Nebraska advertiser., 1878-08-01
To the Farmers of Nemaha County

L have just read the following let
ter from the Commissioner of Agri
culture, which explains itself. Viii
the gentlemen in Nemaha County tC
whom the seeds were so literally dis
tributed in the year 1877, be kind
enough to furnish me with such re.
ports as will enable me to comply
with the wishes of the Commissioner
1t is also desirable that Nemaha
County go on record where she be-
longs as an agricultural county.
ROBT. w. FURNAs.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 20, rs.
To Hon. R. w. Furnas:
SIR The Commissioner of Agri-
culture desires to obtain from those 10
whom the distributions of seeds and
plants have been made by the Depart
ment the Information which is neces-
sary to determine the value of the va
rious seeds and plants that have been
sent to different portions of the coun-
try.
You are earnestly requested, there
fore, to furnish, at as early day as pos
sible, ,afull and explicit statement ofthe
results OF your experiments with such
seeds and plants as have been sent
to you.
The interrogatories accompanying
this circular wilLguide you in making
your report; but you are requested to
note other points which your expert
ence and observation may suggest,
and which may be of interest to farm
ers generally, and of Importance to
satisfactory conclusion in the premis-
es. Very respectfully,
VIM. G.. LEDUC,
Commissioner of Agriculture.
The following are the interrogato-
ries referred to by the Commissioner.
Let the answers be prefaced with the
seed plated, whatever it may have
been:
1st. What is the character of the
soil-wh,ther clay, sand, loan, or al
luvium-on which the seeds were
sown?
I'd. What the aspect, or "lay" of
the lani-whether hilltop, side
hill, rolling, bottom-laud, wet, or
spongy?
Sd. What the manner of blowing
--whethe: deep or shallow, or SUBJ
soiled. in aspiring or autumn
4th. What other Preparations
whether pulverized by rolling with
land-rollg, before or after sowing and
how offer narrowed?
5th. What the last previous crop
grown IN the field, or, if fallow,
before this crop now reported upon?
9Th. Find and quality of fertilizer
-whethr mercantile, stable-man-
ure, COMPOST, ashes, lime, salt, plast-
er, or gren crops plowed under, and
when ani how applied?
9TH. How was the seed prepared
whether carefully selected and soak
ed in brile of salt. copperas, or other
substance
Sth. What the date and manner of
whether with drill or broad |
cast, thBk or thin?
9th. What quantity of seed, to the
acre sown or planted
10th. What was the after-cultiva-
tioQ-wIRther often narrowed, hoed
or cultivded, or rolled?
11th. st what stage was the har.
vesting ione-whether when fully |
ripe, or in the douglty or milky state
18th. What injury by frost or
storms, and to what extent-at what
stage of growth-what injury from
winter-kiing, rust or fly, and when
most injured?
18th. What the condition and To-
cation of tie land where winter-kill-
ing occurrd-whether wet and low,
or otherwise?
14th. What insects-in or above
the grouna-have been injurious, and
to what extent, and at what date?
18th. What Observation-Disclosures,
smut, or others-have injured
the crop, b what extent, and when
10th. What preventives and reme-
dies, if aiy, have been applied, and
with whatsuccess?
18th. Which has proved the most
profitable early or late harvesting, of
both grainand hay?
18th. What was the yield per acre,
and what he quality of grain?