The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-09-28
FARMERS COLUMN.
Agricultural Topics.

W.T.. r. ~. fnuenlx, DeleYan, WiS., Ia
ments in The Western Farmer the de-
struction of "the large meadow moIes.
woodchucks and skunks," which are
very helpful, he thinks, in our fight
, against grubs.
Henry Stewart notes in the New York
Times the fact that some varieties OF
potatoes seem to be more d~istasteful to
Colorado beetles than others, and in
stances Wallis Orange and the Dakota
Red IS two sorts which with him re-
CURED no attention. wi lie others grown
neal were given daily pickings.
The trotting premiums of fairs can
safely be omitted, but those for fast
walkers should be permanent and liber-
al, says the Weekly Press.
DR.. Sturtevant reports that the husk
corn, which is of little value for the
grain. is most prolific of all foliage, and
therefore presumably best for fodder
purposes.
The experiments of Wolfe and others
at German experiment stations shows
that a horse weighing LOO to 1000
pounds would eat from % to 81 l-2
pounds OF hay if no other food were
given. With grain 90 to % pounds was
usually eaten by working horses OF that
weight. Lighter horses would not need
quite so much, but we can find no date
Of experiments with horses weighing
less than 1000 pounds.-Couatry Gen.
tleman.
Farmers who have kept a strict &C
count with their stock say that a pound
| pf ,,n,itryr u no mazda r,r 1n,, +Lo- !,
pound of pork, yet the laboring man
who has to buy both feels that he can
not afford to buy poultry very often. as
it costs more than other meats. This
leads the Concord Monitor to remark
that the poultry growing business may
be much extended before the market
will be overstocked so as to bring the
price down to where it will not pay to
raise.
The American Cultivator states that a
ton OF wheat bran is worth $l4.59 for
manure, while a ton of corn meal is on
ly worth $685.. These figures are based
on the cost OF nitrogen, phosphoric acid
and p.tash in their commercial forms,
ami represent the comparative manurial
value of feed. 1t thinks that at present
prices farmers can purchase bran to feed
and make manure more cheaply than
they can otherwise obtain it. After
feeding its manuriai value Will be great
er, because il will be more available.
Beans are not eaten whole by any
kind of stock excepting sheep. But, by
grinding and mixing with corn or oat-
meal, beans unfit for sale may be profit
ably fed to cattle, horses, ard pigs. They
are very strong food. and as stock be-
come used to them the proportion Of
bean-meal may be increased.
A large number of farmers make Il So
rious mistake by dispising or affecting to
despise, the small things that come in
OF any farm can be more doubled by
small things that would Interfere with
the number of COWS MIXED or tons of
hay produced. .
In view Of the great losses every year
incurred by farmers owing to the use of
poor or bad seed corn, we cannot urge
upon them too strongly the advisability
OF exercising great care in the selection
OF seed corn. Whatever outlay Of time
or money ma be made to do this we'll,
will be amply repaid next year by surer
and better crops. An Iowa correspond
ent gives elsewhere a method of insur-
ing good seed, which can be followed
everywhere with some slight allowance
Tor the necessity he is under to pick his
com early in order to avoid any posi-
bic danger from frost.
There is a pointin sowing wheat which
deserves attention. 1t is that of the
depth of the sowing. On mellow land
much of the seed is buried. too deep for
the most successful termination and
growth, as experiments have deter
mined. One and one-half inches in
depth seem to be the best for wheat,
but varying from one to two inches
seems to meet all requirements. 1t will
grow if planted deeper, but not so quick
ly, and il buried shallow does not obtain
sufficient moisture if the ground is at all
dry.
The dandelion has of late become very
popular as a salad nerb in England. 1t
requires the same routine in the way of
culture as c%hickory, viz: Sow in April
IN drills, take UP the roots when fully
grown in autumn, and plant in a dark,
warm cellar or mushroom house. The
young blanched leaves are excellent for
making up winter salads and they cIme
IN at 4 time when the ordinary supply
OF outdoor material Tor salading is at its
| lowest ebh.