The Clinton News Record, 1934-11-01, Page 6PAGE 6
THE CLINTON NEWS -RECORD
Timely Information for the
Busy Farmer
c`urnished by the Department ofAgriculture
i
Richest FarmManure
Poultry manure is undoubtedly the
richest produced on the faun, Poul
try m:auure, however, ferments very
quickly, losing, if left exposed, a
large proportion of its nitrogen ' as
ammonia. This fact emphasizes the
desirability of • systematically and
frequently cleaning off the boards be-
neath the
eneath-the roosts, a plan that also
conduces to the general good health
and thrift of the fowl. In summer
the manure, previously mixed with
loam to destroy stickiness and facili-
tate distribution, may be applied di-
rectly. to the land and worked with
the surface soil — its best, preserva-
tive. In winter (and at other seasons
when the manure cannot •be used di-
rectly) it should be mixed with a fair
proportion of loam, dried peat, muck
sawdust, together with a little land
' plaster or superphosphate to fix the
nitrogen. It should then be packed
tightly in barrels or boxes and stored
protected from rain until required in
the spring. Lime and wood ashes
should not be used for this purpose
as they set free nitrogen. Poultry
manure being essentially nitrogenous
is particularly valuable for garden
and leafy crops generally, and the
majority of poultry keepers will no
doubt do well to reserve it for this
use. However, if the amount avail-
able permits, it can be profitably em.
ployed for the cereals, grasses, roots
and corn.
%F: 'Is
Improvement of Sheep
At this season of the year when
farmers are marketing theirlambs
and making, preparations to cull out
their ewe flock and place a pure bred
ram at the head of the flock, many
will be interested to know that ram
grading is now nearing completion.
A list of officially graded rams of the
various breeds is available for each
county at the office of the Agricultur-
al Representative. Through the as-
sistance of the Federal Department
of Agriculture purchasers of graded
pure bred rams are entitled to the
following premiums if they comply
with the rules and regulations for
Rani Bonus Policy.
XX Lamb $2.00.
XX Yearling, $3.00.
XXX Lamb, $3.00.
XXX Yearling, ,$5.00.
The Province of Ontario has made
substantial progress in the improve-
ment of its sheep industry. This is
evidenced by the winnings of pure
bred breeders at National Exhibitions
such as the Royal Winter Fair at To-
ronto and the International Live
Stock Exposition at Chicago,
The quality of lambs marketed in
Ontario is due largely to the use of
purebred sires. Toronto is now the
largest lamb consuming market 'tri
Canada and provides a market outlet
for good quality, well finished lambs
at all seasons of the year, Graded
pure bred rams are available at very
reasonable prices from the various
breeders of pure bred sheep and no
farmer who keeps a flock of breeding
ewes should be without the services
of a pure bred ram.
ale**
Straw For Winter Feed
While straw is not generally con-
sidered as a nutritious feed for live-
stock yet in times of fodder scarcity
it is very valuable. Horses and dry.
Cows may be wintered entirely on
straw, if supplemented by one-half to
three-quarters of a pound of linseed
oil meal a day, or other similar pro-
tein feed. A ration of half straw and
half legume hay will carry such stock
through the winter in excellent con,
dition. Little straw should be used
for bedding this year when it is need-
ed for feed, Good oat straw contains
a considerable amount of total nu-
trients, though practically no protein.
This is why straw alone makes a
poor showing as an exclusive feed for
live stock, but when supplemented
with a little high protein feed, its car-
bohydrate content can be utilized to
excellent advantage. When feeding
straw, always provideplenty of min-
eral matter in addition. Give cattle,
horses and sheep free access to a mix-
ture of 28 pounds of bone meal, 50
pounds of finely ground limestone, 20
pounds of salt, 2 pounds of iron oxide,
one-half ounce of copper sulphate ane
one ounce of pottassium iodide.
In feeding value, oat straw leads,
with barley, wheat and rye straw fol-
lowing in the order named. Corn fod-
der, when harvested before the leaves.
dry up and blow away, is considerably
more valuable than the straw of the
small grains. Sweet clover straw, af-
ter threshing out the seed, is especial-
ly valuable in a year like this.
