The National tribune., 1882-11-30
RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.


periments made at the New York Agricultural
Station with a view Of determining the rea
tive values of the kernels from different parts
Of the ear OF corn, the following conclusions
have been reached l. The tip kernels were
most prolific Of good corn. 2. The butt kernels
wese more prolific Of good corn than the cen
traI kernels g. The tip kernels bore longer
ears than the other kernels. the butt kernels
the next, and the central kernels the shortest
This fact was apparent 10 the sight SIS the corn
Law upon the ground after husking. 4. The
merchautsblc ears from the butt were distinctly
heavier than those from the tip, and those from
the tip distinctly heavier than those from the
central kernels. 5. The butt kernels furnished
more understandable corn than did the central
kernels, and the central kernels moro than did
the tip kernels Careful calculations to the
amount Of mcrchantablc corn produced per
acre. rated as follows: The butt kernels yielded
seventy-nine bushels, the tip kernels yielded
seventy-scven bushels. and the central kernels
yielded forty-six bushels. The seed used was
of variety known as Waushakum, kind OF
corn which has now been bred for number OF
years with the utmost care, until at present
there IS 2 good uniformity of quality in the
product Of its seed under given conditions, and
a strong race character, which gives it con-
siderable power to resist individual variation.
Distance Bc''reea Ro5CS Of Corn.
In the experiments mentioned above there
were eight rows of corn; the product Of each
having been considered separately, it is shown
that the two outside rows produced more than
any of the inner rows tho difference being a
represented amount Of four pounds weight of
grain to every one hundred plants in favor OF
the two outside rows. This result recalls the
experiments made by Mr Winter, Of Alabama,
which we noted some months ago, in planting
corn at various distances apart. his efforts lead
ing him to regard with most favor the plan OF
planting two rows four feet apart, the plants
being one foot apart in the rows, then skipping
sixteen feet, and planting two rows as before.
and so on over the field.
FEEDING SOAKED CORN.
A correspondent of The Breeders Gazette has
been investigating the proftableness of feeding
corn TO stock and selling il as pork and beef
rather than selling the corn itself. In answer
to questions which he propounded 10 farmers,
he received reports from sevepty-six feeders in
sixty-two counties in the State of Kansas.
These reporters all agree that there is more
profit in feeding to good stock, and their testi-
mony shows that there is twenty per cent gained
by soaking the corn. Sixteen report results in
feeding soaked whole corn to pigs and report a
gain of from twelve 10 thirty-three per cent,
averaging twenty per cent. in favor of soaked
over dried corn. Several report feeding soaked
corn TO horses, and consider ii thirty seven per
cent better than when fed dry. But few prac-
tice grinding the corn, as it does not pay 4
pig-brccder, who has been testing the matter Of
feeding cora or cOrn-meal to pigs is satisfied
that the best results are obtained by feeding
the whole corn soaked. Soaked barley has
been fed TO w0rk-horses with good results, and
this grain is considered To be one Of the best as
part Of the daily rations Of worl-horses.
KILLING CATERPILLARs on CARRIAGES
DR.. Sturtevant states that, after testing vari-
Gus suggested remedies for destroying the cab
bage worm, the most satisfactory remedy tested
consisted of a mixture of one-half pound each
OF hard soap and kerosene Oil in three gallons
OF water. This was applied August 26, and
examination the following day showed many,
if not all, OF the worms destroyed. The grow
which the caterpillars may be concealed that it
Is hardly possible to reach all the worms at one
application. 1t is of importance therefore, to
repeat the use of any remedy at frequent inter
walls. Among other remedies tried it was
found that the fumes Of benzine as well AS the
liquid caused almost instant death, but injured
the leaves. Hot water applied to the cabbage
destroyed portion of the worms but it turned
the leaves yellow. One ounce OF saltpeter and
two pounds common salt dissolved in three gal
Ions of water formed an application which was
partly effective, and bi-suiphide of carbon pro-
duced instant death when applied to the worm,
though its fumes were not etIectual
STORING POTATOES.
There are many objections TO storing pota-
toes III cellars during winter. IF verY cold
cellar there viii probably be loss from freezing,
and if warm, the tubers VIII incline TO rot, and
start into growth quite early. They are
shrunk TO some extent both in ieht and
quantity in bins aud cellars. The most perfect
way is TO keep them in covered pits in the open
field. First select a spot where it is dry and
where water is not likely to stand dig out a
pit one foot in depth, four feet in width, and
Of the length required, then FL in the pototoes,
in pyramid fashion, till they reach the angle of
repose; cover them neatly with four TO five
inches Of dry, clean straw, then bank up with a
foot Of earth evenly distributed over the pota-
toes and beat smooth and firm, so as to throw OF
the rains This covering viii protect them
against very severe frosts, but it Is easy to
guard them against even the scverest Of frosts
by an outer covering Of leaves or str4wy mate.
rial, kept in place with co-n-stalks or boughs
SORGHUM SUGAR.
The results Of the present crop of sorghum is
largely encouraging. Atvarious places, notably
at Champaign, IL, and Rio Grande, Cape Nav
county, \. J., sugar is being made in paying
quantities. At the latter place one thousand
acres were planted last spring. 4 letter from
the president Of this company states as follows
1t is dated October 18th:
We viii have 100000 pounds of sugar made
BY next Saturday night. / have about twenty
sugar-wagons, end we keep them full Each
sugar-wagon holds about two and Il half barrels
Of sugar A barrel of sugar weighs about 355
pounds ne: Forty sugar-wagons, therefore
hold about $4,000 pounds Of sugar so that the
sugar already made and the sugar in sight
amounts to 235,0G0 pounds. We estimate we
have 1000 tons Of cane to work up after this
week. We have 1900 gallons of molasses Oh
hand now, and unless We get forty cents
gallon for it we will work 1t over into seconds
and thirds"
41oJ 4l,ot