The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-18
OCTOBER ON THE FARM.
Profitable Potato Growing - Cheaper
PhOsphates.

The growing of potatoes should be
profitable. A yield of $50 bushels of
tubers per acre may cause a loss for the
reason that as much work in blowing.
planting. cultivating and harvesting
such a yield is as necessary as would be
required for twice as many bushels. An
experimental plot has yielded in proper
ton of over l 900 bushels per acre, which
demonstrates that an acre of land can
be made to give larger yield with the
cultivation if more plant food is ap
piled.
Forcing young peach trees is some
times the cause of their failure at the
age Of three or four years. Young pear
trees should never be forced too rapidly,
as the overgrown trees are more often
attacked by blight than those which
are pushed rapidly when young.
The most money made In farming is
by improving the quality. In all cases
where an increase in the quantity Is
sought the cost is made greater and
usually too much land Is used, while
the lack of quality lowers the market
price of the article.
Ventilation I'm the stable is essential,
but there is a line TO be drawn between
ventilation and cold draughts of air
flowing in. 1t is useless to make the
stable weather tight and then cut holes
to let in the air under the mistaken
suppositiOn that the animals are suf-
locating for fresh air. 1t is difficult to
keep the air out, even If it is attempted,
especially during the cold weather.
An economical mode Of feeding oats
is TO cut the grain and straw together
with a cutter. 1t is not necessary to
thresh oats unless the grain is desired
particularly. The straw can be made
nv ~ rr-fft,
grain, and especially If the oats crop
was cut when the grain was in milky
stage
1t does not pay to buy fertilizers and
secure only crop of fifteen bushels of
wheat per acre. The land may not need
the kind Of fertilizer that has been APP
piled, and better result may be obtained
by using only special fertilizer to bal
ance the plant food already existing in
the soil. One hundred pounds of bone
dust may give better results than half
ton Of mixed fertilizer in proportion to
cost The farmer should experiment
and learn how to use fertilizers, as well
as how to apply them.
Sheep need good care. 1t is seldom
that sick sheep fully RECEIVERS its
health, and prevention of disease in sheep
is far better than attempted cures.
Phsophates are cheaper now than a
few years ago, and they may be safely
and profitably used on nearly all soils,
and especially on farms where beef and
milk are shipped TO market. 1t will ben
eft all farms to receive an application
Of air-slacked lime at this season also,
while wood ashes will always be found
beneficial Such fertilizers may be termed
staple" as they are OF value to all
crops.
The fall Is not the time to work on
the roads, as the frost will not permit
OF travel over newly made roads. The
spring Is the proper time for repairs,
but the misfortune is that the teams are
then required for other work. To secure
a good road 1t must be made good at
once. without regard 10 cost, instead Of
being worked over and repaired every
season. Roads are expensive when they
require work on them every year, and
are no better year after year than when
first laid out and graded.
More people and more animals die of
fresh air" in winter, from cold draughts
on them. than from all other causes
combined II is doubtful II any animal
has ever lacked for plenty Of fresh air
in the stable on a cold winters day.
To keep up the appetite of an animal
is to promote growth and increase.
When an animal refuses its food, or is
dainty, the best thing to do IL 10 change
the food. or add to the variety, instead