1901 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
575 
DAIRY AND FARM NOTES. 
Feeding and Working Problems. 
VaIvUE of Aefaefa. —I promised to 
give the result of a change from oats 
and peas to Alfalfa. The grain feed was 
kept up until the change was made to 
Alfalfa. I was somewhat in doubt which 
would be the better test, to continue the 
grain or take it off. The conclusion was 
finally reached that a more satisfactory 
test for the Alfalfa would be to take it 
away entirely. We have been feeding 
nine days. The milk from this dairy 
has decreased during this period about 
50 pounds a day, or from 875 to 825 
pounds. The shrinkage has nearly all 
taken place during the last three days, 
following 48 hours of heavy rain, which 
accounts at least for a part of the 
shrinkage. The dairy was eating during 
the oat-and-pea period about $1.50 per 
day. As closely as I can estimate, the 
Alfalfa has saved about 50 cents a day, 
a net saving, or really a net gain, of 
seven per cent on the sales from this 
dairy each day; certainly worth consid¬ 
ering. I am not withdrawing any claims 
made for oatts and peas, however. A 
small piece containing 1.3 acre fed 40 
cows twice a day all they would eat 
clean, medium-sized Holsteins, hearty 
eaters, for 17 days, and enough cut 
which was too ripe to feed three days 
longer. No special effort was made to 
produce a large crop. It was better than 
an average growth. Is there any reason 
why cows should grub in a barren pas¬ 
ture when such small areas will pro¬ 
duce so much feed? 
Cost of Soiling. —I have kept tab on 
the men when they were cutting and 
feeding, and an average of one hour 
each day for two men and a team was 
sufflcient. I met a farmer to-day who 
asked some questions about soiling. 
Said he; “What an amount of labor it 
must require to feed cows every day. I 
don’t see how you get time to do any¬ 
thing else.” Yet he had just come from 
the woods, having spent a half day with 
two men and a team getting two small 
logs to market, worth $1.50. It is just 
such efforts at false economy among 
dairymen that keep down the net earn¬ 
ings of their dairies. But after all said 
and done, we find it much easier to 
judge than to be judged. This same 
man no doubt considered it the act of 
a lunatic to pay men $1 a day and board 
to plow, sow, cut and feed green watery 
stuff to cows, and then see them lie 
down and chew their cuds, when they 
could as well be busily engaged cutting 
their own fodder. 
Feeding Land. —The early oat and 
pea land has been plowed, fitted nicely 
and sown to fiat turnips. I shall har¬ 
vest them in plots and leave plots to go 
through the Winter to be plowed under 
in the Spring. I am much interes’ted to 
know how far they are able to assimi¬ 
late and digest insoluble phosphoric 
acid. Some nice plant-feeding experi¬ 
ments carried on by Dr. Jordan seemed 
to show that turnips could use insoluble 
phosphoric acid. We shall closely ob¬ 
serve the results. Every crop points in 
the same direction on all of our lands, 
lack of phosphoric acid. We seem to 
have plenty of potash, available, and in 
proportion to the mineral elements, 
plenty of nitrogen. I find as much 
necessity for a well-balanced plant food 
as for a balanced animal food. Exces¬ 
sive growth, without available mineral 
matter to back it up by way of stiff 
straw and full grain is very unsatis¬ 
factory. 
Manuiung. —I wish it was possible to 
strike the proper gait in farm manage¬ 
ment, and find changes unnecessary. I 
wonder whether others are thus affect¬ 
ed. I have been watching very closely 
for three years the application of ma¬ 
nures to corn land. For many years 
Winter surface application to unplowed 
sod gave much the better result. Three 
years ago and two years ago we found 
fiurface application to Fall-plowed lands. 
either turf or stubble, gave equally as 
much corn. I am satisfied now that the 
only reason for the changed results was 
the manner of working the manure into 
the soil. Formerly we had no efficient 
means of thorough incorporation witli 
six inches of surface soil. Since using 
the heavy 20-inch disk harrows with 
three or four horses attached we have 
been able to mix the manure, and so 
results have changed, and we have no 
fear of Fall plowing for corn. For all 
other crops in northern latitudes Fall 
plowing has come to be accepted, and 
on our farms with above results, we 
would adopt it for all crops if it is pos¬ 
sible to get it done. This season’s corn 
growth now brings out another obser¬ 
vation, and an experience which, if 
borne out in seasons with less rainfall 
than the present, will facilitate farm 
operations on “union home farms” very 
much indeed. Not all of the corn ground 
received manure, and the portions which 
are scattered through the whole field 
do not at present writing show the 
marked contrast that one would expect. 
A fertilizer made of 500 pounds cotton¬ 
seed meal and 1,500 pounds 14 per cent 
dissolved rock used at the rate of 300 
pounds to the acre was used over an 
entire 20 acres. These results would 
seem to justify the application of the 
manure this Winter to young clover 
meadows as a topdressing, and the use 
of commercial manure on sod for corn. 