An Interesting Experiment
Because of the extreme shortage of
)lay high ' h'th prices this year a small
fieldtof excellent feed owned by WI -
liam Couse of'Streetsville is of unus-
ual interest to Ontario farmers 115:r.
Couse has demonstrated that it Is
possible to get an excellent yield of
the best quality hay from seed sown
in the same season. Moreover his
erop is not of the emergency charac-
ter, like green oats .or .millet some-
thing that reglrires special knowledge
and special care, but is largely alfalfa
with a little red clover and timothy,
and unlike theemergency crops, the
fiold will be good for further yields
of hay next year.
The field was . sown about the first
of Nay last spring with a mixture
composed of 15 pounds of alfalfa, five
pounds of red clover and one pound
of timothy. No nurse crop was used
and the field had not been previously
in alfalfa for 15 years. No inocula-
tion was used but an excellent catch
resulted. Owing to dry weather the
stand was en the thin side when the
first cutting was made about the first
of July. At that time the plants aver-
aged 30 inches in height and a crop of
close to a. ton per acre of cured 'ham -
was taken off. Had there been the
usual amount of rainMr. Couse be-
lieves that twice this yield would have
been secured. The hay was of excel-
lent quality, with plenty of valuable
leaves.
Aided by timely rains the second
growth was much finer and thicker
with much of the original seed, ap
patently, not germinating until after
the first cutting had been removed.
While the first crop was almost entire-
ly alfalfa, by the middle of summer
both the red clover and timothy be-
gan to appear. This crop was cut in
early October and averaged three
tons of green feed per acre, or be•
tweet} a ton and a half and two tons
of cured hay. Mr. Couse estimated
that one acre would provide pasture
for a good milk cow for 140 days, if
it was decided that hay ' was not
needed:
This experiment seems to prove
that it is possible even in the face of
dry weather to produce over two tone
per acre of .cured hay from the first
year's seeding. If applied on a gen-
eral scale it would indicate that
winter killing of meadows on a scale
like Last year need not be as serious
as is the case to -day with the hay
acreage very seriously reduced.
From every standpoint the experi-
ment appears practical and indicates
that year-old meadows, killed out in.
early spring may be made to produce
normal hay returns by moderately
heavy sowings without nurse crops;
Furthermore, as a mixture rather
than straight alfalfa, is advised by
Mr. Couse, the cost of the seed is
very low, such mixtures as he used
selling for less than straight alfalfa,
or red clover. Fortunately for any
farmer who may wish to follow Moir.
Couse's example next spring ,ample
supplies of home grown alfalfa seed
are in sight for next spring,'though
red clover is going to be scarce.
Cut Out The Waste In
The Poultry Flock
During these days of small profits
and advancing feed costs, when pro-
duction of eggs seems to lag and ev-
ery
very cent counts, the narrow margin
between profit and loss lies in the
handling and feeding of the flock, and
too much emphasis cannot be laidon
the former.
The trap -nest, or the single bird
battery, may bethe only infallible in-
dication of egg production, and at the
Dominion Experimental Station, Har-
row, and on many poultry plants
where advanced breeding work is
practised, the trap-nestis used to as-
certain the exact yield. Though at
this season of the year it may not be
essential, and it may be difficult to
distinguish between the moderate and
the high producer, yet it is of vital
importance., that the "waster" or dan-
gerous carrier of disease should be
eliminated: There is a great, tempta-
tion to carry a bird through the win-
ter just- because she is a pullet when
she should be marketed for meat, and
what may be termed a health and v!-
tality culling should be practised at
this season. For this purpose no
special training is necessary, no ac-
tual measurements—,more or less im-
aginary indications of production —
need be taken, but an individual
handling and a rigid mulling for vis-
ible defects may prove profitable.
The novice may profit from a little
instruction and may benefit by adopt-
ing the following method of handling.
By resting the breast of the bird on
the palm of the left hand. with the
head towards the elbow and the first
and second fingers between the thighs;
hold the bird eonrfertably without
1, gripping too hard; t e practice of
holding a Isn't], head down and by the
legs` is objectionable and may result.
in serious irijury. Use the right hand
for the examination, and by running
the fingers along the breast bone de-
tect emaciation. A thin, razor breast
bone denotes poor constitution, per-
haps the presence of worms or other
intern parasites, and
al s n an 'ease an
p ,
z
j y
l
unthrifty and unprofitable specimen; :
The pelvic bones at each side of the
cloaca or vent should be spreading the
width of two or three fingers and the
cloaca loose and moist i£'the bird is
laying. or approaching that condition.
