432 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



only difference being that it is a different kind of a rut or that he is a 

 little higher up on the hillside. He has done wisely in growing only 

 high grade stock, but he has been in the habit of feeding it and maturing 

 it at a certain time, which habit when adopted, may have been the right 

 one and productive of the best results. Times have changed. The market 

 demands stock that can be matured earlier or later. Prices of stock may 

 have changed. Prices of grain and the prices of lands may have changed, 

 all of which require change in the management, which he would be able 

 to do did he not employ the same sagacity and intelligence which formed 

 the habit in the first place. Not having adapted himself to the changed 

 conditions, he can truthfully be said to be in a rut. 



Nor is the breeder of improved stock always free from the charge of 

 being in a rut. He may have adopted lines of breeding which, for a time, 

 worked admirably. He may have crowded it to a point beyond which it 

 will not work, and some change is required, possibly the introduction of 

 new blood; possibly a change in the methods of feeding and management; 

 possibly the introduction of a new breed. It may be he has been the 

 victim of one or the other crazes which affect even breeders of improved 

 stock, and time has shown the folly of becoming a victim of these crazes. 

 Whether a man is in a rut or not, depends upon whether he is using the 

 best intelligence and the best information available for the conduct of 

 his business. The above remarks apply with equal force to almost every 

 kind of business. The world is full of "has beens" that were successful 

 at a certain stage of the development of the business, but who carry into 

 the present lines of action that which will not wear under new and im- 

 proved conditions. 



The only way to keep out of a rut is to be fully up with the times, not 

 adopting all the theories and passing whims that may arise from year 

 to year, but weighing carefully every new suggestion that is offered, first, 

 in the light of its truth; second, in the light of its practicability, or, in 

 the language of the apostle, "Proving all things, and holding fast to 

 that which is good." This is the only way to keep out of a rut. 



FORMALIN— FORMALDEHYDE. 



Wallaces' Farmer. 



These are two more hard words of which farmers will have to learn 

 the meaning. We cannot help it. Farmers will have to get the meaning 

 ot a whole lot of words fully fixed in their minds if they are to keep up 

 with the times. 



What is formaldehyde? It is not necessary to for us to go into the 

 chemistry of it further than to say that it is a colorless, volatile liquid 

 about half-way between wood alcohol, or the alcohol distilled from wood, 

 and formic acid. Formic acid is the kind of acid that occurs naturally in 

 ants and occurs also in nettles and is that which makes you jump when 

 you touch them. Formalin is a forty per cent solution of formaldehyde, 



