The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-11-28
Flll, flHD AID HlESDE


sumets. 1e u tho farmers themselves
who need most corn. More than three
tourths Of the corn crop Of this country
is fed on the farms on which it Is raised.
The crop Of 1882 was 1871, 600 900
bushels, and of this 15O, !, 600 900 bushels
was used e human food, 167, 900 900
for export, seed, spirits aud surplus,
and !, 3O0. 600, 900 for feeding animals
cattle, horses, hogs. sheep and work ami
mails. This shows that . bountiful corn
crop, even at low prices, is better for
farmers than Q scant one.
According to DR.. Sturtevants report
(New York Experimental Station) salt
given to cows once a week in their food
increased the amount of water drank,
but not the food. Salt is regarded as
of little importance. Ensilage is rec.
commended as a supplement TO other
feeds. Whole potatoes for seed gave the
largest yields this year. The seed end
OF potatoes is as good for seed as the
stem end. II would now seem that, as
between the butt. tip. and middle of the
ear Of corn, there is little difference as
to its value for seed.
A farmer who has spent some little
time and money in draining q swamp
on his place that had become an eyesore
writes to the Ohio Farmer: enjoyed it
hugely when I got that drain through
and saw the water run out, and the
frogs jumping about in the greatest
conformation; but the enjoyment was
far greater yesterday. when saw the
ground fairly covered with splendid
potatoes, worth almost cent apiece:
This enjoyment was not all caused by
the dollars the crop would bring, al
though these will come handy this dry
season, but part Of it came from the
fact that sinking, unhealthy, ,unsight:
" hole, q birthplace for malaria and
frogs, had been transformed, by means
of little labor and skill, into very
fertilizing aud productive piece of land:
1t was the enjoyment of conquest, with
no harm done except to the frogs, flags,
and miasms.
The Government does o large seed
business. The object is "to introduce
into the various sections of the country
such new and valuable products as may
be adapted to the soil and climate of
each." Last year $75, 900 was voted for
this purpose, and this year the grant
has been increased to 100000. The
work of distribution gives employment
to 100 women and fifty eight men.
Every year the chief of the department
is buying up tons of seeds, two-thirds
of the appropriation being spent in the
purchase and the remainder in putting
them up. During the past year 8, ,622, J.
76O packages were mailed, 2,912, ,730 Of
which went to congressman. The rest
were distributed among the crop cor
respondents of the agricultural depart
ment in every county and state. All
sorts are sent out, from field corn and
potatoes to the rarest flowers. In last
years distribution 565 packages Of sun
flowers were given away.
A writer in the Rural Record, in
speaking of the field pea as fertilizer,
says: "These pea roots, penetrating
to such great depth in the soil and
permeating the land in every direction,
loosen it up more perfectly than all the
plows and harrows combined. 1 have
some black prairie hammock land that
il cold. wet and crawfishy. For sever
n years I could never get stand of
corn. Year before last, after failing to
get stand, end as the weather was far
advanced, I plowed up the partial stand
Of corn and sowed down the red chow
der pea. The yield Of vines was inn
mense, and I saved I do not think less
than three tons superior hay per acre,
besides leaving q goodly number on the
ground to decay. The next year this
land was the loosest soil I had on the
place; it was ready for the plow before
any other (t had before this been to wet
and sticky to plow until very late in the
season., and was in condition to re-
seiye almost any CROP"