The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-09-17
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers

MOTIFS.
II Is difficult for most farmers 70 understand
the nature of ammonia aud the part it plays
in fcrtiizing. 1t is not, as they suppose,
natural component OF stable manure but is
formed by the decomp position Of the nitrogen
Gus products contained therein. There is no
ammonia whatever in fresh droppinCs. Ii is
only formed when these begin to decompose.
Being volatile, it then escapes into the air,
unless arrested by absorption. IL sometimes
takes fully a year for manure to develop all
the ammonia that IL is capable Of producing.
or course the best absorbent for the ammonia
Is the soil at tho feet Of growing plants
Tho Iowa Experiment Station finds that
Turkish and Golden Cross are tho best and
most reliable varieties Of Winter wheat for
that State.
1t is said that the leaves Of the elder, scat
tered over cabbages, cuCumbers. squnshes, and
other plants, will eficctually shield them from
the attacks Of insects. Plans and other fruits
may be saved by placing elder leaves on the
branches aud through the trees
Years ago, when railroads were first pro-
jocted, they were bitterly opposed by many
farmers on the ground that they would ruin
the market for horses. But, from census
bulletin just issued, it appears that the horses
ia the United States numbered 6,2i9 Ia in
1860; 7,ll53sO in 1870; 1887, i55 in 1850 and
A,956,0l7 ia ls9O-having more than doubled
in 20 years, As will be seen. Mules aud asses
DO not increase so rapidly; we had l.15l1i in
l-GO; ], 1871 in 1870; l,sI2, sos in 1850, and
2,29G,Oi5 in 100. or horses, three States re-
port over million each on hand last year
Illinois, Iowa, aud Texas. Two othcrs-NIis-
souri, and Kausas-have over 100000 apiece.
COBS ~ POTATOES
The question whether the larger part ~ the
farm shall be devoted 10 corn or potato 8 has
some relation 90 the character Of tho a.m, its
location and the character Of the farmer him
self. Near market more immediate money
can be got out Of a ci-grown potato crop. The
fact that il is sold direct from the farm makes
IL easier TO raise a considerable amount Of
money from potatoes than from corn. Hence
/ the pOtatoe crop in places where there is good
market is the natural resource for those in debt
who wish 10 get out quickly. But this is neces-
/ sarily at the expense of tho farm. In selling
I crops in this way part OF the farm goes with
\ every load. A poor farmer. however. has usu-
/ ally poor stock. IL he grew corn the only way
u
/ possible sell the stalks also. Thus used tho
/ corn crop is quite exhaustive Of fertility as
I the potato crop Yet ia every ncigubDrhOOd
4 where good farming prevails there are some
/ farmers able 10 make more money out OF "a corn
! crop than others can from potatoes. The secret
/ is that they have stock that turns their corn
aud stalks into more money than they will sell
! for Such farmers grow potatoes for sale when
/ they arc near market, but they purchase grain
aud other food for stock, 30 as 10 make richer
\ manure. IL requires money ia do this but IL
/ is the way To make money. We believe when
/ farmers become truly prosperous they will aim
! 10 keep greater value Of live stock on their
/ farms than the value Df their land. IL is thus
4 that they can best increase the value OF both
ImeTicdH CH'itr1'gr
/ COMPARATIVE VALUE or DIFFERENT vARIE-
TIES or WHEAT As SHOWN ~ CAREFUL
FISTS
The following table gives the principal results
| OF a comparative test Of 81 diGcrcntly-named
! sorts Of wheat nc the Ohio Experiment Station.
] The wheat was grown Gu bottom land, part OF
\ which had been IN wheat I'm $50 and q part ia
/ clover that year. Tho wheat on the clover sod
/ lodged about a month before harvest while
| that on wheat s.ubblg dyed but little and gave
as largo "a yield OF glain, averaging better
/ weight per bushcl. The last nine lots in table
grow on the stULblc. Not All tho differently
named sorts on this list are really distinct. The
/ Station finds no difference as yet between Sb-
l lcy's New Golden, Tasmanian Red, and Medi-
4 tcrraucan; between Reliable and Valley and
! but little if any between these aud Egyptian
! or between Red FuitZ German Emperor and
/ Michigan Amber hut the latter may DO
wrongly named or between Silver ChaT Mar
! tins Amber or Iandreth or between Royal
/ Australian aud CiawsOn, or between Diehl-
! Mediterranean and Missouri Blue stem. IL will
/ be noticed that the largest yield this year has
/ come from Rudy. Surprise, Valley aud the
synonyms Of Valley, viz: Democrat and Rus
i sian Red while several Of the other sorts follow
! close behind.