The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-04-14


which made plain. substantial oak
and cherry furnishings 80 handsome.
\ good polish to keep wood in order
is made of equal parts Of sharp vine
gar, spirits of turpentine and sweet
oil OF boiled linseed oil. Half pint
OF each is enough. Rub the furniture
or wood with this, and go over it with
a clean: soft cloth.
The Farm,
SALT ON WHEAT In the application
to the soil, of all early soluble substan-
ces. there is great waste, except at the
time when the growing plants can
assimilate the food offered. Salt may
be applied when the grain is sowed, or
directly after, which is probably the
best time. If this is not done then,
SOW early in the spring when the
plants begin to start We regard two
bushels per acre as q sufficient guam
tity, though on good authority very
much more is recommended.
ALsIKA CLOvER.--Bea-k keepers are
enthusiastic in praise of this clover
for -pasturage; and we wish farther
to speak of its good qualities az a
forage plant, and as fertilizer. 1t
originated in Sweden about the begin
ming Of the present century, and was
first introduced through the patent
office, in 1853. 1t lisa hybrid between
the red and white clovers, and par
takes of the good qualities Of both.
The stem is more branching than
that of the red clover: and less woody;
nor does it turn black, but retains its
color in drying. 1t ripens about the
last Of July, and when sown with red
clover, the seeds are 50 much smaller
that they are readily separated from
timothy they cannot he. as they are
about the same size.
The roots are more fibrous than the
red, but form larger bulk, and being
native ola cold climate. it withstands
the winter far better. Two pounds
of seed per acre mixed with red clover
seed is simply sufficient; and one
pound will be enough ifit comes up
we'll, as there are 100000 seeds in a
pound. 1t is much the best to SOW
both together; the red clover roots
penetrate into the subsoil, the alsike
filling the soil with its fibrous root 8.
and both together forming the most
luxuriant and nutritive pasture or
meadow, or if designed to plow under
far surprising the red sown by itself.
If sown with timothy and red clover,
the alsike will ripen before the others,
so that the seed can be preserved pure
If desired. In sowing, eight pounds
Of red clover seed and two of alsike is
about the quantity, as there are 200,-
600 seeds in pound of red and Co.,
600 in q pound Of alsike. This will
place the seed less than an inch and
three-quarters apart, which if every
seed terminated would be too crowded
for healthy growth.
How TO BEGIN SPRING WORK.
The season OF labor commences on
the farm in earnest with March. If
the weather is too stormy for farm
work, time is allowed for reflection
and thoroughly maturing plans for
operations OF the season.
Each field should be assigned it's
crop, and everything should be made
ready for the work intended. The
seeds and grains to be sown should be
secured; the tools put in good repair
or new ones ordered, 80 that when the
time for sowing or planting arrives,
there will be no delay.
There are best times to SOW and
plant each variety, and the profits Of
the crop, and often the entire crop
itself depend on taking advantage of
this brief interval. Often early in the
season the soil becomes dry and in
fine condition for blowing and plant
ing, after which until late, constant
rains make it too wet to cultivate,
The seed being sown, the plants in
all this time make fine growth; and
when the summer drouth comes they
are strongly rooted, while the later
sown wither and blast,
The wood-honse at this time should
be well-flled with prepared wood SO
that in the busy season, the boys OF
"hired man" will not have to he
called from work to "cut Wood,'' or
have their energies used up in chon.
ping before breakfast. There is
nothing gained by planning SO that
the "hired man. never has a minute
to himself. Constant and unremittine
drndgery destroys his interest in the
work and welfare of his employer, and
makes him reluctant slave instead
Of a willing help.
The fences of the farm should he
examined, and whenever needed. re.
paired. Especially line fences, which
probably are the source of more un.
neighborly feeling then anything else.
Not that material for fencing has
become so costly, and the land occu-
pied so valuable. 1t is we'll to con.
slider if some of the inner fences can
not be spared, and the fields enlarged.
To fence one hundred acres into i've
acre fields as is done on many farms,
is a tax which takes a goodly income.
besides the waste Of surface and hind.
rance to cultivation. A fence shonld
never be kept where it can be spared,