The Dickinson press., 1892-03-26
Early Potatoes.

potatoes, more especially for home
use, it is quite an item to have at least
a few that will come in very early.
New potatoes and peas make an ap-
petizing dish, and if the potatoes are
ready to useby the time the peas can
he grown a little extra care will need
to be given. One of the most import
ant things is good seed of some Of the
best OF the early varieties. Almost
every year there are more or less new
varieties brought out that are claimed
to be very much earlier than any
thing Eel introduced before; but in a
majority of cases after q trial q large
proportion of these prove of no es.
pecial value. One Of the best of the
early varieties is the early sunrise, it
being q few days earlier under the
same conditions of growth than the
early rose or the beauty of Hebron.
A warm, sandy loan that is stirred
deep and is well drained and reason
ably rich is the best soil in which to
grow early potatoes. If manure is
used it should be thoroughly rotted
and fined, and then be we'll
Incorporated with the soil
Run out the burrows reasonably
deep, using a good single shovel
plough. 1t will save labor to take
pains to run out good-sized burrows.
With q wheel-barrow or hand-cart
bring a quantity of fresh manurefrom
the horse stable and put a good fork
full into the bottom of the furrow
where the hill of potatoes is to be
planted; put it into a compact
little pile, as the object in usingit isto
secure q small amount of heat and al
SO q thorough drainage. Over this
put at least an inch of fine rich soil
and then plant the potato on this,
and cover at least 4 inches deep. If
the seed is handled carefully it will
help a little if the seed lie sprouted
before planting; but if this is done,
very careful handling must be given
in order not to bruise " injure the
sprouts or more injury will be done
than benefit derived. Good drainage
on each side of the hill must be given
in order to induce a good termination
and a vigorous start to grow.
Thorough cultivation from the
start must be given, keeping the soil
clear of weedsand in a loose, mellow
condition. A few hills planted in this
way, if given good care, will be ready
for the table in not over ten weeks
from the time the seed is planted, but
every advantage must be taken to
give a favorable condition for growth
as possible.
Profit In Small Flocks Of Sheep.
Apractical sheep raiser thinks there
is more money in sheep thanformerly.
Writing for the Southern Farm he
says:
Where farmers have gone Intelligent
ly into the handling of small focks of
sheep they have usually procured such
results that it has been an object les
son to their neighbors and induced
them to do likewise. This is why so
many small hocks now are to be seen
all over the country than was the csss
a few years ago. To carry a small
flock in connection with the diversified
industries OF the farm, and in orderto
still further diversity them, is a wise
policy, and we hope to see it more
generally adopted. No branch of the
live stock business can be made more
profitable in a small way, nor will re-
turn more for the capital and labor
invested. One reason for this is that
there are SO many channels
through which the revenue comes.
THERE'S the rapid natural increase OF
the flock; the annual proceeds from
the sale OF wool; the food value; the
enrichment of the land; and their
services in clearing land, which is al.
ways worth considering, because they
are the best weed exterminators IN
the world. Another reason why sheep
are more profitable than they were in