The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-03-03
FACTS FOR FARMERS.

- tho oIutiitt Cah iuu ACttts W thc
corn crib he will soon bring enough OF
his mates TO do considerable damage.
At this season their food Is scarce. and
farmers whose buildings are near
piece Of woods should keep a close
lookout against these pests. The
squirrel is especially particular to Sc
lect the best and soundest ears Those
hung In the garnet by the chimney arc
pretty sure to DO taken by him IL he
can find his way to them. II
HORN sHAvINGs AS MANURE.
There is good deal OF ammonia as
well as phosphate in horn. but owing
to its oily nature 1t decomposes slowly
and does not make an active fertilizer.
Composing IL with manure until the
shavings are thoroughly broken up Is
the cheapest way to get 1t into condi-
ton. Horn shayings are usually mixed
with hard pieces of horn of too great
size and thickness to rot down entirely.
but II the decomposition is well started
in the manure heap it viii continue in
the soil.
SCARCITY OF CLOVER SEED.
Owing TO the drought Mt the West
last Fall the crop of clover seed. among
others. was greatly decreased. Michi-
gan grows n great deal OF clover seed.
and the yield there was only about II
bushels per acre. not more than half
the usual average. Many pieces besides
wepe so poor that they were not con-
sidered worth cutting. thus reducing
the total more than even the decrease
In yield would warrant Those who
have To buy clover seed will probably
do well TO purchase early. Seed two
and even three years old will grow as
well as any II kept as il should be. The
old seed may be distinguished by is
duller color rs compared with new.
USE OF IMPROVED BULLS.
IL requires considerable outlay of
capital TO buy the best registered ami
mails in any of tho established breeds
OF cattle. But il the community around
Is enterprising enough TO avail itself of
this and pay for II, the expense Is
equalized. while the benefit to the stock
OF tho nelghborhood Is beyond all cacu-
lation. 1t is discouraging. however. to
breeders of choice stock 10 find them
selves among farmers who regard a
bull as common property. 10 be used
by the entire neighborhood without
paying for It. The truth is that at
much higher rates OF service than any
breeder charges tho farmer who Sc
cures the services of highly bred bull
is sure to get the best of tho bargain.
TESTING SEED GRAIN.
Much valuable information may DO
gained by farmers with reference to
seed given by testing the seed. count
ing out certain number, planting in
box by the kitchen window. and not
ing what proportion terminate and
produce plants. II can hardly be ex-
pected TINT seed sown in the open
ground wiz grow rs we'll as that plant
ed under favorable conditions in the
house. But often when seed has been
heated in the stack or bin. large pro.
portion will be found lifcless and should
be rejected. We SOW too much grain
per acre. because so much has had its
vitality reduced. II only perfect seed
were sown there would be great saw
ing in expense. and n proportionate in
crease in the yield OF grain.
SEED AND OTHER CATALOGUES.
At this time OF year seedmen. nur-
serymen and others are sending out an
nual catalogues. Much is to be learned
from each OF these. Almost every
leading dealer has some new thing that
he desires to introduce. and instead OF
cautioning our readers to beware OF
them. we feel like urging them to in
vest something. More Is lost by too
much caution in dealing with reputable
dealers than the money required for n
trial Of what promises we'll. The first
men TO get the Early Rose potatoes in
any neighborhood certainly made n
good thing out OF IL To some we know
IL was more than a hundred dollars
benefit. This experience has been Of
ten repeated with other novelties since
the introduction OF the Early Rose POI
tato.
MANsHURY BARLEY.
This variety of barley came origin
ally from China. but has become popu-
lar in places in this country. II Is gen.
orally ono OF the hoaviest-grained bar
leys, but ms II is very difficult to sepa-
rate 1t from the avn II does not weigh