I fully understand that these somewhat 
varying results from year to year are 
due in great measure to the peculiarity 
of the seasons. This season, with an 
abundance of rain coming always when 
needed, the effect of surface applica¬ 
tion during the Winter to grass lands 
has been something marvelous; in 1899 
and 1900 these same applications were 
not so effective. 
Judgment Needed. —Oood judgment 
is required not to be guided purely by 
conditions in sight. I must confess that 
I am not strongmicded enough not to 
be more or less influenced by things in 
sight, even though it is plain that local 
or seasonable conditions have been to 
a great degree responsible. The driver 
on a binder affects every part of the ma¬ 
chine from his seat. So it is with agri¬ 
culture; he can most effectively con¬ 
trol the levers who can foresee and 
forestall; who deals with principles, 
who can analyze his soil through the 
laboratory of plant growth. He will 
Americanize his conditions; that is, 
adapt himself to his environments. We 
need ingenuity, mechanical constructive 
ability in our business; an ability to 
make a good joint, either square or 
mitered. 
New York’s Needs. —The high or 
rather comparatively high prices of 
grains should stimulate an increased 
growth of grain on our eastern farms, 
and pay less tribute to our western cou¬ 
sins. I have just returned from a brief 
trip through central New York, and I 
must confess that we need more hustle 
and business effort among our farmers. 
So many fields are unproductive through 
default—a lack of systematic effort. I 
can pardon a man who has method in 
his madness; who finds it quite beyond 
his ability, financial or otherwise, to 
cover the whole farm with good work, 
and thereby takes a small plot only, and 
makes it blossom, permitting the re¬ 
mainder to grow to forest, or better still 
to go to sheep. But this system which 
has no stem or gudgeon, is wholly un¬ 
justifiable, and is the cause of so much 
criticism from our western friends. I 
was somewhat amused last Winter in 
Wisconsin when a large German farmer, 
after learning that I was from New 
York, inquired in all sincerity and hon¬ 
esty whether “der farms in der East 
vas all abandoned.” He had evidently 
not traveled east. It is my candid opin¬ 
ion from a brief four weeks’ observation 
that the western farmer has more hus¬ 
tle, more get-^there than the dairyman 
of the East; a greater inherent agri¬ 
cultural adaptability. The farm infiu- 
ence is a greater comparative force than 
here both from an industrial and eco¬ 
nomic standpoint, and also a personal 
infiuence, which our varied eastern Ffe 
has upon the youth, stimulating their 
city ambitions, which seem gilded with 
a perforated fringe of dazzling decep¬ 
tion. Study agriculture, young man, 
and let us raise the agriculture of the 
East high above its present altitude. 
There is nothing so valuable in a man 
as local pride, town. State and National, 
each in its respective place, to fit him 
for a high place as a man and a citi¬ 
zen. n. E. COOK. 
Dry Country Feeding Notes. 
They have had dry times in Kansas 
this season. The problem now, after 
the late rains have come, is to secure 
all possible roughage for Winter feed¬ 
ing. Prof. Cottrell, of the experiment 
station at 'Manhattan, is prompt with 
suggestions for farmers. In a recent 
bulletin we find the following hints: 
Rape sown as late as September 1 will 
furnish pasture for hogs. Sow Dwarf Es¬ 
sex rape, five pounds per acre broadcast, 
or three pounds per acre drilled. It will 
do to feed in six weeks after seeding. An 
acre will pasture 10 to 20 hogs, and as seed 
costs only 10 to 15 cents per pound the 
cost Is light. Rape Is a fair pasture for 
cattle, but some dry feed must be given 
with it to prevent scouring. It takes a 
heavy frost to kill rape, so that it fur¬ 
nishes late pasture, and Kansas farmers 
should sow a large acreage to this crop. 
Turnips should also be sown largely, as 
the seed is cheap, and if a crop is secured 
the turnips will save a great deal of other 
feed needed for the cattle, young stock 
and hogs. We have not had success with 
late-sown millet, but If the Fall should 
be damp and cool, millet would make a 
fair crop. Wheat, oats and rye will fur¬ 
nish a large amount of pasture if the sea¬ 
son is favorable, and while these crops 
are in good condition cattle will do well 
on them without any other food than 
straw. A farmer pastured his dairy cows 
on oats and sold during the Fall $7 worth 
of milk for each acre of oats pastured, 
the cows having no other feed. 
It is too early to decide what will be 
the cheapest combination of feeds for 
Winter. The shortage will be in rough¬ 
ness. There is enough straw in Kansas 
to supply roughness for every animal In 
the State, and with many stockmen straw 
will be the feed to use. Farmers usually 
feed them 20 to 30 pounds of hay or fodder 
a head per day to stock cattle. Very much 
less may be fed if a proper grain ration 
is used. In 1888, a milkman in Manhattan 
wintered his entire herd of dairy cows 
without a pound of roughness, and he 
sold milk all Winter. The cows were fed 
all the grain they wanted, and in the 
Spring were strong, but they looked gaunt 
and rough. It always pays to feed a little 
roughness. The writer has brought cattle 
through the Winter in good condition on 
three to five pounds of hay per head a 
day, feeding grain. Bran or wheat will 
take the place of nearly all the roughness 
and can be mixed with cottonseed, gluten, 
germ oil or linseed meals, oats, corn or 
Kaffir corn, whichever is cheapest, and 
make a good ration at a reasonable cost. 
