Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-04-18
THE FARM.


"A per cent. of fine flour. The best
samples often furnish IS to so per
cent, and in a few rare instances as
much as Sc per cent. of flour has been
obtained. Inferior varieties seldom
produce more than 6S per cent, and in
some instances only "a to 56 per cent.
of flour has been obtained from bad
| samples. On an average, wheat may
be said to yield 70 per cent. of fine flour,
and % per cent. of bran and middiings.
OUR milling industry, the american
Miller maintains, ranks next to that of
Iron. The number of mills is over %
900, affording employment for more
than $4,000 men, whose annual wages
| are about $20.000,000. and turning out
yearly 50,000,000, barrels of flour, of
which 100000 barrels are exported to
foreign countries. Pennsylvania has
the most mills (nearly $1,000 and other
States from 700 to less than 100. Min
nesOta's mills are largest, and employ
the greatest average ofmen, namely five
in each.
| TREE-PLANTING AND TREE GROWTH.-
The correspondents of the lichiua11
! Farmer have been discussing the sub
|
| The editor holds that several points have
been established by this discussion. and
summarizes them in this way:
That nursery-grown trees are prefer
able to forest trees.
That the best time to plant shade or
street trees is as soon as the frost is out
Of the ground and before the buds start,
or as soon as the earth is dry enough
to work.
3 The elm is the best street tree, and
next IS the maple, There is put one
negative voice against the elm.
Mulchlng neWly-set trees is always
advisable, before hot weather sets in.
Nothing better than chips, and sawdust
is good. Extend the mulch somewhat
beyond the roots.
The main point in transplanting is
to secure a mass of fine fibrOus roots,
which are the immediate feeders of the
trees.
If forest trees are selected, get
them from an opening, from an ex-
posed place, or from the edge of the
woods. There will be a larger mass of
roots, and they will be more accustomed
to the light, and will stand exposure
better
Hot WATER FOR PLANTS. has long
been known that the roots of plants en-
cased in earth would stand water so hot
as to be quite uncomfortable to the
hand. M. Willermoz, in the Journal of
the Society Of Practical Horticulture, of the
RhOne, France, relates that plants in
pots may be treated with hot water
when out Of health, the usual remedy
for which has been reporting. He says
when ill-health ensues from acid sub
stances contained or generated in the
soil, and this is absorbed by the roots it
acts as poison. The small roots are
withered and cease their action, conse-
quently the upper and younger shoots
Of the plant turn yellow, and the spots
with which the leaves are covered indi-
cate their morbid state. In such cases
the usual remedy is to transplant into
fresh soil, clean the pots carefully, Sc
cure good drainage, and often with the
best results. But the experience of sew
eral years has proved, with him, the I'M
failing efficacy of the simpler treat
ment, which consists in watering album
dainty with hot water at a temperature
of about 145 degrees Fahrenheit, hay
ing previously stirred the soil of the
pots SO far as might be done without in
jury to the roots. Water is then given
until it runs freely from the pots. In
his experiments the water first came
out clear; afterwards it was sensiblv
tinged with brown, and gave an appre-
cable acid reaction. After this thor
ough washing, the pots were kept warm
Next day the leaves of two ,fcus eJaStica
so treated ceased to droop, the spread
of black spots on their leaves was az
rested, and three days afterward, in
stead of dying, the plants had recover
ed their normal look of health. Very
soon they made new roots, Immediately
followed by vigorous growth.
PURE.BRE STOCK UNPROFITABLE.-
Many farmers have made the mistake
of~trying to keep and breed herd, or
flock, of pure-bred animals, and have,
through their frequent failures, brought
discredit upon such stock. Pure-bred
stock, as a rule, are not profitable for
farmers. They cost too much. No
farmer can afford to pay $4,000 to
So, 900 for a herd of ten pure-bred COWS
They are used to careful tending and
high feeding, and their product is no
greater than the average of good grades
of these breeds. We know of no herd
of pure-bred animals in existence that
would pay its cost of purchase and
keeping by its product of milk, butter
or meat alone; it is only by the sale of
animals for breeding that the profit is
made. But admitting this to be true, |
pure-bred stock are not, for this reason, |
to be considered of less value If we
have not the pure stock, how can we
procure the grades which are found so
profitable. Grades, of high character,
are the most profitable farmers COWS.
Experience proves this to beso in every |
case. One pure bull, which may cost
$3.50 to $500, will sire during his vigor-
Gus period at least fifty calves, thus ad-
ding a small triie to the cost of each |
over that Of calf from a common |
scrub bull By adhering to one breed |
there is a certainty of arriving at de- I
finite result very soon; but by the too |
frequent habit OF changing every two /
or three years, no satisfactory result is
gained, and, after lifetime Of futile
effort, the farmer ends where he begun,
and berates pure-bred stock as the
cause of his failures As with COWS, so
with sheep, swine and poultry. The
pure breeds are not found profitable to
keep, except for their services in rails
ing grades, and keeping up a supply Of
breeding animals for this purpose. In
this way farmer who can afford it
may be justified in purchasing two or
three pure-bred animals for improving
a herd of good natives. and if he uses