Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-10-15
INDUSTRIAL BRIEFLETS.

Prof. Devol. the botanist Mt the Ohio
experiment station, gives the farmers
some startling figures concerning the
loss To the farmer from the use of poor
seed. In 1874 there were 1900 900
acres planted in corn in the state of
OHIO. Assuming that five quarts of
seed to have been required per acre, it
would require 1000 bushels of seed
cora. II only 3 per cent. failed to
| terminate, there is loss of 1000
bus hels. worth over 80, 200. But this
does not represent the actual loss +; for
farmers usually plant at least 10 per
cent more seed than they would if it
was known to be all sound. Then we
must remember that seed corn usually
sells for double the price OF ordinary
corn so the actual loss is not less than
$50, 900 per year in Ohio alone.
The fruit crop in Scotland viii this
year be a complete failure. The early
part of the season was favorable for
fruit trees, and there was abundance of
blossom but no more trying months
than May or juno have been experience
ed for a generation by fru growers.
The almost continuous forst and fime
OF these months have ruined the crop
of apples and pears. This will prove
serious to growers in such districts rs
Carse of Gowrie, where there are large
orchards. The bush fruit will be an
average yield 4; but prices are very low,
and thus farmers who looked to this
crop rs an aid in paying their rents will
be disappointed, and probably many of
them in future place less reliance upon
this branch Of revenue
Flowers to be sent by mail should be
cut in the morning before the sun has
had much effect on them. The best
packing material is their own foliage.
or instead of that any good foliage.
The best package is a tin box or case.
Place bit OF moist brown paper at the
bottom, lay in the flowers so that they
will snugly fill the box. put another
piece of damp paper over all, and enclose
with the cover. If oiled paper is ut
hand the box should be lined with it,.
and no damp paper will then be need
ed. y paper wrapper about the box,
securely ted, completes the package
Damp cotton is often tied about the
stems of the flowers. but usually
this supply of moisture is too great for
them when closed from the air. and
causes decay.
\ farmer who resides in the tract OF
country adjoining the Columbia river,
near Pasco, in Washington territory,
has demonstrated successfully that the
so-called sandy desert is composed
OF excellent soil, which produces moi
only the fruits indigenous TO the north
ern states, but those of the southern
states rs well. He has corn. peaches,
melons, sweet potatoes, peanuts,
grapes, cotton, etc, all growing on his
farm, and these various products of the
soil thrive without irrigation. There
is no doubt that much of the land in
eastern Washington which looks arC
and worthless contains just as good
soil as can be found anywhere. and
needs only TO be ''tickled with the pillow
to laugh in bountiful harvest"
One ship alone, says Truth. of Lon
don, brought forty thousand carcasses
of mutton from the Falkland islands
last week. They were of the best Can.
terbury type-fleshy, without too much
fat. They averaged from sixty To sew.
enty pounds each, and were sold at
pence per pound. Probably the great.
er part of this food has been retailed
at l shilling per pound as prime En-
glish mutton. Anyone who would or.
ganize a plan to defeat the buchers,
and to insure that meat be sold at a
fair profit, and nothing more. would
confer an incstimabc benefit on the
community. We protest, but in vain.
As yet we are the slaves of the butch
ers, who must be getting passing rich.
Prof Ramsey in his deductions on
the English experiments with cnsilage
says that grass loses the following per-
centagc of its weight; a per cent. by
being dried into good hay. 60 per cent.
when gradually filled into a silo as
PARTIAL, dried grass, and A. to per
cent. a moist ensilagc. There is a
greater waste of ilcsh-forming material
in sour than in sweet ensilage; but it is
n question whether this loss exceeds
that which occurs in hay-making in UNI
fortunate weather. and the cost Of deal
ing with the largest percentage OF
water in the bulk j, not to be compared
with the saving of loss in weight and
quality of crop in a caprcious season.
Col. JEFF Boynton, of Arlington, Ga .
has discovered novel way of flavoring
watermclons. He says you can flavor
them with any extract you desire. His
method is Before the melon ripens
! 1.