Here there -may be art indication of
lice Or "scouring," in either ease an
indication that vitality may have been
lowered. On examination of the crop
INTE
it may prove to be empty when it
should be well filled with good grain;
or it may be hard or distended, filledc
with an undigested fibrous mass de-
noting sour or erop-bound conditions.
The head with the dull sunkenen e Ye
and dry pale or discoloured comb is
usnally associated 'with a dry thin leg
and is a certain indication of a "free
boarder" from wham no winter eggs
may be expected. The flock and the
'pocketbook will look better without
any specimen showing these defects,
If the bird can pass this examination
she should be worth keeping until
such time as she can be culled on her
rate of production.. This can be deter-
mined from more definite evidence
gathered at a later date,
Alfalfa and Barley Yields Increased by
Fertilizers
On the farm of Mr. Fred Cook in
the vicinity of Clinton during the
past summer, the Department of
Chesistry, Ontario Agricultural Col-
lege, in co-operation with the local
Department of Agriculture, conduct-
ed a demonstration test in fertiliz-
ing alfalfa. Naturally, the summer
of 1934 was anything but favorable
due to the prolonged drought, -yet
results indicate very interesting find-
ings
The yields of green alfalfa as
taken,at time of cutting are as fol-
lows:
0-16-0 at 375 lbs. per acre yielded
12,640 lbs. per acre.
0-12-10 at 375 lbs. per acre yielded
12,480 lbs. per acre.
0-12-15 at 875 lbs. per acre yielded
12,480 lbs. per acre.
-0- at 375 lbs. per acre yielded 8,-
160 lbs. per acre.
This shows an increase from fer-
tilizer of about 50 per cent in green
yield or about one ton cured alfalfa
hay. Investment would involve ap-
proximately $0,00 worth of fertilizer.
However, the benefit from fertiliz-
er on alfalfa is not ail realized the
first year. Experience shows that
next .year's hay will show very clear-
ly where the fertilizer was applied in
1934. Mr. Gook and his neighbours
will be interested to watch these test
blocks next summer.
On the farm of Mr. R. W. McKen-
zie, test blocks on barley of one-half
acre each were likewise fertilized.
are as follows:
The results obtained from this test
3-10-5 at 250 lbs. per acre yielded
22.5 bus. per acre.
2-12-10 at 250 lbs. per acre yielded
24.5 bus. per acre,
-0- at 250 lbs. per acre yielded 13.7
bus. par acre.
These results show almost 11 bush-
els gain from the addition of 250 lbs.
per acre of 2-12-10. With barley at
its present price this would show a
nice profit in that the fertilizer would
cost slightly less than $5.00 and the
increase would be worth $8.25.
Again, the results are not only
found in the grain crop to which the
fertilizer was applied, but if it Is
seeded to clover or alfalfa this erop
will be greatly benefitted by the ad-
ditional fertility. Farmers in the vi-
cinity of Clinton who have been
Watching these tests will be interest-
ed in this report.
A Potato Rate Test
The most profitable rate at which
fertilizers may be applied to pota-
toes is always a question of interest
to commercial potato growers. On
the farm of Mr. George Moon of
Londesboro during the past summer,
the Department of Chemistry, Ontar-
io Agricultural College, in co-opera-
tion with the Department of Agri-
culture of Huron, conducted a test of
four different rates of fertilizing po-
tatoes. An analysis which has shown
itself particularly well adapted to
potatoes was chosen, namely, 4-8-10.
The results tell the story, They are
as follows:
4-8-10 at 500 lbs. per acre yielded
410.6 bus. per acre.
4-8-10 at 750 lbs. per acre yielded
447.3 bus. per acre.
4-8-10 at 1000 lbs. per acre yielded,
425.3 bus. per acre.
4-8-10 at 1500 lbs. per acre yielded
484 bus. per acre.
-0- yielded 359.3 bus. per acre.
One of the difficulties in conduct-
ing a rate test is to see that the fer-
tilizers are carefully applied so that
the increased rates do not injure the
vitality of the potato seed pieces.
