The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-07-28
! 4 h AGRICULTURAL WORLD
HR0Y1TABLU READING FOR AGRI-
CULTURALISTs.

IHA014TABLB READING FOR AGRI-
CULTURALISTs.
Farmers Will Find e1 Advantage IN
Developing Their Own Seeds-The
Horse Breeding Industry--Notes OF
Interest.
The agricultural error is the attempt
to cultivate more ground than can be
well done. The low and lowering
yield Of all farm crops is clear proof
that cultivation has not been directed
on true and philosophical lines for
ages past. A less acreage well attend
ed with seed developed to its fullest
capacity will give greater yields in the
aggregate. A thousand bushels of DO
tatoes have been grown on one acre;
2o4 bushels of corn have been produced
from single acre Of ground. These
crops show demonstrably that mother
earth" would pan out" literally If
the cultivator would pursue course in
harmony with the demands of the nat
ural laws which govern the growth of
plants. If it is the nature Of small
grain to branch and produce several
stalks from each grain, then it is per-
fectly clear that the seed should be
grown in the way that favors this habit
to the greatest extent. If it is the
truth that single stalk Of corn or
potatoes will do better than where
several are crowded together, then
it is clear that the seed should be
grown in that way.
But 1t is objected that farmers can
not take time to monkey in this
way to improve seed. It is freely adj
mltted that this objection is well taken;
that is, it is true that under the pre-
vailing system of attempting to cult
vate more acres than .ean be we'll done,
the farmer has no time to devote to
the improvement Of seed. But the
facts already adverted to show that he
is not justified in proceeding any fur.
Their with a false system Of agriculture.
Better lessen the cultivated area by
devoting a larger portion to grass for
pasture or for hay so that the live
stock will not be pinched for pasture
when short dry SPELL comes in the
summer, and when an unfavorable win
ter overtakes the farlne" he may have
an abundant supply of good hay on
hand. Who does not Know that it is
the rule to see stock stinted both in
summer and winter for feed? Make
the soil do it's best for all the time,
both in the production of grain and
grass crops.
IT one-half the land now devoted to
growing grain crops is properly cult
waited there will be as much obtained
as is now realized from the Whole and
this alone will give you time and op-
portunlty for seed development. This
broad gauge" system of farming is
at fault. Organize the system so that
the true principles Of agriculture may
be applied. Seed development and
your cultivation must not only raise
the low yields of crops, but the deple-
ton Of soils that has been going on
since the settlement Of the country
must be arrested. Good culture of the
soil will do this. Nothing else can.
Nature has applied an abundant and
inexhaustible supply of plant food, if
the cultivator will but conform to the
demands of the laws that govern plant
growth. Twelve bushels of wheat to
the acre and twenty-four bushels of
corn to the acre will not do much
longer, and these are the average yields
throughout the country for the last
ten years as reported by the agricul-
tural department Of the government.
Who will object to improvement?
Fencing the Live Stock.
The question of fencing calls for
serious consideration on the average
stock farm, says o. J. Farmer. The or
binary worm rail fence is movable
and substantial against high winds.
though 1t may be also pushed down by
nervous, restless animals. The latter
objection applies in part to post and
rail- or post and soft board" fencing. i,
The slack and loose condition of plain
wire renders it Objectionable when used
alone. Barbed wire is cruel in many
instances, and should be used sparingly
IN stock farm, especially when the
entire fence is made of it. For parti-
ion fences it should never be used.
or when stock is on both sides injury
almost sure to result. It is also a
question whether one can afford to en-
lose his farm with barbed wire en-
irely in fencing against the public or
o ward off his neighbours stock across
lis line" Particularly is this true in
loosely settled district or near a village
where many people and much stock
Ass by. An innocent animal is often
rowded against the cruel barbs by a
1ciouS beast; and at night men,
women and children, as well as
nimals are all exposed to danger.
he average farmer can better afford
. such cases to lose share Of his grass
r growing grain from the occasional
aid OF outside live stock than take the
lsk Of occasional damage suits because
his bristling barbed fence along a
rowded thoroughfare. A substantial
7oven wire fence seems to be the most
esirable article for enclosing wards {
nd pastures for stock as well as for |
ne highway. It is ornamental, too. as
'en as durable, and in the end is the
1eapest means of enclosing ones prem 8
les.
carlet ClOver-A Plant Worth Try
ing.