Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-03-10
Setting Tarred Posts.

Some posts were being set around
our public square; some farmers were
watching the work and one said the
ends of the post that were in the
ground should be daubed with tar.
Another said, no, it would do more
harm than good. A third said the tar
should be put on when the post is dry
and extend some inches above the sur
face of the ground.
The first man was right in thinking
that tar wasgood for preserving posts,
but was wrong In thinking that it was
good to apply under all circumstances.
The second was, to some extent, right
in advising against the use of tar, as
it has been found that when applied
to green posts it not only keeps the
water out but also keeps the sap in
and thus hastens decay.
The third was right in saying the tar
should be applied when the posts were
dry and extend some inches above the
surface of the ground, for it has been
observed that decay is more rapid at
this point than above or below.
These men had right ideas so far as
they went, but not going far enough
>
few minutes conversation in inter
change of ideas all got broader views
and were benefted.-RuratW World.
Corn vs. Sorghum Forage Plant.
In the annual report of the New
York agricultural experiment station
for 1884, is q record of experiments in
growing corn and cane for forage crops,
some figures of which will be of inter
est. The comparisons which we select
are between the folio wing varieties OF
corn: Waushaum flint, New England
pop, Evergreen Sweet and Minnesota
Dent, in both hills and drills, and the
| Early Amber cane. Both were planted
on the same day on plats similar in
character, and receiving the same fer.
tilizing and cultivation and harvested
on the same day, the corn then being
in full growth, but the cane not having
reached it's full developement. TAX.
ing six plats of corn and three of sor-
ghum the results in weight of green for
age were as follows: Average yield oil
corn per acre, 1908 tons; highest
yield, 1880 tons; lowest yield, 1856
tons. Average weld of sorghum pei
acre, 1916 tons; greatest, %. 81 tons
smallest, 1908 tons. 1t will be seen
that the amount of green forage from
sorghum per acre was considerably in
excess of that from corn, and that
notwithstanding the sorghum, as
stated, had not made it's full growth
Had the comparison been made with
some of our large varieties of Western
corn the differences would not have
been so great. But then, again, the
early orange and other Varieties O.
cane give heavier growth per acre
than the early amber, and would prob
ably give a proportionately heavier
crop OF green forage than our large
Western varieties ofcorn. Those who
have fed green sorghum to stock, W.
think, very generally regard it as su
perior to green corn for feeding pur
poses, and since IL gives a. heavier
crop in tons the inference would b.
that it is O. better forage crop thar
corn. But there is this to be taken in
to account, it is more difficult to get 6
good stand of sorghum than of corn
1t comes up puny and spindling, ano
it's early growth is slow, requiring
more care and labor to keep the weed,
down. Whereas corn comes up strong
makes a rapid growth, and, wher
grown as 81 forage crop will perhaps
equalize the advantage which sorghum
might seem to possess over corn as {
forage crop.-F'armers' Review.