The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-27
American Institute Farmers
Club.

iZing qualities of the hen manure cause
the plants to grow more vigorously
and it at the same time prevents the
bugs from eating the leaves.
CANNING SWEET CORN.
Mrs. Zena A. ILinsay writes to the
clnh that corn can be canned so that 1t
will stay canned in the following way:
Boil the corn fifteen minutes on the
cob and then cut it off and dry an hour
in the hot sun. The corn should then
be seasoned to the taste with salt and
put into the cans with a very little wa
ter. The covers must then be placed on
the cans, leaving only very small APP
erture for the escape of gas; then place
the cans In kettle of water and boil
slowly three quarters of an hour, when
the can may be sealed with a drop OF
solder or even a little putty. Corn pre-
Served in this way will always keep as
long as it is necessary to keep 1t, and
there is no danger OF bursting the cans
SWEET POTATO CULTURE.
MIR. Zena A. Linsay writes to the club
for information about the cultivation
of the sweet potato. He asks If it will
grow in his latitude, (Montrose Penn..]
how to propagate and when 10 obtain
the seed.
Mr., williams said he had better not
try the culture OF sweet potato If he
expected to cultivate them for profit, as
trict, lily fitted for their growth.
Mr.. Thompson said there was no
doubt but what the plants would grow
but that it was doubtful about making
their culture pay. The plants. he said,
might be obtair ed by sending to any
seed store in this city, or if he COM
menced early enough he might raise
ner: Prepare his hot-bed SO that the
soil in it shall be kept warm
all the time but not very hot, and lay
down the tubers and cover them with
sand or sandy soil. They may be cut
in two lengthwise in the middle, and
the flat side placed downward, or they
may be cut up into small pieces as is
done in kentucky, or they may be used
whole as is more common in this local
uy. If the tubers are whole or only cut
once the sprouts are broken Oft and
planted in hill3 or rows. If they are
cut into small pieces, the piece 10 re-
moved with the sprout in transplant
ing.
Mr.. Thompson said thet he learned
very much about securing good sweet
potatoes from an old Pennsylvania
Dutchman whom he once met at Read
ing. This old gentleman said that he
had been in the habit of raising his
sweet potatoe crop on pasture land,
turning TWO burrows together and
ridge. The tubers when they reached
the hard sod ceased growing in length
and became thick and of much better
quality than those which were allowed
to extend themselves to an indefinite
length.
Takin - advantage of this principle,
Mr.. Thompson said that he had order
ed the ground where he intended to
plant sweet potntoes, pounded down
hard; he had then placed his manure
on this hard surface and made his hills,
in the top OF which he set the plants.
In the fall he found that the tubers
did not penetrate the hardened ground
and were of very fine quality. IN an
other portion of his field Mr.. Thomp-
son laid down board, and with this
as foundation built up his hills. The
potatoes instead of growing thick as
before, when they reached the board
turned n: a right angle and extended
horizontally for long distance, none
CT them being much larger than
mans finger. He was fully convinced
that deep cultivation for sweet potatoes
is great mistake. Mr.. Thompson
thinks that the potatoes are much bet
ter when grown in hills than in rows,
and he advises pulling down the hills
with hoe or fork, just when the vines
begin to run or building OF new ones,
as the earth of the new hills Is not so
likely to bake.
HOMES IN THE WEST.
Mr.. II. Parker, of Walla Walla,
Washington Territory, read a short
paper on the Inducements to settlers
offered in that Territory. The climate
is very mild, cattle needing no shelter
in winter, and requiring sto be fed only
about six weeks during the whole year.
The only cold weather is from the mid
die of December to the middle OF Janu-
Gnnw naVpr remains on the
ground more than six or eight days.
The air is very healthful, mo person
who came there in good health having
ever been known to contract pulmo-
nary disease, while fevers are I'M
known. The valley has connection
the Columbia river, and the Pacific
Railway Company has already pros
pected a branch that will extend to
Walla Walla City. Land can be OBJ
tanned at from $50 to $50 per acre, ac-
cording TO the improvements upon 1t.
There is an abundance of timber in the
and some along the lines
of the streams. The soil is we'll adapt
ed TO raising all kinds of fruit raised
in the East, and particularly to raising
STOCK, while the miners in the adjoin-
ing territories take all the surplus pro-
ducts. The city contains 1000 or 5000
inha 6itants, four churches and two
common schools. Any information
about this country may be obtained by
per & Brothers. New York.
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.
As announced last week, Mr.. r. n.
Williams read to-day long and care~
fully prepared paper on Agricultural
Education; what 1t is and how to obtain
it," In the paper, he condemned the
system Of Agricultural Colleges:recent-
lXya Cf a oh in
act of Congress-, and advocated the es-
adjustment OF experimental farms
where theories may be put to test, with
Out reference to immediate pecuniary
returns; that the result OF these expef-
iments be published in simple form,
and distributed to the people.
To show the need Of such institutions,
Mr.. Williams cited some of the ques-
lions that had been before the Farmers
Club.
Horace Greeley about year ago, in
troduced the subject of deep blowing
and gave it as his opinion that to get
the full benefit of the land, the ground
ought TO be stirred 10 the depth of six
teen or eighteen inches.
Mr.. Quinn was of the opinion that
deep blowing was of no use unless the
quantity of manure be increased pro-
portiOnately.
d.. Trimble said that on new ground
lonr inches was deep enough, and that
any deeper blowing was injurious.
mr.: PETERS wanted to know what deep
plowlng was, and offered a resolution
tnAt seven inches or more should be
considered deep blowing. while five
inches or, less should Be considered
shallow blowing.
BATTER nearly six months debate the
Club laid the resolution on the table
thus coming to no decision.
Mr.. Williams closed his papar with
some interesting statistics of agricul~