434 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Now, be careful. Do not use the potato solution for grain smut. That 

 is. do not put your oats in the strong solution. It is too strong for that. 

 Do not fool with the oats solution in dealing with potatoes; it is not 

 strong enough to do the business. 



VALUE OF GALLOWAY ROBES. 



Homestead. 



In a recent report published by the Kansas State Board of Agricul- 

 ture the above subject is discussed at some length by Mr. F. McHardy. 

 According to Mr. McHardy the skins of the Galloways make better robes 

 than those from the buffalo providing they are dressed to the proper 

 thickness so that they are pliable. In the early days, this dressing 

 process was not well understood, but great improvements have been made, 

 and are now being made, along that line. Galloway hides are not only 

 being used for robes, but are also manufactured into overcoats, sacques 

 and capes, and these are dressed by a furrier who takes all the coarse 

 hair out, making them equal to skins of the otter. 



All fur-bearing animals have this coarse hair. When they go into 

 water this laps over the fur and prevents water from penetrating to the 

 hide. This is the same theory which explains why a Galloway will stand 

 out all day in the rain and yet remain dry. An instance is given where 

 a Galloway heifer stood out during a cold, wet, wintry night along with 

 some Short-Horns. In the morning the Short-Horns were in a pitiful 

 condition, while this heifer seemed as unconcerned about the condition 

 of the weather as if it were June. A close examination of the Galloway 

 heifer in this case revealed the fact that the skin was absolutely dry. 



Still another instance is given of a three months old calf that re- 

 mained out during one cold night on the north side of a building. The 

 next morning this calf was found with three or four inches of snow over 

 the back, but when disturbed proved to be as lively an a rabbit. The 

 temperature during the night had reached twenty degrees below zero, 

 while the wind blew at the rate of forty miles an hour. These instances 

 are given to show the true character of the Galloway hide for robe mak- 

 ing purposes. A hide that will protect an animal under these circum- 

 stances will surely give satisfactory service when used in the form of 

 a robe. 



AGRICULTURE THE MASTER SCIENCE. 



A Hayseed in Breeders' Gazette. 

 "A fine display; there must be something in farming?" 

 "Maybe, but it is only fit for 'Hayseeds!' " 



Such were the remarks that greeted my ears as I took a seat in a 

 lunch room at one of our fall fairs. As I am somewhat of a "Hayseed" 



