The Old Time Farm Magazines: Feeding Calves, Hogs, and Reusing Old Shirts

With a good stand of soybeans in the cornfield, is tankage
required for most economical gains on hogs? Last year the
Iowa experiment station ran fourteen shotes weighing around
143 pounds each for thirty-five days on corn in which there
was a good stand of Manchu soybeans. A similar group was
fed the same way except for the addition of tankage
self-fed.

When corn grain in the field was figured at 61 cents a
bushel, soybeans in the corn at 75 cents per acre, and
tankage at $65 a ton, it was found that the more economical
gains were made by the tankage-fed pigs and the gains per
bushel of corn were likewise greater.

Soybeans in the cornfield were not enough to balance the
ration of ear corn properly and economically; the addition
of tankage increased the daily gains some forty percent and
reduced the cost of 100 pounds of gain from $5.84 to $5.38.

Skimmilk, buttermilk or other good supplements would serve
the same purpose as the tankage. Both groups had access to
a mineral mixture consisting of salt 20 pounds, ground
limestone 40 pounds, spent bone black 40 pounds and
potassium iodide one-half ounce to 100 pounds of mixture.

Reusing Old Shirts

Children’s drawers may be made for small children for
everyday wear from the tails of discarded blue work-shirts.
Cut off the tails as in diagram 1, having previously ripped
off the pocket with a safety razor. (Click on the “Image Gallery” to view all images related to this article) Then shape them
according to diagram 2, using a pair of drawers of the
right size to measure by. Hem sides, lap over and overcast.
Put bands on top and buttonholes. Sew together with a
French seam. Hem bottoms. If desired, a band the color of
the little ones’ dresses may be used on the bottom,
especially if the drawers are made from blue percale or
apron gingham. I always put bands on the tops of children’s
panties for every-day wear instead of using elastic as my
physician has told me that the continued wearing of the
tight elastic may cause harm in later years.–Mrs. L.
A. D.

Skunk Fur

When does skunk fur become prime? Or when can we begin
trapping? Also, what is the best way of removing the odor
the clothes?–N. D., Wis.

The fur of the skunk usually is in good condition early in
November, but that will depend a great deal on weather
conditions. The skunk is one of the first fur bearers to
become prime. The odor can be removed from the hands and
clothing by the use of gasoline.

Vineyard Drainage

A couple of years ago a friend of mine who lead a
considerable acreage of grapes found that there was an
unusually large amount of winter-killing.

The only explanation we could hit upon was that there was
too much water in the soil at the season when grapes should
be hardening off.

You cannot get away from some winter injury in seasons of
unusual severity, but year in and year out injury can be
lessened by first draining land that needs it if grapes
have by chance been put on ground a shade off in this
respect. Next stop cultivation in July or August and seed
buckwheat, oats, barley, or wheat, which will tend to try
out the soil and at the same time not shade the ground too
much.

Winter Garden Chores

If the work that may be done in winter is taken care of the
work in the spring when we are rushed will trouble us much
less. Trash and old stalks of tomatoes and potatoes should
be gathered and burned or made into a compost heap. Manure
should be spread, and the earlier the better if it is at
all fresh, the rotted manure is better spread nearer time
when the plowing is to be done in the spring. Then when
soil is dry enough and frost is out of the ground any time
after New Year the ground may be plowed and it will settle
enough to be just right for planting. Seeds will germinate
much more certainly and grow off better in a fairly firm
soil, and plowed soil will dry out after spring rains and
may be worked without loss of this vital time when seeds
must be planted for early garden. If all this work is out
of the way, the garden tools bright and well sharpened,
trellis material all ready to put in place, stakes for
things needing them, and poles for the beans and peas all
handy, things will move smoothly and we will avoid the
discomfort of having the work behind and crowding us, while
weeds shout for joy, and crusts form to dissipate the
moisture.–L. C.

A Three-Legged Sawhorse

There is a particular advantage in owning a sawhorse like
the one shown when it is to be used out of doors. The
ground is seldom level, and the horse with four legs tips
back and forth when one attempts to use it, unless one leg
is blocked.

The horse is made in the usual way, with the exception of
one end. Here a single leg made from a 4-by-4 supplants the
two. It is braced with a short piece as shown.

Fir is ideal for making this sawhorse because it is tough,
firm and relatively light.

The third leg in no way prevents its use on floors and
other level surfaces.–D. R. V.

Squibs from a Farm Wife’s Note Book

When cooking very, sour fruits, a very little salt added
will make less sugar necessary.

To prevent splashing when frying meat, sprinkle a little
salt in the pan before putting the fat in.

Flat silver may be nicely cleaned in the water in which
potatoes have been boiled.