The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-10-25
AGRIcuLTuRAL.

report of experiments by s. n. Tracy,
professor of economic botany at tho
Agricultural College of the Uniyer-
sity of Missouri, shows that with A
varieties of winter wheat, the Red
May ripened June 9th, and yielded
32.64 bushels per acre, and weighed
62 pounds; Fultz ripened June 18th,
yielded $500 bushels, and weighed
63l pounds; Diehl ripened June 18th,
yielded 1880 bushels, weighing 81
pounds Treadwell ripened June
Goth, yielded 52.38 bushels, weighing
81 pounds.
Although every variety, with one
exception, gave larger yield in 1879
than in 1878, the most marked in.
crease is shown in the Russian kinds,
which gave an average yield of 31.29
bushels per acre in 1879, against 1922
bushels in 1878. They all seem very
hardy and stand up well, but the
proportion of straw is greater than
in the American varieties. The Or
egon varieties have all been discard
ed excepting the Oregon club, which
yielded less than the average this
year, but more than the average for
the two years.
1t was found that from the begin
ming of harvest to June 2lst, in 1878,
and TO June 10th, in 1879, there is
but little difference in the yield, but
that after those dates, especially in
1878, the ylold decreases. The actual
decrease was greater than is indi-
Gated by the table, as 18 varieties
which yielded less than Is bushels to
the acre, and are not included IN the
table, all ripened June Goth, or later,
in 1878, and June 21st, or later, in
1879. With selection from the va
rieties ripening before June 2lst, the
time Of harvest extends over thirteen
days, which in most cases is sufficient
time to enable the cultiyator to har-
vest his crop when it Is in just the
right stage. Professor Tracy thinks
that by u proper selection of seed
during a series of years it will doubt
less be possible to extend somewhat
the time of harvest.
Several of the varieties which sue
cecded best in 1878, and few of the
varieties received last fall, were sown
on the college farm. With these
crops, Mr.. Maddox. farm superin-
tendent, reports the following re-
suits: "Clawson, two fields yield q
and 26l bushels per acre; silver chatf
20 bushels; Fultz, two fields, l6 and
25 bushels. These crops were al
raised on dry white oak ridges which
have been in cultivation tor many
years, and have received almost ne
manure. On one field where Zim
norman was almost II failure in 1878
} Sanford and Smooth Mediterranean
were grown and yielded Is busheli
per acre. Mold's white and Mold
red gave only II bushels to the acre.
KEEPING WINTER FRUIT-Applel
should be gathered as late as possi
Bile before cold weather, and shoult
be picked with the hand to insur
soundness. Pack carefully in ;
clean, tight -four barrel, shake dow
gently and head up; place in cool
) shady shed, that is well open to tn
air, or on the north side of build
, ing, and cover up the tops will
boards. Lay the barr els on thei
sides on rails, and if very cold cove
, up with cornstalks. Keep out o
doors as late as possible, and thel
remove to cool, dry cellar, wher
: air can be admitted on pleasant days
Here, also, the barrels should be lai'
on their sides and on rails. Pear
should be allowed to hang on tn
trees until frosty nights, when the,
should bc carefully hand-picked an
wrapped separately in paper AM
packed in shallow boxes, where the,
, can be easily examined, for some O
them will probably rot. Keep GOV
cred to prevent shriveling. Place il
= q cool, dry cellar, and as they begi
to ripen, bring into warm roor
> and wrap in woolen cloth, and thei
flavor will be highly increased
!. Grapes can be kept we'll into tn
, winter if care is exercised. Choos
!, the late ripening sorts, such q
Clinton, Catawba, Diana, Isabella
etc. Select the finest and most ms
>, tured punches, carefully cutting ou
the decayed grapes, if any, bein
careful not to disturb the bloom
p after sweating few days ON she
in a cool place, pack in baked saw
: dust or cotton batting, one layer {
sawdust and one layer of grapes, an
4 so on; keep at an even temperatur
and cool as possibie-at about freei
;, ing point.-Lake View Horticultu
4 ist.
Farm Notes