Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-05-25
FARM AND DAIRY NOTES,

FARM AND DAIRY NOTES.
ALL cereals wants ammonia, it is the
leading element Of fertilization; root
crops demand potash and phosphoric
acid.
In experiments with sugar beets, a
German agriculturist has found that the
application of phosphoric acid in the
spring materially increases the yield of
sugar.
A MISSISSIPPI farmer dashes cold
water into the ears of choking cattle.
This causes the animal to shake its head
violently, and the muscular action dis
lodges the obstruction.
Much attention is now being given in
Georgia and Florida to the growth of
varieties of the Chinese sand pear,
which there grows very rapidly, is very
prolific, and seems likely to eclipse the
orange in profit.
In places where birds are destructive
to the early small fruits, the June beet
might be grown especially for the birds
as they seem to prefer it to anything
else, and small area would furnish
pasture sweet for great many robins,
catbirds and redheads.
The best soil for potatoes is rich
clover sod, turned over in May. If
thoroughly plowed, the clover will not
interfere with the differentiation. but
will prove a constant source of moisture
and fertility, and the potatoes will be
found to stand much more drought.
The most successful fruit growers
east and west have decided that there is
no better REMEDY for coddling moth than
to pasture hog IS In the orchard to eat the
wormy apples and the worms therein.
If the orchards are too large for the
number of hogs kept, sheep are turned
in.
ALL good butter makers churn atleast
as soon as souring begins or little be-
fore, with growing tendency to the lat
ter practice. Milk which is kept till fer
mentation sets in is evidently on the
road to decay condition it is not easy
to conceive as of any advantage to the
keeping of fine flavor of butter.
DRAINING wet land is estimated to re-
turn from forty to eighty per cent on the
yearly cost. In the same way good
stock pays far better than poor; good
carefully looked after homesteads repay
the money laid out, and add immensely
to the comfort of the occupant.
SWEET corn has been planted quite
extensively by farmers and dairymen
this spring. It's value for winter forage
and early feed is becoming better known
and appreciated, and it will gradually
gain until every live farmer will find
himself providing it as regularly for the
denizens of the barn yard as the mistress
does for the table. It affords large
amount of excellent feed to the acre, and
is not hard to place where it will do great
good.-Pr0irie Farmer.
SHEEP are becoming popular with the
masses OF western farmers, who seek to
increase their profits by stock raising
and at the same time improve their SOIL
raise more grass, have less labor, and
make more money. A pound of mutton
can be raised as cheap as pound of
beef or pork, and is worth equally as
much in the market, and the wool is
extra profit. Use thoroughbred males of
any of the popular breeds, and in few
years your sheep will be source of
pride as well as of profit.
The late spring has kept back the
spring work on the farm, and now it
comes with rush, but by the aid of i'm
proved labor-saving machinery the lost
time will soon be regained, if thought be
applied to the work in hand. Now
more than ever is it important to use the
mind as well as the hands, to study
things and discuss the best plans under
the circumstances, make every moment
count, and the harvests of 1881 will not
be less than usual, except in fall wheat,
which viii be good half crop.
CORK trees are now growing near Mil
ledgeville, Georgia, with the cork already
thick enough to use. They originated
from acorns of the Spanish oak tree
planted there few years ago. The soil
and climate of Georgia seem to be well
adapted to their growth. It is very
probable that large portions of the
south are equally fitted for the growth
of this tree, and thus a new source of
wealth is opened up. IF the cork tree
can be grown on the prairies of Texas.
it will be of inestimable value, furnish
fuel, lumber and fencing, besides the
bark. sasv h ~ SIS * vr-.e -ag
The indications are many that horse
breeding will soon become second only
to cattle and hogs on the black soil
prairies and in the. corn and cattle
counties of Illinois. For some years
there has been constantly increasing
demand for horses of all grades and
farmers have already sold themselves 80
short that the unexpected increase of
work, growing out of the partial failure
of winter wheat, has led to a good deal of
encouragement. A pillow team, with a
man to drive, is now engaged at So day
for the season, and for short jobs, 50. SO
to 81, and it is already evident that many
acres Of good corn land will lie idle for