1905. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
739 
QUESTIONS ABOUT WIRE FENCING. 
We are much interested in an investi¬ 
gation which is being conducted by the 
Department of Agriculture into the causes 
of the rapid rusting and corrosion of iron 
and steel wire fencing. We believe that 
this is a matter of very great importance 
and that great benefit will come from this 
investigation. We have been asked to 
aid in the collection of information by re¬ 
questing our readers to answer the follow¬ 
ing questions. We sincerely hope that 
those of our readers who have not lately 
paid attention to the condition of their 
wire will take the time necessary to in¬ 
spect it and send in their answers as 
soon as possible. 
1. How many years on the average do 
your wire fences last before they begin to 
rust through and break up? 
2. IIow many miles are your fences dis¬ 
tant from the nearest city or town where 
any considerable amount of coal is burned? 
3. How many miles are your fences dis¬ 
tant from the nearest salt water? 
4. Have you noticed that the bottom wires 
that are often enclosed in grass or w'eeds 
last better than the upper wires which hang 
free ? 
5. Have you noticed that where wire is 
stapled to a living tree, it seems in some way 
to have been preserved near the point of con¬ 
tact W'ith the tree? 
0. Have you noticed any difference, how¬ 
ever slight, in the way wire lasts near to the 
posts to which it is stapled compared with 
the way it lasts midway between the posts 
where it hangs free? 
7. Have you noticed that after all the gal¬ 
vanized covering has disappeared some wires 
will last much longer than others? 
8. TTave you noticed any difference in the 
lasting quality of barbed wire as compared 
wdth plain wire or woven wire fencing? 
9. ’ In the case of woven wire fences do you 
find that some wires last much better than 
others or do they begin to fail all about the 
same time? 
SILAGE AND ALFALFA FOR SHEEP. 
Have you ever had any experience in feed¬ 
ing sheep on corn silage with Alfalfa or 
clover hay, or soiling sheep kept in a small 
lot? If so will you let us know how such a 
plan works? We have readers who for one 
reason and another do not want to run sheep 
at pasture, especially when crops are grow¬ 
ing. Do you think such a plan would suc¬ 
ceed ? 
We have had experience in feeding 
corn silage to ewes, but it has not been 
very favorable, especially when used for 
ewes suckling lambs. As to whether 
sheep could be profitably kept under the 
soiling system or not, we have no experi¬ 
ence. I see no reason why the large 
breeds might not be successfully kept in 
this way, but the sheep is pre-eminently 
an animal fitted to utilize rough and 
scanty pasture. h. h. wing. 
Cornell University. 
I have never had experience in feeding 
silage to sheep, and doubt very 1 much 
their being induced to eat it. I have had 
some success in soiling them by confining 
in a small inclosure, and they did well. 
But, their quarters must be kept scrupu¬ 
lously clean or they will contract foot rot. 
They must have a variety of food, and 
free access to salt and pure water. If the 
inclosure is small the sheep should be 
turned out each morning for an hour or 
two for exercise, and should occasionally 
have access to brush and coarse weeds. 
It should be borne in mind, however, 
that sheep do best where they have free 
range and are more impatient of restraint 
than other animals. The shepherd has 
led his flocks to the hills, into the valleys 
and the “green pastures by the still 
waters” from time immemorial. In small 
inclosures clover hay, bright oat straw, 
sweet corn fodder, young sorghum, Al¬ 
falfa, rape and turnip tops are all good, 
and as much variety should be given as 
possible. Alfalfa and rape should be fed 
carefully until they become used to it. 
Alfalfa is almost equal to grain. b. 
Clay Co., Ind. 
I have had some experience in feeding 
corn silage to sheep. They seem to rel¬ 
ish it when carefully fed in clean troughs, 
but they will not eat any of the stalk of 
the corn to speak of, and none of the cob. 
So if I were to attempt again to feed 
silage to sheep, I should grow the corn 
especially for that purpose. I should 
grow it quite thick in order to get 
as much leaf and as fine a stalk 
as possible. If it were shredded in¬ 
stead of cut they might eat more of it. 
