The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-18
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
gcIENrIrIc rorAro-RAIgENa.


statement made last Winter by the Editor of
the RuraI NeV Yorker, that if he could not raise
at the rate of over 700 bushels of potatoes to
the acre on a given plot in his experiment
grounds by what is known as the Rural trench
system of cultivation, let the season be favor
able or unfavorable ne would forfeit $50, if
anyone would pay the same amount in case of
his success; the money in either event to be
donated to some charitable purpose. The chal-
Iengo was accepted by SIR. Wilmer Atkinson,
the Editor of the Farm Journal. Potatoes have
been raised on this plot for II consecutive years
During that entire period it has received not
over so TONS of horse manure per acre. The
applications of fertilizers each year have been
liberal the average being probably not less
than 200 pounds (a5 that rate) per acre.
AS soon as the soil could be worked the
trenches were dug, being made about eight
inches deep and about one foot wide, and three
feet apart. Owing TO the lateness of the season
the potatoes were not planted until April 20.
The seed potatoes GA April were spread out
singly in a warm room. Strong, warty shoots
pushed in few days, for the most part at the
seed end. The eyes Of che other portions pushed
only slightly. The potatoes we're cut in size
according to the number OF eyes, the object be-
ing to have at least three strong eyes to piece.
At the rate Of $50 pounds of Mapes's potato
fertilizer was sown in the bottom Of the trenches,
and was Incorporated with the bottom soil with
Hezamer pronged hoe. Two inches Of soil
were then raked upon the fertilizer, and the
seed-pieces were then placed precisely one foot
apart. They were covered slightly with soil
aud sulphur at the rate of 400 pounds to the
acre. and an additional dressing of the same
fertilizer at the rate Of $50 pounds per acre
making in all /, 760 pounds) were sown. The
trenches were then filed level with the adj
jacent soil. The application of sulphur was
made to repel the wire-worms which infest
this soil and which are supposed to cause scab.
The potatoes planted were the R. n. Z. seed
lings, Nos 2, and 4. OF these No. were the
first to appear above ground and to make, up
to the middle of June the tbriftiest growth.
1t was then noticed that the foliage began to
turn black and the stems to turn yellow. AS
this variety should not mature until early Sep
tember the cause of this affection was attrib-
uted variously to blight, to cold Spring to
late excessive heat, or TO the sulphur used in
the trenches The real cause, however, was
found to BIO the cucumber fea-beetle, which
had so perforated the leaves as to cause them
to wither and die. The No was attacked
later, and the No 2 still later. Paris-green,
hellebore, buhach and Gishurst Compound
mixed with water were used separately and to-
gether sprayed upon the vines without effect.
The injury by this flea beetle was not confined
to the Rarat premises at all, but many fields
were more or less injured in the neighborhood,
and, 80 afterWard ascertained, ia different
parts Of New Jersey New York and other
States. 1t may be said that the vines Of No. 3
were killed when the potatoes could scarcely
have been one-thTd grown. Those Of the No.
a, except three Orfour plants, wore killed when
the potatoes were half-grown. Of the No. 9
but two were killed, although all suffered moro
or less.
The judges appointed to determine the yield
met last month, and after watching the potatoes
dug reported that the yield was at the rate of
5S3 bushels to the acre.
Thus the editor Of the Rural New Yorker lost
his wager, though iho conditions were very.
unfayorable HID not the cucumber dea-beetle
attacked his crop there is no doubt but what
the yield would have been as high as he claim
ed. According to the United States reports of
this year, She potato yield of the best Western
States was little over 100 bushels to the acre,
while under. unfavorable conditions the trench
system yielded 583 bushels per acre. 1t would
be we'll TO give this system thorough trial.
HARVESTING FARM PRODUCTS.
The work of the farm should be so arranged
and conducted that the harvest of all crops be
| made as nearly in season as may be- and so as
TO prevent injury from early frosts. There
are so many uncertainties hanging over the
weather that it is safest to be prepared so far
as may be for the worst. Let the preparatory
work of harvest be pushed as rapidly as posi-
| bic. as soon as the corn is ready for cutting
up, which method we conclude is largely
| praeticed, let the work 80 on; this may be com
menced as soon as the grain is fairly scared over
| or becomes a little hardened. This course saves
| the fodder in good condition, and which
| frost would greatly injure. We have seen
many fields Of corn with the fodder completely
ruined because of On untimely frost The
| digging of potatoes may be omitted for time
| if other work presses, but il is not safe TO
| leave them after tho cold begins TO be little
| severe, for the slightest freeze almost ruins
| them, and it is not right to allow products of
/ the soil 10 go to waste from careiessness or
! neglect. Pumpkins aud sQuashes win not
! stand very much frost, and are of sufficient
! value to receive attention at the proper time.
| Apples will stand considerable cold, but these
may be left too long npon the tree. 1t is pretty
| generally agreed upon at the present day that
| apples should be gathered as soon as they come
TO maturity, or even just little before, if pTac-
! ticabe. There is no doubt at all but that APP
| pies that are picked and handled with care
J
keeping qualities far superior to those that are
| allowed to remain upon the tree until after
| they are fully ripe. Every true farmer will
use his best efforts to secure all his crops in the
best possible manner and in such condition as
| will result in the greatest benefit TO him.
| Germantoaos Telegraph.
NOTES.
| old, wornout and dull implements are the
most expensive things that can be used on the
| farm They cost the user more every year than
he would have to pay for new improved ma
| chinery, and are always source OF trouble and
yeZation.
- The fact that growing crops are greatly in
| jured or totally destroyed by the recurrence of
conditions which science has yet failed to pre-
! dic5 OF explain is very strong reason why SO
many farmers are slow TO recognize the value
Of science rs applied tosagriculture
One Of the uses OF giving cows salt, espe-
/ cialiy in hot weather, is that il acts rs pre-.
sentative in the system. Everyone accustoin-
ed TO test milk can tell by its flavor whether
the COWS have been getting their salt There
is no doubt whatever that the neglect of salt
ing the cows spoils the butter aud Injuries the
milk for the cheese factory.
The Russian method of stopping runaway
horse is said to be very effective, and is not
particularly cruel They place cord with a
| running knot around the horses neck near the
neelE-strap To this sIip-noose attach pair of
! reiuSIyYhiCh may be thrown over the dashboard