The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-12

in part by the prospect of the growing
crop. The last department report indi-
Gated that the crop OF 1872 was in excess
of the estimates, and while exports have
been large, the home supply is ample.
The time is not far in the past when we
rarely failed to see a raise in price in
April or May, but precedents have not
governed the last few wears Wheat is
below the cost of production in all st ates
east of the Mississippi, but we do not see
any sure ground for expectation of any
great change of price this year. 1t is pos
sible that corner in the market may be
engineered by our grain gam oilers, but
beyond this we fear that prices will not
get much higher unless our growing crop
should indicate partial failure. The fact
is that we are growing too much wheat.
Barb-Wire for Fences.
Notwithstanding all that has been writ.
ten against the "deadly" barb-wire fence,
as some cal 1t, more OF it than any other
kind is seen throughout the country. One
point in its favor is its cneapness. 1t is
the least costly fence that can be con-
stTucted. This fact leads many TO use
barb-wire when they would prefer other
material. Many report serious injuries 10
stock, and this leads TO the criticisms
made by its opponents. These injuries
are usually due TO some careIessness or
lack OF judgement on the part of the
farmer. Horses can be taught To shun a
wire fence. but If thus is not done, and
they are unused TO 1t, there is always seri-
Gus danger. If they arc taken into the
field and led up to the fence on every side
they learn TO notice and To fear il. One
strand OF woven wire an inch or two wide
should be at or near the top to enable
horses 10 see the fence, and with these
precautions there Is small danger of in
jury. When colts are raised within such
enclosures they rarely get badly injured.
Teach the horse where the fence is, and
that it will hurt them, and make one
strand visible for some distance. and the
danger of injury will be comparatively
slight.
seed Potatoes.
To THE AGRICULTURAL EDITOR OF TIE
sENTINgL-Sr: In your last issue you cay
DO not plant seed potatoes that have been
chilled" In late issue of an eastern farm
paper thst take some asks the question
will white potatoes that have been partially
frozen do for seed ~ and T. Greiner, the editor
o. the garden department. answers follows:
Potatoes that were chilled, but not frozen, so
that they are stil sound. but ara iniuied only
in quality. are probably good enough for seed. "
Now, when two authorities differ, whom shall
follow? If chilled potatoes not good for
seed. | want to know it. This isa matter OF
importance to all pOtato-grOwers, especially
after this hard winter. HoUsIER.
1t is our aim to give nothing but facts
in this department. We cannot hep it il
some one reckless enough to advise q
reader to plant chilled seed potatoes. Ii
is probable that no has never tried them
in fact his answer indicates so much.
There is too much guess-work in this
world. and people are after definite facts
We know by many years experience that
nothing 10 more easily injured than seed
potatoes. A temperature several degrees
below the freezing point Will not cause
potatoes 10 Re: soft but il Injuries the ten
der eyes. We use care to keep tempera-
ture above thirtv.six degrees. rs tho tender
eye is very susceptible. Whenever the
eating quality of potato has been iu-
jured by the bursting OF the minute starch
cells, you know the tender eve is injured.
Last year We planted large quantity
OF seed from the North. in which there
were few potatoes frozen in slipping.
Thew were carefully culled out. and there
-
many were only chilled and could not be
detected The result was that about one
sixth of the hills were weak and apind-
ling. and our loss was correspondinRiv
heavy. In this way we hope to make
this department a sale guard tor others.
We will be pleased 10 hear from those of
our readers who have had experience
with chilled potatoes. Let US have the
facts.
Commercial Fertilizers.
To THE AGRICULTURAL EDIToR SENTINEL
Sr: A. b. asks whether commercial fertilizers
impovsrish the land in the long run. and says
that some OF his neighbors will not haul barn.
yard manure 80 long as they can buy fertilizers.
believe tens OF thousands OF farmers are max.
ing an unwise use OF these fertilizers. They
are all right in their place. but believe that
they are a siimulsnt, not exactly like lime, but
somewha, OF that character, aud that when
they are used 1t should be to get grass started.
II they will insure a each OF clover, then the '
are all right. The clover will build up the
ground. Thousands OF farmers are using fer.
tiizers without testing them right. They buy
brand that is rich in nitrogen or potash when
their soil needs a phosphate, or they spend
their money for one brand when better ones
are being offered at lower prices There is lot.
OF room for fraud. Farmers should test brand.
in a small way and see that they get their mon.
ey's worth.
These commercial fertilizers make n bic
show on wheat sometimes by Increasing the
amount OF straw. when there is no mere wheat
in the straw than the untertiliSed ground.
Only the scales or hall bushel measure can
determine these things. We are offen footed