Wheat is worth about as much pound for 
pound as corn, and middlings are worth 
more as a hog feed. Fattening hogs fed 
all the Alfalfa or clover hay they will eat 
will fatten on much less grain than with¬ 
out hay. Sorghum hay Is good for hogs. 
A few Winters ago some farmers in north¬ 
western Kansas carried their stock hogs 
through the Winter on Alfalfa hay alone. 
Stock hogs fed twice daily all the Alfalfa, 
clover or sorghum hay they will eat will 
require much less than the usual amount 
of grain. Hogs should be fed sufflcient 
rough feed so that they will need to eat 
the leaves only. 
Sorghum, Kaffir corn, cow peas and Al¬ 
falfa make safe pasture after cattle be¬ 
come accustomed to them, but great care 
must be used in starting stock, on such 
pastures. At the College we fill the cattle 
with straw or hay in the morning and then 
turn them on the sorghum or other green 
crops only 15 minutes the first day, the 
next day 30 minutes, and then Increase the 
time 15 minutes each day until we reach 
an hour and a half, when it Is safe to let 
them stay on all the time and not give 
them other feed. Cattle turned on such 
pastures at first, if hungry, will often eat 
a few mouthfuls and die In a few minutes 
or hours, says the Kansas Bulletin. 
When you write advertisers mention Thh 
R. N.-Y. and you will get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” Seeour guarantee 8th page. 
Horse Owners! Use 
GOMBAULT’S 
Caustic 
Balsam 
k Safe Speedy and Positive Cora 
The Sare»t, Bent BLISTER ever used. Takes 
the place of all liniments for mild or severe action. 
Komoves Bunches or Blemishes from Homes 
aud Cattle. SUPERSEDES ALL CAUTERY 
OR FIRING, Impossible to produce scar or blemisli. 
Every bottle sold is warranted to give satisfaction 
Price S1.50 per bottle. Sold by druggists, or 
sent by express, charges paid, with full directions 
for its use. Send for descriptive circulars. 
the LAWRBNCB-WILLIAMS CO., Cleveland O. 
ORR’S FLY KILLER IS THE BEST 
Kills Files and Lice on Cattle and Horses. 
Gives Cows Comfort, hence more milk. 
Keeps Files off Horses, hence more work. 
Parities the Stable, hence health and safety 
One gallon can Jl, and Keystone Sprayer $1, both 
seat express prepaid for S/i.OO, to introduce it. 
Five-gallon can, freight prepaid, $4 00. 
OKR & COOPER, 563 Liberty St., Pittsburgh, Pa. 
14 cent’s 
worth saves 
;i qts. milk 
and much 
flesh. 
Thousands have duplicated 10 gal¬ 
lons seven con.secutlve years. 
Special Offer 
To encourage those who have been disappointed with 
imitations of SHOO-FLY, we will send 1 QUArT 
FREE if express is paid and name of express olHce 
given. If first-class sprayer Is needed, we will send 
same for GO cents. SHOO-FJLY MEG. CO., 
1005 Fairmount Ave., Phlla., Pa. 
SHARPLES 
Craam Soparatorm 
Have Tubular Howls. 
txMDOdiskA easy to ran, relUMR, 
durable and effective. Catalog J68 
and treat iae, **Bu8loeas Dairying'* 
free. Th^bestdairYmmtayt^ar^ 
the best stparators,, 
Sharpies Co., P. M. Sharpita, 
Chicago, III, West Chsafir.n, 
EMPIRF 
CREAM SEPARATDRl 
CATAI_Ot3UE FFPEE 
U.S.BUTTER EXTRACTOR CO..BLODMFIELD.N.J 
WESTERN OFFICE F ISHER BIDG.CHIC AGO. 
Save$ 10 perCow 
BVBBY YBAB OF USB. 
De Laval Cream Separators 
Prices, $50 to $800. 
"Alpha’* and ’‘Baby"style8. Send for Catalogue 
THE DE LAVAL SEPARATOR CO., 
Randolph and Canal Streets, I 74 Cortlandt Street, 
CHICAGO. I NBW TOBK. 
Do You Want the Best? 
Then buy the 
U. S. SEPARATOR 
That is the kind that 
GETS ALL 
THE CREAM 
PLEASES 
ITS USERS 
INCREASES 
THE PROFITS 
REDUCES 
THE 
EXPENSES 
Send for catalogues con¬ 
taining much information 
it will be to your interest to 
know if you are thinking of 
buying some other make. 
226 
