The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-11-13
FSItN MOVIES.

In France they set turkeys on hens
eggs.
The use OF incubators in p~oultry-rais-
ing is said to be Oh the increase.
Bran slops or ground oats in water
for the COW will increase the milk
yield.
There can not be too many varieties
of grasses in the fields intended for
pastures.
Wheat is superior to corn for feeding
poultry for eggs. The latter is better
for fattening.
The crossing of white and red hogs
gives a grey or blue color to the Off
spring. There are many swine of this
color in New Jersey.
The Philadelphia Press says two.
thirds of the orchards reported dying
OF old age are really starving to death.
They need manur
The Boston Cuitirdtor is authority
for the statement that it has been
proved by experiments that q growing
crop keeps the soil in a better condi-
ton than following.
A New Hampshire farmer has in a
corner of his barn q load of hay which
was placed there thirty-four years ago.
The hay is yellow from age, but its
quality is said to be unimpaired.
Although the fattening power of
barley is considerably less than that of
corn, and two per cent less than that
of rye, it is one-cighth more nutritious
than oats. and well fitted for food for
working horses.
More corn, says an exchange, can be
raised on an acre of land thoroughly
MANFRED, carefully plowed, and Kept
free from weeds, than can be raised off
two acres which are slovenly cultivated.
This is just as true Of other crops.
On the Sandwich Islands an almost
exclusive substitute for wheat and po-
tatOes is the taro, a dubious root some
what larger than the potato, growing
in the mud and water. 1t is the prin-
cipal article of food among the ma
tives.
The market JonrnaL says the berry
boxes this season presented substan-
italy the same appearance as in other
years, except that the bottom was q
little nearer to the top, and the top a
little nearer to the bottom, The top
aud the bottom are becoming closer
friends each year.
Autumn is the best time to spread q
coat OF under apple-trees, 1t
will keep the ground cool and moist,
which will encourage the formation of
fruit buds for another year, and to
some extent help the growing crop. II
applied early in the season the tenden-
cy would be to make too much growth
OF wool at the expense OF fruit.
The long moss of the Southern for
rests is becoming "A valuable product in
the market. After being cleaned and
treated chemically, it is used by up
holsterers in the place of wool and
hair. 1t is difficult to tell the finest
grades from the best curled horse hair,
and is sold for less than one-half the
price. 1t is said that the moss crop of
Florida is worth more than the cotton
crop.
The wise farmer not only feeds often
and well, but he shelters early and
well, knowing that loss OF heat means
loss of flesh, and that loss of flesh means
loss of profits. In all this the stock
raiser is guided by the relative cost OF
shelter and the ~cheapness OF food; new
ertheless we always find that those who
give the best shelter have the best stock
for the simple reason that warmth con-
serves the natural heat.
1t is an old saying that a drouth
scares farmers to death, but too much
rain starves them. Excessive moisture,
when ii does not absolutely injure
crops, induces q succulent growth
which promises more han it realizes.
In a very dry season the grain is short
ened in straw, but all the energies of
the plant are directed to producing the
seed, and the grain is thus usually bet
ter than expected.