Then go
over it again with hot water and a
good washing powder so as to wash
off any traces of gasoline or oil: Then
rinse carefully with clean hot water
and let ,'dry thoroughly, after : which
it is ready for the application of a
good metal paint which will adhere
perfectly.
The farm premises ° can be made
brigh4er and cleaner by the liberal
from below Wed grain. stored upon it use o some good' whitewash.
POULTRY.
Weak and stunted goslings often
result from the efforts of the owner
to keep them in small fenced en-
closures where they will not be harm-
ed
armed by other farm animals. They often
do well on limited range until a week
or ten days old, and -then some will
stand humped up with drooping
wings. Exposure to the hot sun may
cause the same result
An orchard where there Is plenty -of.
shade and fresh clover sod makes a
fine range for goslings. A field pro-
tected by an evergreen windbreak will
help induce them to range in the early
spring when the days may be windy.
When the goslings become weak and
throw their heads back and .die in a
short time it is probably due to con-
gestion of the brain caused by intes-
tinal worms or indigestion. If the
droppings indicate the presence of
worms, try, giving each gosling a half-
teaspoonful of turpentine. This can
be 1
p ace rathe d p thy g
bird's throat with a medicine dropper. I
Two teaspoonfuls of castor oil will'
sometimes improve the digestive sys-
tem of a weak gosling and cause it to
,return to normal. When a large num-
r e n e yo
ber of goslings require treatment for
s a one- our pound of sul-
phur, one-fourth pound of epsom salts
and two ounces of powdered copperas
to twenty-five pounds of their mash.
The mash containing the medicine can
be given once each day, when the
birds are quite hungry. -
Bacteria From Flies.
House flies and stable flies are
great carriers .of putrefactive and
other contaminating bacteria, Hun-
dreds of thousands of these bacteria
may be found on one leg of a fly. Flies
breed and feed on manure and filth
of all kinds, and from these sources
they get heavily contaminated -with
the putrefying bacteria present in
such substances. Unfortunately, flies
will also feed on good human and ani-
mal
nimal foods, and when they settle on or
fall into such material they naturally
contaminate it with the bacteria that
they have picked up from manure or
filth on which. they have previously
been. In the summer time they are
present in great numbers around
stables and manure piles and milk
houses, and it is very common for a
number of them to get into milk.
Hence, -as each fly is liable to have
hundreds of thousands of bacteria on
its legs, mouth and body; when a
number of flies get into milk during
the milking or handling process, the
milk becomes badly contaminated. So
every care should be taken to keep
flies out of the #Wilk.' Manure piles,
the breeding place offlies, should' not
be allowed near the milk house, Win
dows and , doors of milk houses and
stables should be screened, milk cans.
should be kept covered and, every
other precaution necessary to prevent
flies getting into the milk should be
taken, . so says the Department of
Bacteriology, Ontario Agricultural
College. Consult Bulletin 265.
Eat More Canadian Fruit
and Vegetables.
"Eat Canadian fruits and vege-
tables while they are in season, and
can, dry, and store the surplus for
winter use," is the sound advice given
in; a book of recipes issued by the Do-
minion .Fruit Branch. It also points
out that Canadian -grown fruits and
vegetables are conducive to health, and
that greater and more regular use of
them throughout the year would have
a positive beneficial effect. It is fur-
ther pointed out that Canada produces,
cans and preserves more than enough
of these garden and field commodities,
unexcelled in quality, flavor, and et-
tractivenese, to supply all the possible
home demands, and that, is spite of
this fact, the amount of these products
impfirted is rapidly increasing. This
increase is largely in the canned, dried
and dehydrated fruits and vegetables,
and it is in the hope of encouraging
Canadians to demand and consume
more of the products of their own
country that the booklet, which can
be had free on application to the Pub-
lications Branch, Dept, of. Agriculture,
Ottawa, has been published.. AS well
as the seventy-five recipes, directions
are given for canning, drying and
storing.
Sheep in Orchards.
Many a once flee old orchard is
now a pitiful sight of dead trees,
tangled brush and weeds. Beyond re-
demption in so far as fruit is con-
cerned, such an orchard might still
be put to profitable.use and be less
unsightly. First cleaned of dead trees,
brush and trash, it makes a fine place
for a few ewes and lambs. Not only
will the sheep keep down the weed
growth but will thrive on such forage
as blue grass, oats, rape, Sudan and
the like, any of which may easily be
grown.
An acre or two of old orchard,
grove or woodland is good for a truck
load of sheep every year, and a truck
load of sheep these days will convert
the old dumping ground for discarded
farm machinery into a profitable cor-
ner of the farm.
Home Education
"The Child's First School le the Family"--Froebel.•
Co -Operative Training —By Margaret Conn Rhoades
I was somewhat, astonished at the
poise of a young child who visited
in my home. She had been unexpect-
edly left by her mother who had been
called away suddenly. She had all
the earmarks of an experienced vis-
itor, although to' my knowledge she
had never been out of town before.
When her mother returned I asked if
it had been home training that had
made her so careful, so observant, so
much a model visitor.
