Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-02-02

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A very small quantity OF bran planted
IN Hill with potatoes Is said 10 have
an excellent effect In promoting yigor-
4 uus growth and tlhers free from scab.
/ Though bran possesses considerable
tBAnuriAl value. /, Is for rs effect IN pro-
noting smooth growth that It's great
cI advantage II claimed Many years
ago, when tho potato rot first appeared,
We planted potatoes, putting sawdust.
I IN the hills. and grew fine potatoes free
/ from disease. Ot course there was lit
10 ulanuriAl value In the sawdust.
Tho great river Of Egypt has not sent
down its accustomed foods this year.
and the people who depend on that for
their food indulge only tho most gloomy
antlcipa,ions for tho future. There win
be no corn in Egypt this year, and the
ancient granRFy Of the world must itself
buy 81 moro prosperous nations. Some
believe that the great feeders Of tho
Nile have been cut OF by Erowths OF
vegetables choking of the passage Of
water. Another theory il that the large
food q year ago loft dams which now,
obstrlict the water. ms was the case
some years ago. and which were not cut
through until 1850.
IL Il often said that mulching with
ANYTHING il valuable In promoting plant
or tree growth. Place board on the
ground and LET Il lie year, and the soil
beneath Il will show more available
plant food than the coil on either side.
The shade. combined with protection
from rains, favors the accumulation
both OF heterogeneous and mineral plant
food. One reason for this Is that soil
kent dry and exposed 10 cold freezes
more deeply and thoroughly than 1t
otherwise would. But the benefit OF
mulching Il greatly increased II the
mulch has itself manurial value. There
ID. then, all the advantages from the
mulch proper, besides something extra
from the plant food that IL contains II
self
Old-ame farmers had a variety OF
corn red IN color that did not appreclac
bly mix when planted with other white
or yellow kinds. The red grain would
produoe a stalk self-fertiliEing, and
hearing an entirely red ear. Undonot-
ally n bloasomed at different time
from the main crop, rs otherwise the
,,,s-y, piant IL more likely 20 mix than
any other grain crop. These red cars
as wo remember them, used 10 be gen.
orally we'll allied out showing few or no
vacant places. This indicates shat sne
pollen was abundant, and probably mos
very high above the ear or SILK, causing
lass wasse Shan usual from winds. hh
Gears since we have seen any OF these
nd ears Of corn. Probably many reaa-
ers 81 shIs paper still plant one ear In
fIeld according 10 The old custom.
the muskrat Is serious injury 70
farmers Who underdrain. He makes
home In he larger mains, opening q
nassaoo which lets In the dirt when
aoon cho,es and spoils II. The musk,
rat Il 4 very cunning animal, and hard
20 tran with any kind Of bait Ihe pest
success ~ il found by slightly covering
TRAN with leaves and placing IL az ths
s,,,..nce 10 his burrow In tho path usu-
oilv taken. He will walk into II un-
s,,spectlngly, and II the trap IL strohg
oan,,gh md we'll secured by a chain
tasta5ed 10 some stake he may DC cap
tsred, But muslrats have been KNOWN
~ ant off a limb II left too long, anu
,h,,s mako their escape, though proo-
shly incnpaoitated thereafter rom oo-
nc u,ach damage by digging. -.
r. ore respect tho American people
a,o apparently lees civilized tnah uie