Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-09-05
FARM NOTES.
Philadelphia Record

ton.
1t is important that the corn-crib be
cleaned out and fumigated so as to destroy
insects.
Rats can never be driven away perma-
nently as long as there are harboring places
for them.
The use of the mower prevents the seed
ing of weeds Cut down all growth in
the stubble field.
A large scarlet comb indicates that the
hen is laying. All healthy fowls should
have bright red combs.
Wire screens in the stable windows to
keep out insects will enable tired horses to
rest better at night.
Keep alfalfa closly cropped if the weeds
are growing among it. In this manner
the weeds will be killed, while the alfalfa
becomes stronger.
The popularity of the Merino sheep is
largely due to the fact that it is an active
forager and that a larger number can be
kept together than of any other breed.
Too much enthusiasm over new varieties
sometimes ends in disgust. Nonew variety
should be used in pace Of the old until it
| has first been tried and tested on a small
! plot.
Expert mentswith the Bordeaux mixture
as a remedy for grape rot are being made
| IN every section this season, and 1t Is be-
! lieved that in few years the disease will
be under control.
The Keifer pear tree is a vigorous grow
er, and secures more height III proportion
| to thickness than is desirable. After the
| leaves fall off cut back the taller shoots
and induce more stocky growth.
Wherever weeds grow Iuxuriantly the
| ground is usually fertile, and such ground
should be made produce some kind of crop.
At this season millet or Hungarian grass
| should be Sown on such land.
Earthworms, in dry weather, sometimes
work their way through the soil to the well
Ind fall in, thus communicating the water
to certain extent, If possible the curb
ing of all wells should be cemented.
1t does not pay to put the best fruit or
vegetables on top and have tne purchaser
find something not so good when he reach
es the bottom. as it makes him suspicious,
the consequence being that the sale of
fruit is injured
The price of the COW does not indicate
her value as a producer. Gilt-edged butter
is something that depends on how it is
made. The cow gives the milk, but upon
the management of the milk, cream and
butter depends the quality.
There is never TOO much good butter on
the market, but there is always a large
supply of inferior butter. The prices are
not regulated by the quantity so much as
by the quality Good butter sells at a
high price at all seasons of the year.
When beets, carrots or parsnips do not
appear to grow, though given every oppor-
tunity by manure and cultivation, the slow
growth may be due to the plants being too
close in the rows. Thinning out the plants
just after a rain will be of advantage.
The pelch-boarer can not damage the
tree where the bark is tough, and, con-
sequently, the eggs are deposited below
the ulface, where the bark is tender.
Their attack may be prevented to d certain
i extent by banking the earth around the
tree from April to October.
Cottonseed meal, at $40 per ton, is being
used as a fertilizer on vegetables A mix
ture of cottonseed meal and bran is one of
the best fertilizers that can be applied, if
If it can be done, to feed the mixture and
use it after it has passed through the
animals.
when it is young is the most important.
When the plants get good start and are
kept clear of weeds they will soon be in a
condition to better withstand the drought.
1t is the first four weeks treatment of the
corn crop that exerts the most beneficial
influence on the yield.
The food is simply raw lateral TO be
manufactured by the animals into milk,
beef, butter. wool or pork, and by using
the proper proportions of food the differ
ent products may be regulated. This
shows the necessity of education in all
matters pertaining to farming and stock
growing as well as in other occupations.
1t should not be overlooked that the
plants are enemies to each other as there
| is struggle for eXi.tence when they are
crowded together. All plants above the
number required are weeds. as plants
of the same kind desire the Same kind q
food. Hence, if four stalks of corn n
hill do not thrive we'll pull up one-haf OF
them. The plant food in the soil will be
more serviceabe for limited number of
plants than for too many.
Cultivati of the Turnip.
The turnip cr,p is one that is planted
late. being strictly of a summer crop III
every respect, and grows quickly under
proper cultivation. Though the yield of
turnips on rich land Is very large, yet
farmers do not make a speciality of the crop
as compared with potatoes. One of the
causes is the labor of preparing the ground,
sowing the seed and keeping down the
weeds until the plants are we'll beyond
the injury of the pests that get iii Their
way Tnat the turnip crop j. profitable
one under proper conditions is known
from the fact that land which yearly rent
ed for high sum is devoted to turnips in
England, especially when grown for sheep,
and there is no reason why equal success
may not be met with here.
There is yet time to get the land in prop.
er condition to save much of the labor OF
eradication of weeds later on. and TO give
the young plants an opportunity to push
ahead from the start To do this the land
should be plowed and narrowed. Young
weeds will spring up. and tie harrow
should be used again, thus stirring the
soil and inducing the weed seed to ger
inmate. The cutiva .or will do even
better than ther arrow. as i loosens the
soil nearly equal 10 Il one-horse piOw,
Every rain will assist III sprouting the
seeds. and Il the and Is well worked viii
1 lave Il Cilt aGt. dlNtI Tic tbI III u SCEI II
planted, to ct ahead of the remaining
weeds Thl labor of narrowing Is but a
trifie eompf red with the labor that Is re-
quired to J rotect the young turnip If the
land is g zen no preparation.
. To gr W large crop the seed must be
put IL with a seed drill. the rows of sui
! ticienf width apart TO permit of culiiva-
ton nth horse hoe or cultivatOr. the
plant being from ) TO inches apart in
the ows, according to preference, as II
may be necessary to use the hoe once. II
sho Ia be a rule to use plenty of seed. As
the fly sometimes damage the young
pls ats, and also to insure q large number
OF plants in each row. il being easier t0
) thin out my surplus plants than rsseed the
thin place. Do not cover the seed more
/ than one-fourth OF an inch In fact. one
eighth of an inch Is hotter. as many seeds
fail to push though if covered deeply,
especially if tn. soil bakes. As soon as
the leaves appear ,he hoe may be used,
and then the cult:vator The crop pay 5
well in its advantages as winter food FOR
stock
. Home Gsrilen Eehoes.
Practfc-I Far
We are now entering upon season