The Hermiston herald., August 19, 1937, Image 3

Thursday, August 19, 1937
THE HERMISTON HERALD, HERMISTON, OREGON
V E N T ILA T ED M OW S
K EEP H A Y BETTER
False Floors, Open Sides,
Found Good Practice.
S u p p lied by the U n ited S ta te s D epartm ent
of A g ricu ltu re.—W NU S e r v ic e.
Better ventilation of hay stored in
mows offers two practical advan­
tages to farmers, tests by the bu­
reau of chemistry and soils indi­
cate. Well ventilated hay keeps its
quality better. It does not get so
hot and there is less danger of Are
from spontaneous heating. Mows
with false floors to allow air to cir­
culate under the piled hay, and
mows with one or two open sides
formed by studding are two devices
for improving ventilation of stored
alfalfa hay. Both worked well in
practical tests. Good ventilation is
particularly desirable if hay is not
well cured and has to be put in the
mow with more moisture than is
desirable.
The bureau of chemistry and soils !
found that hay within about six feet
o f an open face retained its quality
better than hay farther in. Dividing
large mows into small compart­
ments by means of alleyways
formed by studding, is suggested.
E a c h compartment should not be
over approximately 12 feet wide,
with at least two exposed sides par­
allel to each ether, thus bringing
a ll the hay within a distance of six
feet of an open face where moisture
and heat m ay escape.
For “ under ventilation” a “ false
floor” of two-by-eight timbers on
edge with two-by-four scantlings
laid across them was tested. In
piles up to 15 feet high, the hay
kept better and did not get so hot
as similar hay piled flat on the mow
floor.
These ventilation experiments are
part of the investigation of the spon­
taneous heating of hay which the
bureau of chemistry and soils has
had under way for several years.
The tests were all with alfalfa hay,
most of them with hay moister than
farmers prefer to put in the mow.
When hay was stored with less than
30 per cent of moisture it kept well.
H a y of a distinct brown color re­
sulted when the moisture content of
the hay as stored exceeded approx­
imately 30 per cent. Ventilated
storage had a good effect on hay
quality since it reduced the quan­
tity of brown and moldy hay pro»
duced.
Plumage of Hen Reveals
Egg-Producing Capacity
There was a time when farmers
sold their ragged and faded birds
because of their unsightly appear­
ance and kept the slick-coated, yel­
low-legged individuals because of
their attractiveness. That time is
past and the practice is now re­
versed, asserts a poultryman in the
Boston Globe.
The persistence of production is
measured very largely by the con­
dition of the plumage during the
summer and fall. I f the hen lays
regularly she usually retains her
old feathers, but if for any reason
other than sickness or broodiness
she stops laying, the feathers begin
to drop. This brings on the condi
tion we know as molting.
The order in which the feathers
fall is first from the neck, then the
back, body, wings and tail. The
neck molt is rather common at any
season of the year, even in good lay­
ers, but if the molt progresses to
the back, the primary feathers of
the wing generally molt also. The
stage is seldom reached unless the
hens have entirely ceased laying.
Cessation of laying is likely to bring
on a general molt.
Removing Groundhogs
Where groundhogs have become
troublesome around ditch banks and
embankments they m ay be gassed
In their dens by using either car­
bon disulphide or calcium cyanide,
says George D . Jones of the Mis­
souri College of Agriculture. A small
amount of either chemical may
be placed in the entrance of each
tunnel and the openings closed with
dirt.
“ Producers’ Grade” of Eggs
E g gs sold at auction ungraded for
size, but of a quality referred to as
“ extra” or better, are sold without
grading at the auction as “ produc­
ers’ grade.” The “ extra” quality re­
ferred to is the second grade, spe­
cials. All eggs in “ producers’
grade” must have clean, sound
shells, air cells Vt inch or less,
yolk may be visible, while Arm and
clear, with no visible germ devel­
opment, no blood spots, and eggs
must be uniform in shape.
No Tails—No Wails
Sheepmen in the Uvalde section of
Texas are using rubber bands in­
stead of surgery to bob lambs' tails,
according to information received
by the B . F . Goodrich company.
The newest method of tail bobbing
involves only the tight application
of a rubber band in the right loca­
tion which stops circulation. After
a time the tail drops off, saving ex­
pense, time, and trouble for ranch­
men and some pain and possible
infection for the lambs.
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AN IN<£Rr5iiN6 ST or V W AN OLD MA6ATINE
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