The Russellville Democrat., 1880-04-15
FACTS FOR FARMERS.

l FACTS FOR FARMERS.
 The Farmers Accounts-Alsike Glover =
 Testing New Varieties.
 FARMRR's ACCOUNTS.
 Farmers do pot use pen and peaca enough. The farm work IS not condu- cive to good penmanship, and when one comes in at night after hard days work of gathering corn or hauling wood or, what is worse, handling stone, his hands feel as rough as graters and each digit is an independent quantity, and they cannot work together on so small a thing as pencil or penholder. Their prehensile power is good fer the handle of pitchfork or a grubbing-hoe but it cramps them to hold the pen. We have felt the weariness of the grip when try ing to propel Faber No. after holding the blow all day.
 Yet each day on a farm has it's history Business has been transacted, crops planted or harvested, animals bred or sold, tools bought or repaired, obligations made or discharged, all of which must be kept in memory or recorded in g book. We have more faith in the book 1 than in our memory. We do not think Plato was right when he taught his dis ciples to commit everything to memory and not to paper.
 Accuracy III accounts saves many dollar, much time, and promotes honesty and good feeling. The man whose ac- counts are at lose ends cannot always l tell whether he is making or losing. He | can not be sure whether his methods of farming and of feeding stock are paying or not. At least he can not tell with sufficient accuracy to be sure that his methods are the best he can do. The man who is negligent in keeping ac- counts not only loose many opportunities for making where now he is loosing, but he surely loses the comfort and peace of mind that correct accounts bring one. Then, too, the man who from year to year keeps careful accounts is forming good habits, and each year becomes bet ter posted in his business, and quickens his mind and fortifies his judgment. His methods of doing business improve, and he understands himself and his business. He is protected in a large measure against the tricks of sharpers. The mechanic and merchant will be more careful to have their accounts with him in every detail. The oyerreaching ship pers and rascally agents will not attempt their ways that are dark and tricks that are vain on the man who is habitually accurate in his account and ready with figures, provided he has ripened his ex- perience and judgment by attention to his calling.
 AISrKR CLOVER.
 M. M. Baldridge, Esq, the well-known apiarist of St. Charles, H.. in recent conversation gave the result of his ex. perience and observations in the pro- duction of this crop. He sowed it for the production of honey, when it was first introduced in the West, and has continued to raise it ever since. He thinks it as valuable for the production of fodder for cattle as for it's yield Of honey. It does remarkably well on moist land, where red and white clover do not succeed. It produces very large crops Tn wet seasons, but is less produc- tive than either red or white clover on soils ordinarily quite dry. It makes q small growth on dry land during sea- ons when drought prevails for con- siderable period. A somewhat slight fall of rain causes it to start quickly after it's growth has been checked by the drought.
 It is best adapted to climate some- what moist, and in Canada is preferred to either red or white clover as pasture plant. It remains for a long time in ground once sown with It, as the first seed that ripens falls before the crop is ready to cut. When he first experi- mented with it he sowed the seed by itself, one of his objects in raising it be- ing to get crop of seed that then com manded very high price. In moist seasons it did remarkably well, but in very dry seasons it succeeded poorly. He now raises it ia connection with red clover, and succeeds ill getting good crop every year, even if the season is quite dry. If one of the objects in raising it was the production of seed for the market, he would still SOW it in con nection with red clover seed. Alsike ripens before red clover does, so that the seed thrashed out is ordinarily clean. Should there be little red clover seed with it a screen will separate the two varieties
 For producing honey, seed or fodder, there are very great advantages in rais- | ing Alsike in connection with red clover The roots of the former spread out near the surface of the ground, while those of the latter sink deep into it. The two varieties occupy the same soil with mu- tual benefit. Let the season be dry or moist, good crop of clover will be pro- | duced from one variety or the other. The roots of Alsike clover help to pre- vent the roots of red clover from being | thrown out of the ground by the action of the frost. The rank foliage of red clover shades the ground so that suffi- ciant moisture is afforded the Alsike to insure a good growth. In sowing the two varieties of clover together, the pro- portion should be one pound of Alsike seed to four of red. A small amount of timothy may be raised on the same land with advantage to the two kinds of clover, as it adds in supporting the stalks.
 TDgING NEW vARIETIEg.
 Every season several new varieties of fruit, vegetables, or grain are brought out, with statements of their wonderful yields, and sold at extortionate prices Not untrequently sl0 is charged for a sickly grapevine that has been rooted but one season, while from $l to $5 is asked for a pound of potatoes. New varieties of corn and wheat generally sell for $l per pint. few years ago the Wild Goose plum was advertised as 2 very productive variety, that was prooi against the attack of the curculio. Many thousands of these treese were sold in this vicinity at $l each, and some per. sons purchased enough to set a consider. able orchard. It is safe to say that not