Apparently this has occurred where
1000 lbs. of fertilizer was applied on
Mr. Moon's farm, for there is a con-
stant increase from 500 to 1500 lbs.
otherwise. Whether or not this hea.
vy application of fertilizer can be
made at a profit depends largely on
the price of potatoes: Just at the,
moment low prices are ruling.
!Potato growers will be interested
in the results obtained, which are
Iargely itt line with the experience
of the Department of Chemistry in.
other years.
An Interesting Sugar Beet Test,
On the farm of Mr. D. Hodgson,
Centralia, the De ,artment of Chem.
istry, . Ontario Agricultural College,
in co-operation with the Huron Cour).
ty Department of Agriculture, con-
ducted a test of three fertilizers em
sugar beets sown at the same rate.
Mr, Hodgson's field was well prepar-
ed. His soil is a inediam heavy clay
loam, which normally produces high
yielding and high quality crops, The
past summer was anything but favor-
able, nevertheless yields produced in
this test show interesting possibili-
ties. The results obtained are as
follows:
2-12-6 at 800 lbs. per acre yielded
13.2 tons per acre.
2-12-10 at 300 lbs. per acre yielded
14.3 tons per acre.
2-16-6 at 300 lbs. per acre yielded
12.6 tons per acre:
-0- yielded 10.8 tons per acre.
It is evident that 2-12-10 fertilizer
on this soil has given the largest
yield, making a gain of 3r2 tons per
acre. This 3M, tons was made at ini-
tial cost for fertilizer of approximate-
ly $6.00. When one studies the re-
sults it is quite evident that medium
high potash in connection with this
crop on 111r. Hodgson's soil has been
more important than high phosphate.
Necessarily for full interpretation
these figures would have to be sup-
plemented with an actual sugar test
in order to have the full picture.
This is not available at the moment,
but the results Show interesting pos.
ES T
THURS.,NOV. I", IOC
T
�11:
sibzhties,'and lines along which they
tan be attained.
Increasing Soybean Yields
On the farm of Mr. Ernest Pym,
Exeter, a
vier, interesting crop of
soybeans was grown this summer.
The crops made vigorous groivUh, yet,
the area that received additional fer-
tility showed a material gain over the
balance of the crop. The Department
of Chemistry, Ontario Agricultural
College, in co-operation with the io-
ta] Department of Agriculture, con-
ducted a fertility test on the soybean
patch, placing three fertilizers side
by side with the unfertilized crop,
Results are as follows:
0-12-5 at 250 lbs. per acre yielded
18.6 bus. per acre.
0-12-10 at 250 lbs, per acre yielded
17.7 bus.. per acre.
2-12.6 at 250 lbs. per acre yielded
18.0 bus. per acre.
-0- yielded 15.0 bus per. acre.
It is evident that 0-12-5 gave the
highest yield, giving a gain of 3.6
bushels per acre
Soybean growers will be especially
interested in this test in that it is
usually necessary to force the growth
of this crop as rapidly as possible.
when it is intended that ripened beans
shall be harvested,
The yellow meal worm is a pest
that is easily dealt with in winter
time in Canada. With the meal or
flour placed outside in a rat -proof
i receptacle, zero temperature will kill
all the pests in a night. If the tem-
perature does not go below 20 degrees
Fahrenheit, it is better, says the Do-
; minion Entomologist, to leave the
food out two days.
Commercial canning is one of the
oldest of the larger organized indus-
tries in Canada. Napoleon is credited
as the originator of using air -tight
containers far army rations, but the
development of the industry is inter-
' national. In 1890, in France, Fran-
cois Appert found that food put in
air -tight containers required to be
sterilized; an Englishman invented
the tin can, and North America prac- t
tically made canning the great Indus-
try it is today.
111 M Efl
SPECIAL LOW FARES FOR
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Special, first, -class fares will be of -
fazed by the Canadian National and
Canadian Pacific Railways over the
Remeirib r
once Dayweek-end, when
tate low rate ofa single fare and a
quarter for the round trip will be in
effect between all stations in Canada
anI certain destinations in the TTnited
States adjacent to the international
border, it was .announced' by C. P.
