Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-04-09

year, the peaches naturally grow each
season farther from the trunk. To
shorten in so as to induce vigorous
shoots from the center of the tree is the
true system, hut the peach grower hates
to do this until all danger of winter
freezing of the buds has passed. Some
| times when freezing has killed most of
the buds. enough are left not far enough
advanced to be destroyed, and if the
entire last years growth remains on the
| tree fair crop will be borne.
Why Potatoes Degenerate.
+, The well known fact is thoroughly es-
| taolished That new varieties of potatoes
deteriorate rapidly in yield, or, as farm
ers say, run out" to an extent not
| known forty or fifty years ago. 1t may
be that there was some Of this deterlor-
alton even then, but it was not critical
ly noticed, as it has been of late years.
Potato growing on large scale is a COM
paratively modern industry. Not only
the increasing proportion Of population
in cities, but the increasing use of pota-
toes by all classes, has contributed to
this result. When almost every house
hold grew for itself the few potatoes it
| required, 1essening Of the yield was
likely to be noted than when grown for
| market.
There are, however, especial reasons
why the potato should deteriorete more
rapidly than it once did. 1t is within
the last forty-fve years that rot attacked
the tuber, and less than fifteen years
since the potato beetle began its work,
destroying the leaves on which the
quality of the tuber must depend. AS
the potato is usually reproduced from
cuttings, and not from seed, whatever
I, or n po6 10
carried along into the new growth,
which is only further reproduction of
the original plant. The rot. weakening
the vitality of the potato, becomes cum
ulative. 1t is fact, we believe, that
this potato rot was first successfully
fought by developing new varieties from
seed which does not reproduce the
weakened vitality of the old. But
probably some of the characteristics of
the original stock were reproduced in
the seed, and some even of the new
varieties became liable to decay. There
is also weakened vitality, due to the
destruction of potato leaves by the Col
orado beetle and It's larva.
1t ia not sufficient argument against
this theory that trees and plants of other
kinds, usually propagated by cuttings do
not show the same tendency to degen-
crate IS does the potato. So far as
known, this tendency In The potato has
only been developed within the past fiji
ty years, and is amply explained by
diseases and injuries to which the pota-
to has within that time been subjected.
So long as plant is entirely vigorous
and healthy, cutting from it reprodu-
ces the same characteristic. But let it's
vigor be impaired SO az first not to be
seriously noticed, and it becomes great
ly increased in the cuttings made into
new plants from it. This is only an
other illustration of the fact that evil
influences are cumulative, and if I'M
checked Will work destruction. But
with potatoes, this evil need not go far,
as a frequent return to new varieties
grown from seeG balls sets the plant
with renewed vigor, until increasing at
tacks of it's enemies disable it. Most
practical potato growers have learned
that it is good policy to experiment with
new varieties, as they are usually much
more productive the first few years af-
ter their introduction. The reasoning
above given is undoubtedly the explain
alton Of the admitted fact.-Aner6con
CuJtiudtGr.
Farm Items.
The cost of preserving given crop as
ensilage does not materially differ from
curing the same crop by drying in
suitable season, but crops can be sliced
and preserved in seasons when they
should be lost if drying were attempt
ed.
The cost of fences on the farm more
than balances the outlay for procuring
the stock in some sections
A sharp pillow will save it's cost in q
seasons work. ALI the farm tools and
implements should be put in proper or
der for spring work if rot already done.
Preserve the straw. To soy the very
least of it, it makes a very desirable
change of diet. Mr.. Wade, the noted
Dakota Holstein breeder, feeds straw
and bran almost wholly.
Do not throw the cornstalks away, but
pass them through a cutter and use
them in the manure heap as absorbents,
so as to allow them to decompose. If
they are tender, cut them and feed
them to stock.
Early in the spring top dressing of
100 pounds OF nitrate of soda per acre
on wheat will make it grow rapidly and
yield better grain.
Wood or coal ashes are among the
best materials that can be used to loosen
up stiff, hard soil, says the Live Stock
Indicator, and should be applied freely
WuOuSFcI Iucy Chu Uc S0CuT0u, Wull0
wood ashes are valuable fertilizer.
Barley is our only grain of which the
home product is not equal to the de-
mand. The deficiency is chiefly sup
piled by importations from Canada.
Cornstalks, from which the blades
have been eaten, make excellent ma
terial in the lanes and roads leading to
the barn. They prevent the accumula-
ton of mud.
Lime is said to make heavy soils
lighter and light soils heavier. AS it
can do no damage when judiciously ap-
piled, and is cheap compared with the
benefits it confers, it should be used on
every farm. Land that is frequently
supplied with lime produces the best
grass.
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