The plan you speak of in regard to soil¬ 
ing them through the Summer might be 
all right, feeding the silage until the Al¬ 
falfa was ready. One must remember, 
however, that sheep have dainty mouths, 
and are the most natural grazers of all 
the animals. If many were kept in a 
small enclosure they would soon have the 
place foul, and would have to be moved 
to new quarters. I doubt whether they 
would relish the silage after warm 
weather set in, but they ought to do well 
on fresh cut or nicely cured Alfalfa. But 
the whole question hinges on the man 
who has the care of them, and I do not 
think anyone should attempt a plan of 
this kind who is not a natural shepherd. 
Seneca Co., N. Y. w. a. bassett. 
My experience in feeding silage and 
clover hay to sheep for fattening pur¬ 
poses has been attended with good suc¬ 
cess, but have never fed Alfalfa to any 
great extent. In regard to feeding the 
above for soiling purposes to sheep in 
well-shaded and airy enclosures I know 
of no reasons why it would not prove 
successful, but that is an experiment or 
new departure in farming that is yet to 
be tested, at least in this locality. 
Genesee Co., N. Y. irving d. cook. 
LIMBER NECK IN POULTRY. 
I have had one case In the last few weeks. 
The hen had been sick for three weeks with 
her neck twisted all out of shape; when she 
would move fast she would fall over. I 
bought live cents' worth of asafoetida, made 
pellets the size of ordinary pills, and gave 
as instructed, the first that night, and I 
could see a change in the morning. By tlie 
next morning the hen's neck was straight as 
sb usually carries it. ja.mks o. tayi.ok. 
On page 690 I find the question, and also 
the answer, “What to do for chickens with 
limber neck?" I have had some experience 
this Fall with my Hock being handled that 
way, and I find four or five drops of tur¬ 
pentine on a small piece of bread given 
three times a day will effect a cure in two oi 
three days; also two ounces of sulphur to 
one pound of vaseline; give them a piece 
as large as a liickorynut twice a day and it 
will be beneficial. The birds must be placed 
where they cannot get anything to eat until 
the neck straightens, and also be fed very 
lightly for a number of days. 1 have had 
such fine results from this remedy that I 
would be glad to have others try it. 
Pennsylvania. w. a. mosher. 
>• hen you write advertisers mention The 
I t. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee, page 8. 
Learn This! 
Height 
ONLY 
60 inches. 
If you do not own a cream 
separator decide to-day to 
get one, but buy a 
NATIONAL 
I t‘s the most perfect separator 
made. Cleanest skiuimiug, 
easiest to clean, and easy to 
buy. Sold on easy payments 
or at a special price for cash. 
Write to day for Book No. 60. 
The Hastings Industrial Co. 
General Sales Agents, 
La Salle A Lake Sts., Chicago. 
Manufactured by 
National Dairy machine Co. 
Newark, N. J. 
LOW 
PRICE 
MILL 
Why pay 
double? No mill 
madedoes faster 
or better grind¬ 
ing than the 
NEW 
HOLLAND 
You be the jsdge. Try it free, Grinds ear 
corn and all grain fine or coarse as wanted. 
Our fast cutting Wood Saw is the best made 
Write for Jree Catalogs. 
New Holland Machine Co., Box 115 New Holland. Pa. 
An Honest Man Will Hear Watching. A Dis¬ 
honest One Needs It. 
And tills can only be done where transactions are by 
weight, by having within your own control a correct 
weighing machine, usually called a Scale, but it isn’t 
evory scale that will answer your purpose. It must 
l>o of established reputation and known to be accu¬ 
rate. so that you can safely say, “ I know my weight 
is right, for l weighed it on a JONES Scale." If 
your transactions are by load, you need a Wagon 
Scale. Five ton is the most popular size, with a 
platform 14 feet long and of sufficient width, say eight 
feet, which will usually clear all loads, and this size 
is sufficient for a stock rack, which can be used with 
out removal from the platform. One of these can be 
bought, delivered at your home, freight paid for 
to be paid for when satisfied. Address, 
JONES OF BINGHAMTON 
Box 331B. BINGHAMTON. N. Y. 
Pratts Cow Tonic 
Sure, safe, speedy. 
Made by Pratt Food Co., PbiU< Pvcr 30 yearn old, 
CHEAP SEPARATORS. 
It is universally recognized that in point of good¬ 
ness DE LAVAL Separators stand alone. Hence the 
claim of imitating machines to cheapness. 
There is nothing else perhaps in which “cheap” 
means as much as in Cream Separators. 
