The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-11-24
farnl aud 6ardem.
For the Central Presbyterian.
Work for the Season.

ready done, for crops are not finished
until taken care of, and placed as much
as possible beyond loss and depreciation
bv stock and rogues and birds, squirrels,
&c. For corn one considerable source OF
loss is the falling down on the ground
and rotting Corn should be thrown In
the courthouse with the shuck on, which
can be stripped off in rainy days, and as
it is used. The shuck is a protection
against weavil, which frequently attacks
it in warm winters, or when 1T is kept
over until next winter, and the shuck
also protects against rats and mice. In
gathering corn, the perfect ears and those
with two or more ears on the stalk,
should be selected for seed and hung up,
or put aside. We are impressed with
the belief that the large white corn, gen
orally called "Gourd seed, which seems
to be cross between the old gourd seed
and flint corn, the former predominating
is the most hardy and suitable for our
latitude. Some years since we tried
prolific" variety, very highly lauded,
and which the seller had been selecting
and improving for years, and came to the
conclusion that it was more delicate and
more apt to rot, and to be loose grained
on the cob than the large variety. This
year, Internationally we got hold of a
Prolific" variety again, and were sur
prised to find in such dry fall as we
have had, so many rotten and defective
ears. a neighbor who habitually raises
the "Gourd seed, tried the first "Pro-
liGc" variety that we did, and came to
the same conclusion regarding it to which
we arrived.
Root crops should now be secured, tur-
nips-and beets should be taken up, have
the tops removed and be put into moder-
ate sized heaps, with first some straw,
and then a foot of dirt to cover them, to
prevent freezing, which should be avoid
ed; they should never be fed to stock
when frozen, as they will in this condi-
ton do them more harm than good. Some
persons put them away with the tops on,
and say that the tops, though SOFT will
be sufficiently preserved to feed to stock.
We doubt this, as we tried some in this
way one year, and found the tops soft
and sticky, partially decomposed and
disagreeable to handle We see no rea-
son why turnips might not be sliced up
with root cutter and ensilaged as fod-
der corn" is, and we hope some one will
try it.
By the way, we are trying ensilage
with fodder corn, without cutting ii
up, as we were not prepared this season
to do so. The pit has no lining, the sides
being firm, and hard red clay to which
we have trusted without plank or cement
or brick. 1t is protected with a good
shingled roof. We shall report the re-
suit.
Demands for American Breadstuffs.
This is an interesting subject to oul
farmers, particularly as there is every
probability that the scarcity of crops fol-
this year in Europe will cause increased
demands for our grain. We have the
statement from abroad that Russia will
have this year no breadstufs to export
and the same as regards Austria, and
that France will have to import very
considerably. Unfortunately many of ou1
farmers have sold their wheat crops, but
they will have a good surplus of corn tc
sell. In an interesting article in the
Richmond Dispatch of the 18th instant
quoted from the Produce Exchange o.
New York, it is stated that there is nc
wheat or rye being exported from North
Russia, and very little of either from
South Russia. The Journal de 81. Pc
tersburg states that the total stock O
wheat at Odessa was $4,000 bushels
whereas to keep the mills going from
November to March will require 4,OOO,
900 bushels. The exports from Russia
to England from March Opening of nav
igation) to October 20, had been 891 800
bushels, against 81 ,852,292 bushels fol
the corresponding period in 1879 The
English wheat crop for 1880 is estimated
by the London Times at 9,114,0OO quar-
ters, available for consumption, after de
Quoting the seed requirements; and Eng
land needs 100000 quarters or NOR,
"a quarter is about bushels) of foreign
wheat. The Times says, " If we have nov
about 5000, 900 quarters of home grown
wheat available for home consumption
and there was very little stock left at tn,
commencement of last harvest year, W,
shall want 100000 quarters from Owe
the sea to make up full supply of "a,
100000 quarters. England imported fo
the year ending August, 1880, the amour
OF l6,4OO,OOO quarters; the year of 1875
being the most disastrous Of any in tn
history of the country for the wheat croI
it amounting to not quite six million
r.