Riddell, chairman. .of the Canadian
Passenger Association. This rate
will be goodto leave 'starting points
at any time between 12 noon, Friday,
November 9, until 12 o'clock,' noon,
Monday, November 12, with a return
limit good to leave destination slot
later than midnight, Tuesday, Novem-
ber 13. This will afford passengers
plenty of time to attend •Rein•em-
brance Day services with their
friends.
The month of October sees the end
of harvest in the northern hemisphere
(Northern Canada, Alaska, Northern
Russia, Sweden, Finland and Norway)
and the beginning of harvest in the
southern .hemisphere. November is
the harvest month of Peru and South
Africa: December that of Burma and
Argentina, the harvest of the latter
being carried on throughout January,
which is also the harvest month of
IJruguay, Chile, and Australia.
Wlhile Canada is finding new mar-
kets for dried milk products, Russia
is making a bid to increase her ex-
ports in this line. A large factory
with an annual capacity of 5,000 tons
of dried milk has been set up at
Yalutorovsk on the Trans-Siberian
railway in a district in the Murals
famous before the war for its dairy
cows and butter, •
Although the mineral content of
honey is very small, it is worth not-
ing, says the Dominion Apiarist, that
such elements as lime and iron, nec-
essary to the well-being of the hu-
man body, are present.
THE FARMER'S' PLIGHT
When the apples have been .gathered•
and the 'titers are all in
And the wheat is looking lordly In.
the granary's biggest bin,
Then
we look our family over, note
that all must have new clothes,
For they're very near stark' naked
from their heads clear to their toes
So we sell most all our 'apples and
:tore spuds than we can spare,
Fer, alas! we can't be nudists fn this'
Canada 'so fair.
Had we firkins full of butter, had we.
crocks and crocks of lard,
Sure, we then could live like princes,.
but the tunes hays been too hard -
And our threshing bill was waitung,.
and for twine we had not paid,
So we had to sell our produce; be it
first or second grade
Didn't really seem to matter, for the
prices were so small •
That we had to look quite closely to.
be sure we'd sold at all.
Yes, we'd like to salt our hen fruit
and to paek our meat in brine
But, alas! the hogs have vanished'
and of eggs there's :e'er a sign,
For our tax man cane a-cellin' on a
dreary day in fail
And to meet those awful taxes surd it
took thein darn near all
But we must keep on a-payin' what:
is everybody's due,
For if no one paid his taxes, what,
oh what, could Hepburn do?
Yes, there's music in the barnyard
and there's music in the trees,
There's inspectors for the corn -field
and inspectors for the bees,
There's inspectors for the hog yard,.
for the cream, and egg -crate, too,
An inspector's lookin' at us every.
thing we go to do.
So if some guy would get busy ere
another fall rolls round,
Axe the heads of forty dozen that
are cumberin` the ground,
Our expenses might be lightened and -
we'd sit and grin and grin
For we then could keep our produce
that we've toiled to garner in.
—Eva Ewart Jamieson in Toronto
Star.
ms„
Manufacturiri
Customers
Thirty per cent of one's customers cease being
customers every year. They die, or move away, or
become disgruntled, or change over to some other
retailer. This is a ghastly loss and alas, it is one im-
possible to prevent. It means that a retailer has to
be very, very busy every month, getting new custom-
ers to replace the monthly wastage, and to gain a
few more customers in excess of the annual loss, in
order that his business shall grow. The fatal thing
is just to do nothing in the way of customer attrac-
tion and replacement.
How can new customers be attracted? Various
things can be done. The most obvious way is just to
ask non -customers to do business with you. That is
the first thing to do. And your invitations will get
attention just because so few retailers will be your
competitors in this "asking" activity. You can ask
people to do business with you by post, by persnal
calls and by newspaper advertising. And, of course,
your store windows can and will be invitations.
Beyond asking, you must fulfil customers' ex-
pectations—this by the quality of your service and
the rightness of your goods and prices. What cus-
tomers Iike when they go into a store is attention
and interest, without fussiness. They like briskness
in those who serve them. Customers want nothing
extraordinary -just plain attention and courtesy.
Customers are continually measuring stores —
Inatching one store's service, goods, prices and 'at-
mosphere against those of other stores, and they
steadily drift to those stores where they are served;
in all ways, most in accord with their likes. Newspae
per advertising is the least costly—results consider-
ed.
The Clinton News-R.ecord
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