Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-05-27
England farmers, and we trust will ever
continue to be. As Whittier says
".Bnt let the good old crop adorn
The hills our fathers trod;
Still let us for his golden corn,
Send up our thanks to Cod


Send up our thanks to God"
May is the month for planting this
"good old crop, and farmers should re-
member that it grows llxuriantly, and
requires luxuriant feeding. The aver
age product per acre in Massachusetts
IN 1875 was only 35i bushels. This
seems very small when we consider that
100 bushels are often produced, bat this
Is larger average than in most of the
states. We cannot produce corn so
cheaply among those New England hills
AS on the western prairie, but it is some
consolation to know that with skill and
labor we get as good return per acre,
and can raise enough as farmers to make
us Independent of prairie competition.
The western supply will doubtless con-
tlnue to flow into our great markets, but
every farmer of New England should en-
deavor to raise enough corn for his own
consumption.
Corn fodder should be sown this
month so as to supply the lack of graz
ing in the dry months. Fed out ii Au-
gust and September, corn fodder keeps
up the flow of milk at little expense, and
goes, further when dried and stored up
for winter. The curing of large stocks
is slow process, and if they can be- fed
without the labor involved in curing,
there is great gain. The raising of corn
fodder is likely to receive a new impulse
from the French process of storing it,
while green, in silos, and feeding it out
in winter to all sorts of stock; horses and
sheep as well as COWS being very fond of
it. The experiment made by Mr.. Bailey,
at the "Winning Farm" in Billerica, in
feeding ensilage, as fodder thus procured
is called, goes to show that by this feed
milk can be produced at one cent per
quart and butter at 10 cents per pound.
The average farmer is not expected to
build silos and raise corn fodder on the
extensive scale practiced at Winning
Farm, but he should keep sharp lock-
out in this direction and be ready to
"pitch in when the thing is reduced to
certain rules. The time is possibly not
far distant when we may raise our own
sugar from corn. The experiments at
Washington point in this direction, and
we want to keep our hands skilled in the
manipulation of this "golden crop.
Some of the root crops need to be
sown in May, beets and rutabagas par
ticularly. Both of these roots are very
hardy, and do better when sown pretty
early. We like to get carrots in also
early, so that they may receive the bene~
fit of the spring rains and get such n
state that they will shade the ground
some before the summer droughts appear.
The beet crop is worthy of more extern
sive culture. 1t is an unsolved problem,
rs yet, whether beets or corn is to furnish
sugar for the future; but, whether beets
are best for sugar or not, they are good
for mich cows beyond any peradventure.
They also make good food for swine,
sheep and horses, but for the latter we
prefer carrots.
In the presence Of farm labors in May,
the farmer must not neglect his vegeta
bic garden. Lettuce, parsnlps, peas,
onions, radishes and satisfy are already
sown, or ought to have been; but a sec
ond and third crop of peas should be put
in this month, and also a succession of
sweet corn crops, the Naragansett and
Curry for early, and Concord and Ever
green for late. Beans should not be
planted till all danger of frost is past;
then put in some Chinas and German
Wax for early dwarf, and Limas and
Southern Proliics for late runners. -
Massachusetts PIoughn'dn.