Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-07-20
SOME MINOR CROPS.
Things That VIII Contribute to Good Liv.
ing on the Farm.

sui there is generally profit in pro-
ducing them. If they ordinarily can
not be sold for cash they can be con
sumed on the place. They will con.
tribute to good living and will effect
saving in grocers' bills. Every farmer
should plant few rods to popcorn
AS the stalks are small the hills can be
near together, and the product per
acre will be nearly as great as for COM
mon field corn. Popped corn is an OK
pensive luxury that no farmers family
should be deprived of. There is
growing demand for popcorn in cities,
and there is sometimes considerable
difficulty in obtaining supply of it.
Sweet corn is as easily raised as COM
mon field corn. and is much superior
to it for table use. while the fodder is
more valuable for feeding to stock.
Both sweet and popcorn should be
planted at some distance from a fell
of common corn and from each other
so that they will not mix. To produce
large and well-filled ears high manur-
ing and good cultivation are neces-
sary.
Squashes are useful in various WAYS,
and are easily raised. BY planting
some OF the early, late and long-keep-
ing varieties supply for the entire
year can be secured. They make ex.
cellent pies. Boiled or baked any OF
the dry squashes, like the Hubbard,
furnish an excellent substitute for the
sweet potato. All the "hard-shelr'
squashes with proper care can be be
kept over the winter, Marrow squashes
may be dried like pumpkins. or cooked
and preserved in cans. Prepared in
either way they make good pies during
the winter and spring. Farmers can
generally sell fine squashes to good ad
vantage in towns not supplied by mar
ket gardeners. Bakers in large towns
now buy squashes by the ton and keep
them to use in making pumpkin pies"
during the winter and spring. Occas-
ionally there is quite demand for
western squashes to send to eastern
cities. squashes are very desirable for
feeding to fowls during the winter
when green food can not be obtained
They are also valuable for sheep, pigs,
and mich cows. In many localities
squashes can be produced to much bet
ter advantage than any of the roots
that are raised for stock, and their
feeding value is considerably greater.
Melon culture has received great at
tention during the past few years.
Varieties have multiplied until
some have been produced suited to the
soil and climate of almost every part
of the country. Melons now consti-
tute an important article of commerce.
Many old cotton plantations in the
South have been divided into small
farms and planted to melons. Entire
trains of cars loaded with melons now
come from various Southern States to
Northern cities. Melons have become
common articles of food with all classes
in cities. Few Northern farmers can
make money in raising watermelons
for the market, as the highest prices
are always paid for those that ripen
early in the season. There is, how
ever, good market for Northern
grown melons that are used for break
fast On every Northern farm enough
melons should be raised to supply the
wants of the family. We have to wait
several years for fruit to be produced
on the trees that we plant but a crop
of delicious melons can be secured in a
few weeks from the time the seed is
planted. No tree or bush fruit COM
pares with a melon in size and few
compare with it in excellence.
Genuine buckwheat flour has become
almost unknown in all large towns,
and its place has been supplied by a
mixture of inferior grains, screenings
and shorts. The luxury which city
people can no longer obtain can still
be enjoyed by farmers, who can raise
the grain and have it ground in Gus
tom mill. Seasons that are poor for
the other grains are often very favora-
BILE for buckwheat, and it not infre-
quently happens that it commands a
higher price than any of them. Ground
can be prepared for sowing buckwheat
dlbCI thc OIlcI hclO arc pldUL-
ed or sown. 1t is not necessary to have
the soil finely pulverized or highly ma
nured for this crop. 1t will grow on
an inverted sod or on ground that is
quite rough 1t is an easy crop to
raise. 1t can be harvested without a
machine and can be thrashed with a
hand-fail. If not salable and more is
raised than can be consumed by the
family, the surplus can be fed to fowls
to good advantage. On nearly every
farm there is some land that may be
utilized by raising buckwheat that is
nearly useless for other purposes Il Chi
coyo Times.
Egg Soup.-Slice two onions and fry
brown; add three pints of water and
boil; add salt, pepper and pinch Of
sugar; stir until the soup has thicken-
ed; remove from the fire and mix in
AIax 1l-u - IT