The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-02-24
FARM NOTES.

IL IS stated that 104 bushels OF corn have
been hauled and cribbed within eleven and
one-quarter hours.
1t has been determined that 500 pounds
of corn products, including grain, cobs and
stalks, is equal in nutritive value to 9,612
pounds of hay.
Strong brine is reported to be taking the
place of alcohol for preserving specimen
fruits. They keep size as well and preserve
their color better.
The Burlington company that is making
milk sugar from whey finds the demand out
growing the supply, and has sent West for
material to make the sugar Of.
At the Union Stock-yards during the. year
1885 almost 100000 animals of ali Kinds
were Teceived-to be exact, 1927, 507. About
two-thirds of the whole number were hogs
A farmer of North Belgrade, Me-, says
three bushels of plaster on grass land is as
good as six. He would apply it just after
the ground becomes bare in the spring, and
just before rain, if possible.
The Chinese mix hight soil with dry ar
gile; form it into blocks or ''lOaves," and sell
these at fairs. The Chinese pulverize these
before using, and attribute the exemption
of their land from weeds TO their employ
ment.
The Pipestone Star reports a farmer a
saying that he can keep one stove going"
six months on the sunfower stalks produced
on one acre of land. The seed produced is
FED TO towels, which pays for all cultivation.
The barbed-wire manufacturers have
agreed upon an advance in price of one-half
cent per pound, the rate now to be four cents
per pound free on board at Chicago and East
81. Louis, for ffty-tOn lots, and four and a
half cents for smaller lots.
The wages of farm hands in Switzerland,
exclusive of board and lodging, average for
males about S56.25 a years; for females,
$3.50. In.the United States the wages of the
farm hands including board and lodging,av-
erage from $500 to $50.
Diversified farming means fields of grain,
meadows and pasture; kitchen garden and
orchard; a lawn with trees and flowers;
breeding mares and milk COWS: sheep, swine
and poultry. Live stock is the groundwork,
and will hold the soil fertile.
The Chicago Tribune says: 1t is unques-
tionable that the present generation is leav-
ing the farm in large numbers and that the
next will leave in still greater, and that were
it not for the accretion of foreign agric al
tuTal labor our farms would suffer very
heavily.
The wheat record for last year is as follows:
Minnesota, "a, S25, 900 bushels; Michigan,
81, 26l, 600 bushels; Iowa, 30'332, 900 bushels;
then Dakota, q, 9l3, 900 bushels OF wheat. Last
year Increased ncr wheat area DY
over 100000 acres beyond that of the year
previous.
Mill maize should be planted in a good,
rich soil, and given a good cultivation. 1t
will make good growth, and furnish con-
siderable green food if cut off and fed, or if
allowed 10 stand longer it can be cut and
cured for fodder. Yet it will not furnish any
more feed than good Kansas orange cane,
which will easily ripen seed, and is that
much better.
Mr.. Edward NJ. Teall, in the Breeders Ca
zette, upon feeding ensilage 10 cattle, says:
when fed 10 bulls it makes them sluggish
and indifferent, and in the majority of cases
of service the bull fails to get the COW in
calf. When fed to cows long in calf, say one
TO two months before calving, the calves have
the worst kind of scours, and in a large ma
iority of cases the calf dies" =.
No wonder capitalists are willing to lend
the farmer money at 8 per cent. What is the
result? The farmer gives his surplus crops
to the capitalist in the way of interest. One
or two failures of crops or disease among
stock, and the capitalist takes the farm and
the farmer goes West. Now what are we to
do? We have not the capital to go and invest
in fine live stock, and II is question if stock
raising will pay in this climate: and is there
not too much capital invested in land to
keep us from making stock fanges if We are 50
disposed?
Experience in farming and stock breeding
in the West proves the merits of improved
stock. By selecting the best and discarding
the poorest animals on the farm every year,
the stock will, of itself, improve in quality.
But life is too short to make such slow prog
ress. 1t is much quicker and more profitable
to use full-blooded sires, and grade up prac-
ticaIly. High grades are thus soon obtained
that for practicable purposes are little infer
Tor to full-bloods. Such grading up is within
the reach of all Western farmers.
During the winter months procure all the
manure you can, especially stable manure
even il you have to pay for it by days work,
do so, for this is a most important item in
farming. Convey all you get home at once
and throw it in compost heap, under shell
ter, and if on the feld-under shelter, OF
course-would be a saving of time and labor.
Make your compost heap by throwing on al
ternately manure, leaf mold, rich ailuvium,
or leaves, If nothing better, which will aug
ment the quantity as well as improve its fer
tilizing efficacy. Turning the heap once or
twice would hasten its decomposition and
render il friable-
A farmer in Norfolk County hired a pas
ture last year for $1.25 an acre. 1t seemed
very cheap, but he thinks the result does not
bear out this appearance The pasture is
tbree-quarters OF mile from his barn. 10