St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-12
CASUAL POINTS.

The Rural New Yorker says the ques-
ton whether we should use one-eye,
twO-eye, three-eye, or half-pleces or
whole potatoes for seed is relative, a
conditional one. In very rich soil
two-eye pieces might give the best crop;
in poorer soil larger pieces would per-
haps yield better. Again, some varie-
ties of potatoes are weakly growers and
would be helped by the larger seed.
Others are rank growers and small seed
pieces would serve as well or better.
We have worked at this problem, Oh and
off, for twelve years and the conclusion
we arrive at is that there is no rule
suited to all farms and varieties of pOta-
toes.
Alsike clover came originally from
Sweden. 1t was imported about twenty
years ago by the department of agrlcult-
1t is now the leading clover in Western
New York and is a great boon to far
merS. as the old red is cut off largely by
the clover rust and the clover nudge.
The Alsike has a smaller blossom,
which is fortified by the honey bees,
and so the first blossoms ripen the seed
and it gets ahead of the nudge. 1t is
not affected by the rust or blight. 1t is
hybrid of the red and white.
The most effective and painless
method Of dehorning cattle is believed
to be in the use of pair of shears de-
vised for that special purpose. 1t is re-
garded as better than the saw. Some
people fancy that the horns would not
be there il the animal did not need
them. The same objection can be urged
to castrating or spaying. The removal
OF the horns causes pain, but 1t is soon
over and no ill effects result to the
animal.
Lucerne and Alfalfa are differnt
names of the same plant. 1t belongs to
the clover tribe, but, unlike red clover,
perennial, giving good crops year
after year without reSeeding. 1t will
thrive on variety Of soil, but will not
do well on land having wet subsoh.
Any soil that will grow wheat, corn or
potatoes will grow Alfalfa, and even on
very dry, sandy and gravelly soil fair
crops may be obtained.
Some years ago extensive inquiries
were made by the national commits
siOner of agriculture to ascertain the
cost per head of keeping sheep year.
The figures made up were $2.65. A later
Investigation shows that on the free or
cheap lands of the West the cost is but
60 cents a head. Of course the growers
on the high-priced lands of Ohio and
Michigan cannot compete with these
figures.
1t is asked how deep can drive-Well
be made to work well with a force
pump. If the lifting portion of the
pump is not over twenty feet from the
surface of the water in the well, the
water san be raised and thrown to any
height within the capacity Of the power
working the pump. The higher it is
thrown the smaller should be the stream
and the greater the power.
Animals poorly fed suffer most from
the cold. Prof. johnson, of the Michi-
gan Agricultural college, has been feed
ing steers of the various breeds, and the
result shows that there is no fixed type
for an even gain but that one steer
differeth from another steer. We dis
covered years ago that notwo steers or
cows should be fed exactly alike, or
will gain exactly alike.
The ''white Australian" oats sent out
by the department of agriculture has
been tested by some Minnesota farmers
with favorable results. 1t is claimed to
ripen early and does not lodge, as the
Welcome variety is said to.
Illinois is to have it's first arbor day
this spring, and good deal of interest
seems to be taken in the matter. Owing
to the varying ATTITUDES of the state
three different days will be required for
the several sections.
Go slow with the men who come with
new varieties and wonderfully produc-
tive grain or fruits. They are not re-
sponsible and you will generally fool
away time and money.
Last year the farmers paid over
million of dollars on the raw materials
that binding Irvine is made of. The re-
mOval of the duties on such would he
good item for them.
Petitions are being sent to Senator
Sabin by the dairymen of Minnesota,
urging that the tariff on salt be re-
moved. 1t should be by all m cans.
The farmers in the Northwest do less
gardening than in any other part of the
country. All should have nice garden
spot.
In buying trees to set out the small
ones are generally the safest, and in a
few years will give the best results.
Smoking seed corn is believed to be
good plan to promote growth and pre-
vent rotting in cold, wet season.
People rarely take cold from morning
exposure. Beware of getting into a
perspiration in the evening.
Those who have had experience speak
highly of the Red Polled cattle for milk,
butter and beef.
Test your seeds, if possible, before
WANTING aud cave danUpr 0f failura