The record-union., 1891-11-11

Value of Milk To secure Twin
Lambs Feed the Grass - To In
crease the Yield of Oats = Farm
Notes.
Let no one despise the humble pump
kin. AS a farm crop it has its value, and
may be made to fill a useful place in
agricultural economy. 1t is one of the
easiest crops in the world to grow, all the
labor involved in producing it being to
put in the seed with the corn-planter. or
soon after planting, and to gather the crop
when it is ripe.
The value of the pumpkin as feed for
stock depends largely on the manner in
which it is fed. 1t is not complete food.
1t contains only about IL per cent. of solid
matter, and no animal could eat enough
pumpkins TO fatten on them alone. But
as an addition to more nutritious dry
food it has real value. The very water
that it contains is made, by the wise
alchemy of nature, more useful than
water given in its natural state. The
farmer will, therefore, as has been well
said, find it to his advantage TO water his
1attening hogs with pumpkins, and to
moisten the dried grass in the cows
stomach with the same appetizing food.
The different parts OF the pumpkin
have different values as food. The rlnd,
seeds and strings are more nutritious than
the pulp. The rind is nearly IA per cent.
solid matter, and the seeds and strings %
per cent. The rind is said, moreover, to
have 2.S per cent. of protein or albumin
eids and one-half Of one per cent. OF the
solid matter fat, while the seeds and
strings have per cent. protein and 6.9
per cent. fat. 1t has been noted that an
old SOW which has had experience with
pumpkins will 60 for these parts first Of
sll-thus proving herself to be practical
scientist of a most discerning order.
AS food for man, the pumpkin has been
embalmed in song and story. There is,
however, but one form in which it can
be appropriately served. Some have
fondIy1 imagined that it could be utilized,
like squash, as table vegetable. But in
pie alone is it's appropriate sphere
Squash may displace the pumpkin in pie,
but pumpkin can never satisfactorily
displace squash on the table. It's sole
function as human food is as filling"
for tender, ffaky pie crust. And when
properly made and seasoned to just the
right spiciness, what dessert dish better
deserves place on the American farmers
table than the time-honOred, palate-de-
lighting pumpkin pie?
PROFITS OF SMALL FRUIT CULTURE.
NJ. A. Thayer, who has demonstrated
practically that small fruit culture can be
made profitable in Wisconsin, has just
published report from his fruit farm at
Sparta which, from his careful methods of
keeping accounts and the generous spirit
manifested, seems worthy OF commenda-
ton. Five years ago the question ofgrow-
ing small fruits there was doubtful and
he therefore gives full account of his
outlay and income. The first year he
planted eight acres of black berries, seven
of raSpberries and two Of Strawberries, at
q total expense of 81 ,6lS, with no income.
The second year he added eight acres. and
his total expenses were 81, ,402, and his in
come was S926. The third year he set ten
acres more to small fruits; his expenses
were 1884, and his receipts 81, 432, or con-
siderably more than $1,000 profit. The
fourth year, or 1891, the expenses were
$500, and the receipts IS, ,S46, with profit
OF 81 ,346. The receipts and expenditures
are itemiZed, and the report concludes
with advice to beginners to go slow,
doing only as much as can be done well,
since nothing but the best production
will pay, and it may be safely estimated
that, besides the land, every acre of small
fruit properly prepared, planted and
brought TO bearing age Will cost from
Sl25 to $3.50, or their equivalent in honest
work at 81 Is a day. Mr.. Thayer's con-
Guiding counsel is: "Begin modestly,
subscribe literally to good papers, in
crease your plantation as experience is
gained" and he promises to answer ques-
tions on particular points by mail or other
wise, or send short, plain instructions for
growing small fruits, free, TO anyone who
viii send his name.-Garden and Forest.
FEED THE GRASS.
There is no crop on the farm that will
give a better account of the manure than
the grass, or give half so quick returns.
Il farmer can come nearer "eating his
cake and keeping it, too" by hauling out
manure on the grass lands in the spring
than in any way we know of. Manure
hauled ont in April will come back in the
shape of hay in July, and the increased
root growth, as the result OF manuring
will be almost, if not altogether, equal 10
the exhaustion of manure. After the
meadows have taken a start and are too
high to allow the spreading of the ma
nure, or if it be too coarse, drive on to
the pasture. Get the manure out some
where on the grass. If the rains come
and wash out its substance the soil will
catch it and hungry grass roots will
snatch up every atom OF fertility quicker
than one can say Jack Robinson" and
hold it till some other plant is ready to
profit by its death. \ few years of this
method Of manuring will prepare the
farm for profitable crops of corn, no mat
ter what the season or what the price, and
after big crop of corn it is easy to grow
big crops of oats or wheat and get back to
grass and manure with a soil but little the
worse of the big drain in the way of ce-
real production. This we have long been
satisfied is the true policy, and by it we
have added 30 per cent. to our corn crops
and at the same time facilitated the meth
cd of getting out the manure. 1t is not
difficult, eff there is firsta willing mind, :"
to keep the farm clear if there is always a
place ready for the manure, but if it has
to wait for a field TO be ready there will
he great waste, no matter how great the
determination to keep the farm Clean
Rural World.
To INCREASE THE YIELD OF OATS.
Not having much land to sow to oats
this season / determined to put it in good
shape, in order that ii might do its best
The land is clay soil and not over and
above good at that. The spring was back
ward and on account of wet weather l
did not get my oats sown until the mid
die of April. The land was plowed har-
rowed and rolled; rolled and narrowed
again, then drilled lengthwise with two
bushels of oats and 100 pounds OF phos-
phate to the acre. 1t was then cross
drilled with two bushels more of oats
and 100 pounds of phosphate. After the
sowing the weather was very dry for five
or six weeks, so that they did not stool
ont much and were left rather thin on