The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-12-15
NUMBER 25.
Live Stock and Farm Notes,


Many complain that onions do not
keep. The trouble Is in keeping them
too warm. The onion is q bulb, a plant
at rest, and tho least warmth starts It
into activity. 1t is much better that on
ions should remain frozen through the
winter, provided they can thaw gradu-
ally, than to put them into q cellar or
other warm place where their vegeta-
tive powers will be aroused. II put in
large heaps. onions will be sure to spoil;
but if spread in thin layers and covered
with hay and straw, SO that II frozen
the thawing will be gradual. they will
keep well through the winter. 1t Is the
custom with onion growers to get their
crops to market as soon rs possible. II
they were to provide proper storage
they would realize much more from
them when sent to market later In the
season.
Farmers in the United States have
SIP, 210, 258,316 of capital invested In
their business. OF th;1amOunt, the value
Of farms ID placed a.. $40, 100. 899. 645;
farm implements at S40S, ole. 9o2; live
stock. $500. 1872, 1885,. fertilizers, $685.
587, 1856, and fences, $40. 76547G From
this enormous sum N is estifSkted that
nearly 800, 900. 900 Is ,anRually collect
ed in taxation for tho IMPORT Of tho
local and National Co anents. and
purposes of education. 10 total con-
tribution of production to. be credited
to the farmers foots up, in round num-
bers, $4,000, 600. 900.
For several years after writer in the
Practical Farmer began raising wheat,
he could not get the yield higher than
twenty-three bushels per acre, although
the land was rich enough to raise
large crops OF grass, corn, and pota-
toes. The wheat was top-dressed with
rotten manure, but still the weld was no
greater. Then the two-horse sulky
cultivators came around. He bought
one, and used it freely in connection
with the harrow and roller, and the
next year. without any manure, his
wheat yield jumped up ten bushels per
acre.
DR.. Sturtevant made an examination
of the depth to which the roots Of the
potato run. A plant was selected which
grew on high ridge. the seed having
been planted six inches deep. A trench
was dug at the side to expose the soil,
and the roots were washed with a stream
OF water turned against It, laying the
fibers bare. One root was found reach.
ing thirty-four inches below the top OF
the ridge. or twenty-eight below the
tubers. The deeper roots appeared most
fibrous. Very few roots were found
above the tubers.
The best forage crops to produce on
the side of the roads are white clover
and blue grass. They are ornamental az
well as useful. and the popularity OF
the association Is very favorable to
their growth. The ground is we'll drain.
ed by the ditch on one side, and Is kept
fertilized BY the dust that rises from the
travelled road. Neither OF these two
plants grow to such height that It in.
terfercs with foot travel when It Is de-
sired to walk along the side Of the road.
Clover is excellent for fowls. Cut the
clover into short lengths and steep 1t
over night in hot water. This swells
the dry leaves and makes them palat-
able. In the morning thicken the mess
OF clover and water with two parts corn.
meal and one part fine bran, seasoned
with u little salt, and very economical
and nourishing mess will be the result.
This is splendid morning meal and
contains variety, which Is so essential
to the thrift of all fowls.
Manure on all lands, particularly
grass land, should be spread as evenly
as if you were sowing grain.
Rock salt dissolved In water Is Q
cheap and safe remedy for many of the
skin diseases that afIlict animals.
1t is said that oleomargarine is sent
out from New York labeled pure Or.
ange county BUTTER" and sells better
than might be supposed.
An Ohio dairyman, who claims to
have weighed the skinned milk feed to
swine and the gain flesh thereof. says
100 pounds Of skinned wilk will pro-
duce three pounds of pork.