Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-14
FARM NOTES.

Onion sets are produced by sowing the
seed thickly in the rows, so as to allow
them but little room for growth. Sow
the seed as soon as the ground will per-
nit.
Poor, sandy soil should not be left IN
cultivated. Carefully prepare the land,
SOW to buckwheet, and pillow the buck
wheat under when the crop is in blossom.
In this way the land may be gradually
made productive.
When milk sells at Be per quart the
price corresponds with that of butter at
takes no fertility from the farm, while
the sale Of milk carries off all the mineral
and organic matter of its composite IN.
The earliest sweet corn makes but little
growth of stalk. Often the ear is produc-
ed not over foot from the ground on the
stalk. The Cory variety is one CT the
earliest, and also the Pearl. The soil
should be rich and kept loose around the
plants.
Pig-pens should not be in the same
location every season. By having tn en-
movable much valuable manure can be
secured from the saturated earth around
the old sites, while the change to fresh
places will greatly promote cleanliness
and health.
In preparing the ground for a corn
crop manure should be used plentifully.
The coarse manure does we'll on corn
land, as the crop is grass feeder, send
ing its roots in every direction. In cul-
tivating corn only the surface of the
ground should be stirred, as the real
benefit is derived by the loose earth
serving as a protection mulch. Grass,
however, should be kept down from the
start.
An Oblong square, as long again as
wide, is the most profitable shape for a
garden, as the rows are equally long and
less time is taken up in turning the horse.
The size of the same should be in pro-
portion to the number of the family,
bearing in mind the fact that one-fourth
of an acre well MANFRED and cultivated
will produce more and better vegetables
than whole acre not so well attended to.
A writer in the Peninsula Farm and
Garden (Delaware) contends that there is
no such disease as "peach yellows." He
says: ''It will be noticed, when spring
comes, that the wiry, spoDgy growth
which the peach trees made last year, on
account of the wet weather, which 'cranks'
call 'yell1ws,' is an effect, not cause.
There is no evidence that it is contagious.
Central Ohio farmers have lately been
approached by men claiming to be agents
of the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals, asking their assist
ance IN protecting quail against sports
men. The farmer to act as agent, and is
requested to sign blank. This is usually
done, and in few days the farmer is
notified TO appear at the bank and settle,
when he suddenly realizes that he has
been signing note.
Infertiie eggs are source of much loss
to poultry mer, and the prime cause is
known only by few. Eggs from fat hens
90 not hatch well, and should there be
any chicks they will be weak. An over
fed, fat cock is also undesirable; he should
have plenty of exercise and kept in only
moderate flesh. In breeding is another
cause of weak, sIckly chicks and infertile
eggs. Males should be changed every
year, and only pure bred cocks used.
For permanent pasture use a variety
of grasses. The kind best ada pied to the
location will assert its superiority, and in
time give a good reward. 1t is not ad-
visable to turn stock on a permanent
pasture until the ground shall have been
well covered. Trampling Injuries the
grass, while grazing it too soon Injuries
its vitality. At least three years should
be allowed for growth before turning on
stock. The greater the variety of grasses
the thicker the growth and the better the
pasture.
The seeds of carrots and parsnips are
very slow in terminating, and to this
cause is due the failure on the part of
some farmers to grow those crops. The
seed should be sown early, SO as to have
the young pants make some Roadway
before tie grass shall begin to grow
thickly, or handwriting must be resort
ed to. 1t would be best to use plenty of
seed, planting them in 'stoois" about 6
inches apart in the rows, and thin out the
surplus plants after they shall be up.