Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-04-02
About the Grain Crops.

The March report Of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture on the consump-
ton and distribution of the grain crops
makes the proportion of corn still in
the hands of farmers 40 per cent. of
the last crop. One year ago the pro-
portion Of the crop on hand was $40
per cent; two years ago, SO per cent.
of the short crop of 1888. 1t amounts
to T3,O0O,0GO bushels, 9S,00O,O0O
more than last March, and 261, 100000
more than in March, 1884. The pro-
portion is the lowest IN the West,
averaging SO per cent. in twelve States
1t ls 40 per cent. in the South. The
proportion merchantablo is $40 per
cent, which is slightly above the
average OF a series OF years. The value
of the merchantable averages is So 9
cents per bushel; of the unmsrchanra-
BILE, 2l.5 cents. This makes the aver
age value of the stock on hand 1873
cents. which is half a cant per bushel
more than the December value Of the
crop, when the aggregate value was
estimated at $685., 100000. The stock
of wheat in the hands of farmers is
30.l per cent. Of the crop. 1t was
33.1 one year ago, and 2S.4 two years
ago. 1t amounts to 107,OO0,0O0 bush
els, against 169,000,000 last March,
and 100000 two years ago. 1t is
only 100000 bushels more than in
March 1882, the shortest invisible
supply of recent years. The visible
and invisible supply March l was
therefore 159,O00,000 bushels, against
212,O00,000 last March. The proper
ton of the crop estimated for consump.
ton within the county where grown is
AIS per cent. The average weight
per bushel, as estimated, is 81 pounds,
against 593 for the previous crop, and
$50 for that Of 1884 The consump-
ton for bread and other uses, the seed
sown, and approximately 100000
bushels exported since the 1st of
March, 1885, makes a distribution
equal to the supply from March last.
Whenever trees are planted for
timber, enough should be put in at
once to thoroughly shade the ground.
This will not only insure straight, up
right growth, but will from the first
prevent the blowing away of the leaves,
which form natural mulch, under
which the tree roots find an abund.
ance Of good. The thinings from a
thickly- planted forest will help pay
the expenses during the first few years,
when the prospective value of the tres
is hardly enough to warrant keeping
the land in so slow crop.
Except for sheep, which masticate
and digest more thoroughly than other
animals, grain for any kind of farm
stock should be ground. This is es-
pecially important for cows. Though
these remasticate their food, much
grain fed whole will pass through
them giving little benefit. When
ground, meal may be mixed with cut
straw or other coarse feed that would
not be eaten, and it will digest better
in this more bulky form than if fed
separately.
1t is not necessary in blowing under
rye for green manure to wait unit! the
straw is formed. Just as it begins to
head is the proper time. There is not
quite so much substance then as later,
but the succulent leaves decay at once
and furnish both heat and plant food
to give the newly sown crop vigor-
GUS start, while, if the blowing is de.
layed, the benefit only comes late in
the season.
Most farmers smoke the shoulders
and hams Of hogs, but few know that
an equal improvement can be made in
side meat by turning it into bacon.
The smoke adds not only to the flavor
Of the meat, but to its digestibility. 1t
does one by doing the other, as any
thing eaten with a relish secures a
larger portion of gastric juice and thus
promotes digestion.
"I've Just purchased diminutive
saliva dog observed Boston girl to
friend. ga saliva dog! What sort
of a dog is that?" why, ore that is
a pure extract of SpitZ,"