The National tribune., 1889-05-02
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
FIELD ROOT CROPS

and turnips will provide an amount OF suecu-
lent food for Winter use that not only lessons
the grain required but promotes the health
and thrift of the animals. Though low in
nutritious value yet the enormous crops that
NAV be obtained more than reeompense for
any deficiency that may exist otherwise. Root
crops largely take the place of ensilage where
silos have not been constructed and one acre in
roots will enable the farmer to keep more stock
and have the animals in better condition
than from any other crops that can be grown.
The difficulty with carrots and parsnips is
the extra work required with the crop after
the seed is sown, the slow termination destroy
ing the lines of the rows, as grass covers the
entire plot before the seeds begin to shove out
their young plants, the tedious labor of hand
wedding being required. This difficulty, how
ever, has been overcome by mixing the seeds
of quick terminating plants, such as radish,
with that of the carrots or parsnips. The radish
soon comes up, the rows can be worked, and the
radish then pulled up and marketed or fed to
the pigs. Improved seed-drlls now drill the
seed at regular places in the rows, and of suti-
cient distance to permit the hoe to be used.
Once the young plants are up and worked the
difficulty is over as the plants soon take pos
session and crowd out the weeds and grass.
Another difficulty is that of storage. The prac-
tice of heaping the roots in mounds, to he left
out during the Winter, render the task of feed
ing them to the stock very disagreeable, especi-
ally when the ground is frozen This is now
overcome by storing them in bins in cold
cellar, and, if preferred, they may be packed in
dry earth in the bins.
Beets carrots, parsnps and turnips grow
from small seeds, and from three to five pounds
will suffice for planting an acre of ground while
the potato must be grown from bulky tubers
as much as fifteen or twenty bushels being re-
CURED for an acre, according to the mode of
planting. II the cutting of the potato seed, the
labor of destroying the beetle, and the lower
keeping qualities of the potato, compared with
the carrot or paTsnip, he considered, the cost of
production should be no more for the carrots
and parsnips than for the former while much
larger yield and more valuable feeding ma
| terial mot excepting the tops may be obtained.
If such crops are to be grown, however farmers
should not wait longer, but get the seed in
early. Many crops have been failures owing
to the delay in planting, the grass being we'll
up before the seed has terminated. The root
crops should be well started before warm
weather. so as to better resist the drouth, and
also to allow as much time as possible for com
| pleting growth. The soil should be rich, fine,
and the crops thoroughly cultivated.
NUTRITIvE REQUIREMENTS.
| The results that are being obtained from the
various experiment stations are proving quite
clearly that every farmer in order to work his
| soil most successfully, which implies the use
/ of economical means, must become acquainted
! with its real character as regards its capabil-
| tiles and wants If the soil requires but one
fertilizing element in order to secure the
| growth of crops, it becomes a waste to apply
| any elements that already exist in sufficient
! quantity. The determination of this condition
| is the problem that confrcnts the farmer of the
| present day, and to the solution of which mis-
| energies should be directed. Sometimes it even
| becomes an interesting question to determine
| if the soil of ones farm requires any applica-
| ton at all of any commercial fertilizing ele-
ments. During the season of 1883 this test was
made upon the sell of the Ohio Experiment
! Station, which is a clay loan from two to FIVE
| feet in depth, with an underlying stratum OF
| gravel. Nitrogen, potash, and phosphorie acid
were applied separately, in combination, and in
| different forms with great care and precision,
| and the result was the soil did not require any
artificial manures, and the expenditure OF
money for them was without any return. In
| the trial made the average yield of eight infer
] tilted plots was 902 bushels per acre; the
average yield of twelve fertilzed plots was SOS
bushels, showing a difference of only 3-1C
| bushel per acre. and including two plots one
fertilZed with manure and one with linseed
| oil meal, the average would be 91.2, which is
! not much of an increase for the use of 40C
pounds of bone black, 200 pounds of muriate oi
| potash, and $50 pounds of nitrate Of soda, as
was the case in the pertinent GermaRt00f
| Telegraph.
| NOTES.
--Tarred paper roofs must be made very Sc
cure, or the high winds will rip them off.
| Wherever there is low, damp place there
| should be ditch or an under layer of drain
tile.
Plum trees thrive best on q somewhat
heavy soil, though they can be grown also on
| light sandy locations.
| -Air-slaked lime busted over the ground
| around young trees serves as partial protec-
| tion against some kinds of insects.
DO not use sprouted seed of any kind
| Potatoes that are kept at too high tempera
ture will sprout, which Injuries them to GER
tain extent.
While arranging your grounds do not dis
card the old varieties of roses, peoples, etc
They are valuable for old associations as we'll a;
| for present beauty
AT this season the wells from which The
drinking water is obtained are liable to be pol
luted with surface water. Grade around the
well and force the surface water away.
The quickest way to fatten an old cow il
to eonfne her in a small yard and give her al
the ground grain and hay she can eat. Sht
should be gotten in condition in as short a time
as possible.
The white grub is whitish grub, will
six legs near the fOrepart of the body.
feeds on the roots of roses and eventually de
stroys the bushes. Remove the earth arounC
the roots and kin the grub
| AT this season all fruit trees will be bene
fitted by a wash Of some kind. A gallon O
strong soap suds to which teaspoonful of car
bolic acid is added, is excellent. Scrub tn,
bark we'll and apply the wash literally.
= English farmers report extraordinary re
suits from feeding ensilage TO sheep. From eigh
to 10 pounds CT ensilage with chalfed straw ant
roots, constitute ration on which sheep-es
pecally ewes-are said to thrive remarkably.
Never allow fresh manure to come in con
tact with the roots of young trees that arr
being planted. Chip dust, wood ashes o.
broken bones may be placed in the hole ant
the top soil thrown in but no fermenting ma
terial.
"A heavy plank dragged over lawn-p lo
will serve to render it smooth thus great,
aiding the lawn-mower after the grass is up
Inis lawn grass, being very short, may b
cured and stored away for the use of poultr,
in Winter
The duck is naturally water fowl, Blu
the Pekin and Rouen ducks do as we'll withou
it. Our Pekins have never seen any other thar
their drinking water, and they are never sick
and during their season surprise everybody a
the quantity and size of the eggs.
The farmer who thinks there can be noth
ing new in agriculture should remember tina
IN lNyno 81 IL