The really “cheap” machine is not that which 
costs least, but that which gives the most capacity, 
recovers all the butterfat, produces the best cream, 
runs easiest, and will last longest. 
These are the qualities which represent recognized 
goodness in the DE LAVAL, and in any and all of which 
no other Separator is comparable. 
Most “cheap” Separators are in a class with rhine¬ 
stones, “dollar” watches, and other trashy imitations 
of the real thing. But worse than all that, they 
WASTE butter-fat every time they are used, and so 
would be dear as a gift. 
The genuinely cheap separator is the GOOD sepa¬ 
rator, which soon SAVES instead of LOSES its cost J 
and may be bought on such easy terms as to actually 
PAY FOR ITSELF during the first year of use, and 
then be good for another twenty years more of 
clear profit. 
Facts, figures and reasons, to be had for the asking. 
The De Laval Separator Co. 
Randolph 6 1 Canal Sts.. 
CHICAGO. 
1213 Filbert Street, 
- PHILADELPHIA. 
9 & I I Drumm St., 
SAN FRANCISCO. 
General Offices: 
74 CORTLANDT STREET, 
NEW YORK. 
121 Youville Square, 
MONTREAL. 
75 & 77 York Street, 
TORONTO. 
248 mcDermot Avenue, 
WINNIPEG. 
TUBULAR-or“Back Breaker?” 
When you see the waist low Tubular you can’t be driven into buying a 
back-breaking, “bucket bowl” separator. Can and crank are just the 
right height on the Tubular. Here is the largest Dairy Tubular along 
side four “back breakers.” The girl with her hand on the Tubular is 5 
feet, 4 inches tall. This is an exact reproduction from a photograph. 
Which kind for you? Makers of “back breakers” try to get their cans 
low by setting the cranks low. High cans break your back backward— 
low cranks break it forward. Unless you are a double jointed giant, 
you’ll find a high can is no joke. To show you how high these “back 
breaker” cans really are, when the machines are set high enough to turn 
easily, we raised these “back breakers” ’til their crank axles were level 
with the Tubular crank axle. “Back breaker” makers don’t like this 
picture— it’s too true. They try to squirm out of it. You wouldn’t like 
turning cranks as low as “back breaker'* makers put them. 
The low can is only one of many advantages Dairy Tubulars have over all others. 
Dairy Tubular bowls are simple—“back breakers” are complicated. Tubulars are 
self-oiling—no oil holes to till up. “Back breakers” are oil drippers and oil wasters. 
To learn a lot more about Tubulars, write today for catalog N-153 
The 
Sharpies Separator 
Company 
West Chester, Pa. 
n 
A* Cl 
THE 
TUBULAR 
BACK 
QRIAhCR 
4 # 
Chicago, III. 
Toronto, Can. 
W* 
YOUNG MEN WANTED —To learn the 
Veterinary Profession. Catalogue sent 
free. Address VETERINARY COLLEGE, 
Grand. Rapids, Mich. L. L. Conkey. Frio. 
No More Blind Horses fcfcMSLWS 
sore eyes, BARRY CO,,lowaCity. Iowa, have sure cure 
Ask about. 
Combined 
Construc¬ 
tion of 
RED 
CEDAR 
KALAMAZOO 
TANK & SILO CO. 
Kalamazoo, Mich. 
A Leffel Engine 
The stand-by wherever steam 
is used. Steam Is the 
only dependable power. 
Leffel Engines adapt it 
to farm uses. Horizon¬ 
tal, Upright, Portable. 
Famous for quick 
steaming on little fuel. 
Power when wanted, 
all you want. Be¬ 
fore you buy a 
power read 
book, Power 
omy and E f f I c I 
ency. Mailed iree, 
Write for lL 
The dames 
Leffel £ Co., 
Box 160, 
Springfield, Ohio. 
THE WORCESTER 
KEMP MANURE SPREADER 
THE SPREADER WITHOUT AN EQUAL! 
Built bv the oldest concern making MANURE 
SPREADERS in this country. Twenty-eight 
years of experience behind it. 
Is built to stand hard knocks. 
Spreads every kind of barnyard manure. 
Leads all others in improvements 
Built ia different sizes, to meet all demands. 
Bet us send you our booklet, “A Savings Bank 
on Wheels.” free to everybody. 
THE; RICHARDSON MANUFACTURING CO, 
Worcester, Massachusetts, 
