Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-01-20
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In some recent experiments by the
Michigan Agricultural College. the
surprising result was found that the
Jersey beef, though costing more per
pound to fatten. was enough better SO
that for those who appreciate the dif-
ference between good beef and poor it
would pay to fatten it This is con-
trary 10 the common impression among
| farmers. The small size of Jersey cat
| lie has turned attention from this
breed for the butcher but it had in
these experiments smaller percent
| age of waste meat than any other, and
was especially fine Favored in parts.
| These experiments have not been tried
far enough yet to be conclusive. In
| dividual peculiarities of farm have
much to do with the amount OF waste
in animals, and the flavor of meat is,
as every one knows, greatly dependent
upon what the animal has been fed.
Growing Sweet Potatoes in the North
The first and most important step is
the selection of the soil, for while sweet
potatoes can be grown on almost any
kind of land where drainage is good,
yet soil in which sand predominates is
very much the best
Land should be used which drains to
the south or southeast, and on which
the water will not remain on the sur
I face after rains.
Ridges at least foot high are nec-
! essary, and they can be made in the
small garden OF field by pulling the
earth together with hoe, care being
| taken that all trash or weeds and grass
are burned beneath the surface; for
these have a tendency to dry out the
ridge if they protrude from the sides.
! Where the plot OF ground planted is
long enough to use team and plow,
the ridges are easily made by throwing
out one furrow to the depth of four 10
| six inches, and returning with the
| plow, the same soil is thrown back into
the trench thus made. Now turn and
| go back on the other side Of the partly
formed ridge, making the furrow just
wide enough to make a pointed ridge.
( If, however, the last two burrows do
not meet, or il the sides of the ridge
are rough or full of clods, use hoe to
smooth and even it up, and TO make il
as high rs desired.
! When the seasons are short ano es-
| pecially if the soil is heavy, well rUtted
stable manure can be mixed with the
soil in the ridges with good results, as
it lightens the soil and warns it and
pushes the plant TO maturity.
! The ridges are usually three to foul
feet apart, and the plants one to two
feet apart on the ridge; the Jerseys
the former, and the Benuda and Colder
! Queen the latter distance. Plants
should not be put out until the weather
is warm, so there will be no check in
their growth. The best time to se
plants is Immediately after a rain, but
they may be set in very dry we, Oh Ell
by making hole in the ground with
a stick, and after dropping in the plant,
] pour in n pint of water, and, as it set
ties away, press the soil firmly about
| the plant; but in every case the We
soil should be covered with loose and
/ dry dirt, as it would bake if left expos
ed to the sun.
Very little cultivation is required
just enough to keep down the weeds
until the plants cover the ground, whe Z
] they will take care OF themselves. /
the vines of the Jersey meet and sent
runners into the soil they should bt
lifted enough to break the small root.
thus formed and confine the growth tC
the tubers In the ridge. This is all tina
is needed until digging time when they
may be taken out with hoe, spade ol
plow. 1t is not generally known that
the earlier and not wholly ripenet
| potatoes may be much sweeter by lay
ing them in the sun for few days afteI
| digging.