"Qh, that is a result of our .neigh-
borhood co-operative training," the
mother replied. "You see there are
some things children learn better in
another home, so a few neighbors in
our locality decided to co-operate.
Occasionally one of us would invite
week -end guests; these guests were
the neighborhood children. They
were required to pack their own bags,
see that their clothes were in shape,
and be prepared to visit for a day
or two. We were formal In our table
service during the stay of these little
people and planned special entertain-
ment for them. In fact they were
treated throughout their stay as real
company.
"And you know children delight in
living up to an ideal. The training
was splendid for them and the sight-
seeing trips we took about the town
were instructive. There was no let -
with them and to -day we feel sure
these little folks understand wonder-
fully well all the simple rules for
model visitors.
"The co-operative plan did not stop
with visiting either, but we had sew
ing classes where each child demon-
strated the making of a simple gar-
ment This idea of learning some-
thing first and then teaching the
method was very •inspiring to them.
They did this in cookery ,too. We
found that the group idea worked out
well, and one mother's idea stimulated
others mothers' children to real en-
deavor.
"Many things are made possible
through the co-operative training
plan. A cheery little group of chil-
dren who meet in a neighborhood liv-
ing room to study the Sunday School
lesson on Saturday night will put re-
newed zeal into the heart of a Sun-
day School teacher the next day when
she realizes that home effort is unit-
ing with hers in teaching spiritual
truths.
"The . talent of one mother often
finds a quicker response when shared
with the child of another. Co-opera-
tion in child training is a worth while
experiment as we have proved."
I felt sure she was right. As my
little guest, bade me a cordial good-bye
she told me she had enjoyed her visit
ting down of the company attitude "besides learning a new dessert."
THE FARM HOME ATTRACIIVE
Much Can Be Done Without Great Colt to Improve the
Farm Surroundings.
BY EARLE W. GAGE.
The possession of attractive home
surroundings, is not beyond the reach
of any farmer who owns his home,
while several tenants have made their
stay enjoyable by a few bushes here
and there about the yard. There is
little relation between the size, costli-
ness, or simplicity ofa home and its
surroundings as compared with its at-
tractiveness that may be given it by
proper arrangement and careful up-
keep. Beauty is not to be measured
" by expense, and ornament of any kind
is not needed so much' as a neat and
well -kept appearance.
Farm folks are coming more and
more to appreciate the value of home-
like and inviting surroundings as a
background for family life. The ideal
1 home is the reward for which we are
' all striving. Then, there is that pleas-
ure which comes to the family having
home surroundings to be proud of, It
is an obligation which every citizen
owes his community to have his home
as attractive as possible.. One little
farm mother put the truth in a sen-
tence: "Let the home beauty be its
sole duty."
This is the proper spirit. The farm
home may be made beautiful by simple
means. Neatness and orderliness come
first; these combined with a good
greensward about the house a a shel-
tering growth of trees and shrubs,a
veritable garden may soon be de-
veloped.
The farm home is a combined resi-
dence and business headquarters, .As
the farm business is but a means to
the home life, it is of first importance
that the farm as a whole should make
for pleasant home life. If children
are the most important crop the mod-
ern farmer raises, then it follows that
the most important function of a farm
is that of supporting a good home. If
every farm child were in attractive
home surroundings, many of the prob-
lems of life would be solved, and we
would be facing the question of keep-
ing the boys and girls on the farm.
The influence of farm environment
has a subconscious but potent effect on
children.' Even while the barn is only
a playground to the children, here
may be taught orderliness and thrift,
as also in woodlot, orchard, meadow
and field, all giving one grand ex-
ample in living object lessons of good
farming. The orchards, while not
primarily intended to serve as an
aesthetic purpose, may form the most
beautiful part of the farm. An orch-
ard of standard apples could profit-
ably be planted near the farmhome.
to become apart of the background.
using trees for this.
The pleasant farm 'surrounding is
vital, both for the present welfare of
the individual home and for the future
ofcountry life. Wide-awake yotng
people will usually hesitate at leaving
an attractive, prosperous farm home
for uncertainties of city life. But con-
sider the farm homestead as a whole.
It' is not merely a question of a few
daisies here, fresh paint and new
porches, broad lawns or tidy doorett p,
but of having living places that, in
their whole effect, are pleasing and
elevating to older folk and children
alike.
A. well-planned and well -kept yard
will: greatly improve an ugly house; a
pleasing house makes it far easier to
lay out, an attractive yard. A house
with a poor yard, or none, is inhos-'
pitable and forlorn, Both the house
and grounds must be kept in mind in
planning.
One of the surprising features
about an attractive home surround-'
Ings is that few people can describe it
When they have left it behind, where-
as, if we visit a homely and unattrac-
tive farm home, we can usually give
it a very vivid description. In pian-
ning farm homes, Professor Davies, of
Cornell College, advises -that there are
seven points that we should empha-
size:
I. The place must be well furnish
"ed with trees and shrubbery.
2. The house should be prominent,
should have a good setting.
3. There must be an open space of
lawn.
4. The trees and the smaller plants
should be massed or grouped at the
sides or at the rear rather than scat-
tered all over the place.
ii. There must be no unnecessary
fences, walks or drives.
