The Mineral argus., 1883-12-13
FARMERS COLUMN.
ARricuIturaI Topics.

Agricultural Topics
Mr.. F. X. Phoenix. Deleyan, Wis, la
hents in The Western Farmer the de-
%,ruction Of "the large meadow moIes.
~.oodchucks and skunks," which are
|ery helpful, he thinks, in nj fight
Est grubs.
17.ry Stewart notes in the New York
ines the fact that some varieties OF
otatoes seem to be more distasteful to
dorado beetles than others, and in
|rances Wallis Orange and the Dakota
Red as two sorts which with him re-
uired no attention. wi lie others grown
ear we're given daily pickings.
The trotting premiums Of fairs can
aiely be omitted. but those for fast
alkers should be permanent and liber-
says the Weekly Press.
DR.. S~turtevant reports that the husk
On, which is Of little value for the
|rain, is most prolific Of all foliage, and
herefore presumably best for fodder
purposes.
The experiments Of Wolfe and others
N German experiment stations shows
hat a horse weighing LOO to 1900
hounds would eat from % TO q 1-2
bounds OF hay if no other food were
iyen. With grain 20 TO 20 pounds was
|sually eaten by working horses OF that
reight. Lighter horses would not need
mite so much, but we can find no date
experiments with horses weighing
ess than 1000 pounds.-Coultry Cen
aeman.
Farmers who have kept a strict ac-
eount with their stock say that a pound
fpoultry can be made far less than a
bound Of pork, yet the laboring man
Who has to buy both feels that he al
hot afford to buy poultry very often, as
costs more than other meats. This
eads the Concord Monitor to remark
bat the poultry growing business may
" much extended before the market
will be overstocked so a to bring the
Price down to where 1t will not pay to
mise.
The American Cultivator states that a
I'm Of wheat bran is worth $l4.59 for
manure, while a ton Of corr meal is on
worth $685.. These figures are based
on the cost of nitrogen, phosphoric acid
Ind p.tash in their commercial forms,
hni represent the comparative manurial
Iyglue of feed. 1t thinks that at present
prices farmers can purchase bran to feed
Ind make manure more cheaply tina
ibey can otherwise obtain it. Afler
.keding its manurial value will be great
er, because il will be more available.
Beans are not eaten whole by any
bind of stock excepting sheep. But, by
Finding and mixing with corn or oat-
neal, beans unfit for sale may be profit
billy fed 10 cattle, horses, and pigs. They
Ire very strong food, and as stock be-
Ome used 10 them the proportion OF
ean-meal may be increased.
A large number of farmers make a Sc
ious mistake by dispising or sifecting to
%iespise, the small things that come in
their way. 1t is safe to say that the income
f any farm can be more doubled by
small things that would interfere with
he number of cows MIXED or tons Of
bay 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 ACCESSIBILITY
Of Decreasing great care in the selection
Of seed corn. Whatever outlay Of time
or money may be made to do this well,
will be amply repaid next year by surer
and better crops. An Iowa correspond
emit 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
COIN early in order to avoid any posi-
BE danger from frost.
There is a pointin sowing wheat which
deserves attention. 1t is that of the
deDth 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 inc hes in
depth seem to be the best for wheat,
but varying from one to two inches
seems to meet all requirements. 1t will
POW if planted deeper, but not 80 quick
y, and If buried shallow does not obtain
efficient moisture if the ground is at al
dry.
The dandelion has Of late become very
popular as a salad herb in England. II
requires the same routine in the way OF
culture as chickory, viz: Sow in Aprl
IN drills, take up the roots when fully
grown in autumn, and plant in a dark,
warm cellar OF mushroom house. The
young blanched leaves are excellent for
making up winter salads and they come
IN at a time when the ordinary supply
Of outdoor material for salading is at its
owest ebb.