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Show Cow Peas and Soy Bean. Mnny farmers in Illinois, especially In tho central and northern sections of tho stato aro not familiar with tho cow pea and soy bean. " In some parts of southern Illinois cow peas are grown extensively,- and where tho value of this crop Is known It constitutes consti-tutes ono of the chief forage crops. Soy beans are of more recent Intro duction, and this crop Is not so well known as cow peas. In somo cases farmers have given one or both of these crops a trial, but through tho uso of vnrletlcs not adapted to their climate, unsatisfactory results have been obtained, and consequently they have pronounced theso plants un-sulted un-sulted to Illinois conditions. Others have been moro successful In their growth, and find them worthy of a prominent place In tho rotation. As a matter of fact, both crops have been grown In this state long enough and to such an extent that thoy have passod beyond tho purely experimental experiment-al stago, and In places they aro already al-ready considered as important factors In Illinois agriculture. Tho cow pea Is a native of southeastern south-eastern China, and the soy bean of Japan. Being semitropical in origin, both plants are naturally best suited to a warm climate, and the introduction introduc-tion and cultivation of the cow pea in Amorica has been largely limited to tho South, although in recent years certain varieties have become so acclimated ac-climated as to mature in the latltudo of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Minne-sota. Tho soy bean has been, grown farther north since it introduction, consequently there is no question as to the adaptability of both crops to the soil and climate of Illinois. However, How-ever, there are varieties grown In the south which aro not suitable for this state, and will not maturo If planted hero. One of tho first essentials in tho successful culture of theso crops, thercforo, Is the selection of varieties adapted to the conditions of climate and soil. Circular 69, Illinois Agricultural Agri-cultural College. Hog Pasture. It Is not safe or even desirable to rely upon a single crop to furnish pasture pas-ture for our hogs throughout the entire en-tire season. It is better to arrange for a succession of pastures from the be-glning be-glning of the season until tho hogs are ready for market, making the feed richer and more concentrated toward the close of the season, and as we approach ap-proach the finishing of fattening period. pe-riod. For this purpose the following crops are recommended: Red clover or alfalfa, rape, 'cowpeas, soy beans. On lands adapted to alfalfa it will undoubtedly prove to be better tor hogs than red clover, Inasmuch as It will produce a larger quantity of feed of a somewhat higher value. Inasmuch Inas-much as wo have not yet learned to grow alfalfa successfully on the majority ma-jority of our upland clay soils, wo shall bo forced to rely chiefly upon clover. It starts earlier In tho spring than any hog pasture we have excepting except-ing alfalfa, and would therefore be used first, and should be used as long as It Is succulent and palatable. Usually Usu-ally not later than the middle of Juno tho crop will havo become so maturo (hat the hogs will relish a change for the time being, and the surplus clover , should bo cut and removed, so as to 1 allow tho second or fall crop to start .promptly. Report Missouri State (l3oard of Agriculture. Condition of Foreign Crop. jtccordlng to reports received by tho DcWrtmont of Agriculture relative to the condition of European crops July IsA, In Russia the cereal crop prospects havo considerably Improved even In regions whore conditions at tho beginning be-ginning of spring were unfavorable. In Gdrmany thoro has been great Improvement Im-provement In all the winter cereals, piirticlarly rye. In Austria only a cood medium harvest of spring sown crops Is to bo expected. Hungary's output will fall considerably below that of 1902, the deficiency In the case 'of wheat being 1G Per cent. Most W tho Bulgarian crops aro lu good condition. con-dition. Storms and floods havo serious-fly serious-fly damaged crops and vineyards In-Italy. In-Italy. In Franco tho winter wheat 'area Is estimated to bo 081,724 acres less than In 1902. Wheat and other crops mado marked improvement dur-' dur-' Ing Juno and now look well. Reports from Denmark are generally favorable. Great Britain's wheat crop is late and will hardly equal tho avorage yield. The total wheat crop which India-harvested this spring has been estimated at 290,261,104 bushuU against 220,270,-890 220,270,-890 la 1902. Grooming the Herd. After tho cattle have had their hoy In the morning they aro cleaned up for the day. Wo uso good stiff root brushes for tho purpose and the curry comb Is brought Into requisition when necessary. neces-sary. Tho cows enjoy this brushing and stand perfectly still, frequently stopping their eating during the operation, opera-tion, Somo authorities claim that brushing brush-ing stimulates the circulation, thereby Increasing tho milk flow. Whether or not this is so, I do .not know. That a clean row. of cows Is more attractlvo and pleasing to tho oyo, thero is no doubt. Besides this, can you tell me of anything more repulsive than milking milk-ing vile smolllng, filthy cows? If tho custom of cleaning cows was moro gen-oral gen-oral among farmers, tho butter makers mak-ers and creamory men throughout tho country would havo much loss troublo In producing a fiist class article. D. W. Howlo. |