Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-11-13
OATS.

lands upon the Sclot0 rIVer are the
best corn lands.
OATS.
The crop in 1865 was $500 acres,
which produced l56, ,195 bushels; and
this was probably not far from an ave-
rage crop. Oats do not yield as well
in this latitude as they do farther
north: and l have often thought, as to
this grain, the theory put forth some
years ago by an enterprising man of
science in Minnesota, might be true,
to wit: THAT all grains were grown In
the greatest perfection near the North
ern limits of their possible produc-
ton" The great difficulty we have to
encounter is the dry weather likely to
occur before the crop is headed out.
To avoid this they should be sown as
soon as the ground can be got in con-
ditiOn after the first of March.
FLAX.
From eight to ten dollars per ton are
paid at the mills of the Delaware
Manufacturing Company, and" Union
Flax Company" for fax straw.
The crop of 1866 was reported at
2,086 acres, which produced 1897
bushels of seed and 675, 800 pounds of
fiber. The crop of 1867 is believed to
have been much larger.
Much care is taken to procure clean
seed, and 1t IS sOWn as early In the
Spring as the ground can be got in
proper condition. The ground is we'll
ploWed and thoroughly narrowed, SO as
to be made as mellow as possible. One
half bushel per acre is sufficient, and
this should be sown with great care
when there is no wind, so as to secure
an equal distribution. The seed is
covered with a light harrow or brush
and is much benefited by subsequent
rolling. The crop is cut with NOW
ing machine, and the seed threshed
out as soon as it IS dry, and the straw
IS at once taken to market.
This is generally considered an ex-
the English farmers, in regard to the
benefit of their manure heaps derive
from feeding our oil cake, be correct,
those of us who raise fax, must be en-
gagged in a business that is rapidly ex-
hausting our own lands as it is increas-
ing the fertility of the farms of Great
Britain. Nearly all our cake is sent
there and fed by the English farmers
to their stock-to cattle chiefly. And
yet it Is known that from the flesh
produced by feeding cake no profit
whatever, is derived-the profit, they
say, IS IN the Dlanurel
BARLEY.
But little ground is devoted to this
crop. In 1865, there were 6S6 acres,
and the yield was 1875 bushels-Har-
lem township had much the largest
crop-1S6 acres, which produced 822
bushels.
SORGHUM.
The popularity of this product is
declining. It will not make sugar. at
least none to speak of; E" and the syr-
up will not answer for table use nor
is it as well liked for cooking as the
the maple or the New Orleans.
But 455 acres were grown In 1866,
which made 53,668 gallons of syrup.
This probably would not sell for over
forty cents gallon.
MAPLE SUGAR.
In 1866 our product of maple sugar
was 112, ,113 pounds, and 13, $50 gallons
of syrup. The sugar is made here as
it is anywhere else and the only fact
worthy of attention, is the use by those
who wish to preserve their camps of a
much smaller bit than was formerly
thought necessary. A bore Of 8 of an
| inch will give about as much sap as we
would get by using I inch bit and
| the injury to the tree would not be one
quarter as great. Indeed, that in some
| regions. where the small bit has been
/ l,n IN Tc ~
small as scarcely to be perceptible at
all,
| POTATOES.
The returns of the assessors for 1865
! show 749 acres in potatoes and the
product to be 59,051 bushels, This
crop does not do as well in this Valley
as in counties further north, or on the
| sandy lands east of US. 1t is not, there
fore, the purpose of our farmers to
grow potatoes for market to any con-
| siderable extent.
We are having new sorts nearly
every year. A few years since the
Peach Blow was the favorite, then the
Buckeye, now the Pinkeye Rusty Coat;
and for early planting the White
Sprouts and Early Goodrich, both
very good. Nothing has ever bean
found to beat the old Neshannoek, if
it would only yield little better.
The great difficulty we have in pro-
ducing good potatoes is from our clay
lands becoming so hard about the tu-
bers in dry weather that there is no
no moisture to make them grow. On
new ground we do not encounter this
difficulty, nor when the ground is well
manured; but too much manure will
cause the potatoes to rot,
RYE.
But ], ,066 acres were cultivated in
rye in 1865, which produced 1902
bushels. Not a very profitable crop,
one would think, as the price per
bushel is usually abont half as much
as wheat; and here we have no greater
yield per acre than an average wheat
crop. The average crops of the coun-
ty from 1858 to 1864 was no better
being 652 acres, producing only 6,62S
bushels.
This crop is grown to be manufac-
tured into whisky, or for chop for
horses, (by our Pennsylvania farmers
and for the straw. 1t is soWn to ad-
vantage in early fall for winter pasture
for calves, etc.
In this crop, as in barley, Harlem
and Genoa are far in advance Of the