6. There must be no curiosities con-
spicuously placed in the yard, such as
piles or stones, odd rocks, or shells.
7. The place must be neat and well
kept so that It may look as if the resi-
dents gave it loving care.
The house being headquarters, this
should be connected with the highway
and the surrounding buildings by
serviceable walks and drives. It
should have an attractive setting.
That is the first and main purpose
of the yard, by which is meant two
distinct ideas: First, the house should
have a background of sufficient
growth of trees and shrubs to give it.
a protected appearance; second, the
setting should afford opporunity for
outdoor life on the lawn and in the
shaded corners.
Goldie Bumblebee and the
Blue Flower.
Goldie Bumblebee sat rocking in
the breeze on theend of a spray of
goldenrod. It was a warm day, and
he did not feel at all like gathering
honey, for it was such sticky, hot
world ..His mother, Mrs, Busy
Bumblebee flew by with a loadof
honey and saw him there idling
"Why, . Goldie Bumblebee!" she
cried. "What do you mean by sitting
there doing nothing? Who ever heard
of a lazy bee in the Bumblebee fam-
ily? If you do not bring home your',
share of honey to -night, you shall
have no supper."
"Yes, mother," said Goldie and
stretched his wings slowly as he pre-
pared for flight. "I'll go to work at
once. Where do you think I can find
the most honey?"
"I should think there was enough
right 'under your nose," she replied
and hastened away to the clover field.
Goldie worked steadily for a time
and then began to grow tired. "I think
I shall -make a trip over to the pas-
ture yonder," he said to himself. "I
believe a piece of sky has dropped out,
or maybe there's a little pond there,.
for I can see a big patch of blue"
Goldie sailed away in the direction
of the pateh of blue, and when he
reached it he found that it was neith-
er sky nor water, but made up of
countless blue flowers, such as he had
never seen. They stood up very
straight and stiff in little groups, and
the heart of every flower was protect-
ed by ,dark blue petals with silky blue
fringes.
"My," Goldie thought; "doesn't it
loot: cool and pleasant down in the'
depths of those flowers! I -think 3
shall crawl into the biggest one I' can`,
find and have a little nap: Then l
shall feel More like work, and I can
finish filling my honey -pot before'
supper."
It was even better in the depths of
the blue flower than he had thought.
The lovely silken petals protected him,
from the sun and shed a soft light like
a faint twilight.,
"This is pleasant!" breathed Goldie
softly, and fell asleep.
When he woke up he did not find it
so pleasant. The sun must have gone
down, for it was very dark and- he
could not find any way to get out of
the flower. The silken 'fringes had
twisted themselves together tightly
A'photograph' of Sir Thomas Ward, who has arrived in Irak, with a tech- and Master Goldie Bumblebee was a
nical staff, to commence work to stemthe flow of the Dials River, so as to ui;isouer. He buzzed and scolded and
form a lake 400 miles square to aid irrigation
buzzed, but it was of no use. He could
not get out of the flower.
How he wished he had kept busy
and filled his honey -pot as his mother
had told him to dol If he had he
would now have been safe and snug
at home with the rest of his family.
They could never find him away off in
this pasture shut up in the heart of
a flower.
He stopped buzzing and scolding at
last and lay very quiet and even went
to sleep again.
When he woke up the second time
it was no longer dark in the flower.
The sun had risen, and its light pene-
trated the blue walls of his prison.
The blue fringes above his head began,
slowly to unfold, and soon he saw a
tiny opening no bigger than the head
of a pin. It grew larger and a little
larger until, with a great jump, Mas-
ter . Goldie pushed his head through
the opening and found himself free.
Was there ever a happier young
bee? • He did not delay an instant, but
flew home as fast as his gauzy wings
could carry him.
You may be sure his family were
glad to see him, for they had begun, to
be afraid that he was lost.
Isis brothers and sisters did not be-
lieve him when he told them of the
flower with fringes that folded itself
up atnight, but Mrs. Bumblebee said,
"He is right. I know the flower well.
It is called the fringed gentian."
"I shall never go there again,"
promised Goldie. "Next time I will
fill my honey -pot in the clover field
and come right home with it"—Rose
D. Nealley, in Youth's Companion.
Dehorning Calves.
The causic potash method of de -
horning calves not only is the most
humane but perhaps the easiest and.
may be practiced without danger to
the animal. The proper time to de -
horn is whew the calf is from five to
seven days old, at which time the but-
tons are easily located.
Olden calves, having small horns,
may also be'dehorned by this method,
but the operation is s7;ghtly more dif-
ficuit and Fess likely to be as effective.
The hair should 'first be clipped from
around the buttons or small horns
and vaseline smeared over this clip-
ped area to prevent .burning of the
skin.
In case of the animal being only in
the button stage,• scrape- the button
very lightly with a knife ' until the
blood oozes very little, 'moisten the
clipped area with . water and rubthe
horn with a stick of caustic potash
until it becomes white.
If the animal has small horns the
coverings or caps of them must be re-
moved before the potash is applied.
The caustic stick should be wrapped
in paper or cloth to praveni, burning
the fingers