The record-union., 1893-12-15

Fodder-Butter-Mak Making-Interesting
Farm Items of General Interest.
One Of the most instructive exhibits at
the Worlds Fair was the New York State
potato show. 1t was, perhaps, the finest
in every respect at any exposition. There
were 300 varieties of potatoes, exhibited
by $50 growers, located in the twenty-five
counties of the State where potatoes are
a leading crop. These potatoes were
grown by contract in counties that pro-
duce annually not less than one million
bushels.
The exhibit, as a whole, was a valuable
object lesson to potato growers every
where, furnishing solution TO the veXed
question, 'What number of eyes to the
hill will produce the largest returns Of
marketable potatoes?" The test reveals
the fact that one eye produced the
largest potatoes, while three eyes yielded
the largest number Of pounds of market
able tubers. For example, on a given
piece Of ground, planted with but one
eye to the hill, the yield was $50 pounds
OF uniformly large, smooth potatoes, with
no small ones. On piece of ground of
the same size and similarly treated, with
two eyes planted to the hill, the yield was
40 pounds of merchantable potatoes; and
on another strip planted with three eyes
to the hill, the yield was 953 pounds OF
good merchantable potatoes.
The hill tests were intended to show
the possibilities in pOtato-groWlng under
extensive cultivation, and revealed some
remarkable results. For instance, the
Early Maine yielded at the rate Of l, leo
bushels per acre; Dutton's Seeding
which is very large ana adapted to poor
soil, yielded at the rate of 900 bushels per
acre, and Chicago Market, 574 bushels
per acre.
In nearly every instance where large
yield was reported high grade CONNER
cial fertilizer, valued at s. per hundred,
was sown, and not infrequently as much
as GEO pounds to the acre was applied. 1t
is only fair to say that the Early Maine
variety. which produced so enormously,
received especial care and attention. In
addition to the liberal application of high
grade fertilizers, the potatoes were regu-
larly irrigated. Such treatment, of
course, would not be practicable with the
average farmer, but it emphasizes the
fact that it is not the cost of production
that counts. but the profit over and above
the cost Of production. If an application
OF 800 pounds of fertilizers per acre, cost
ing SlZ, will add to the yield 100 bushels
of potatoes, worth $50, it will certainly
pay 20 use fertilizers.
Apropos, / may mention the extraor-
dinary results obtained by the celebrated
Frenchman, Girard, that is exciting the
French and English farmers to-day. He
has produced as much as 600 bushels Of
potatoes per acre over large areas. His
plan is, briefly, to plow six inches deeper.
OF fertilizers, he applies from eight to
twelve tons of manure to the acre, to-
gether with 250 pounds of superphOsphate
and 200 pounds of sulphate of potash and
adds dressing of 200 pounds of nitrate
OF soda.
Many growers in Ohio do not plow
their potato ground until the spring has
opened and in consequence a number
last summer reported that by reason Of
continuous wet weather their ground was
lily prepared, the planting late and the
crop light.
My practice is to plow the potato
ground in February or March, in order
TO subject it to the melowing influence of
alternate thawing and freezing. Early in
April land in this section as early as the
5th) the ground is thoroughly narrowed,
a work that is rendered comparatively
easy by reason OF the disintegrating
frosts. Then, the potatoes having been
cut the day previous, we hitch up to a
planter and drill from three to five acres
in an afternoon. We thus avoid the de-
lays incident to a wet spring, and get the
benefit of the early and late rains.
Last May, when some farmers were
lamenting the frequent rains that pre-
vented the preparation Of their potato
ground, we had given our crop the Sec
ond narrowing, and the vines were fully
six inches high. My experience is that
the early planted potatoes do best. but in
order to plant early the plow must be
started early.-A. T. McKelvey in Ohio
Farmer.
GENERAL FARM NOTES.
Throw dish-water around fruit trees,
currants and other shrubbery.
Coffee grounds are said to be good when
poured around young shrubbery.
Buckwheat may be ground and fed
with advantage. Used with skim milk
it is one of the best grains that can be
given young pigs.
Sunfower seed, it is well known, is a
good egg-prOducing food for chickens; it
is also tine food to give the plumage a
glossy appearance for exhibition pur-
poses.
The appearance of animals on farm
tells good deal about the owner and his
tastes. Thin cows, with prominent ribs
in winter or spring, are not much of a
recommendation.
When the leaves are allowed to 90 to
waste there is but little actual loss in that
manner, but 1t means loss of valuable
manure that might have been saved by
using the leaves as an absorbent.
The removing of the corn tassels, as a
means for increasing the crop, does not
seem to be obtaining much favor. It was
q very pretty theory, but had it's begin
ming and ending with the scientists.
More food than is required is a waste.
as much will be thrown under foot and
trampled. There is no fixed allowance
The best rule TO observe is to give each
animal as much as it will eat up clean and
be satisfied.
Spread manure around the raspberry
canes. 1t will serve as mulch, and the
rains will carry the plant food down
where the roots viii secure it in the
spring. This plan viii give large berries
next season.
The man who owns poultry farm and
runs it according to either Gunter or
Hoyle, would never know there was any
hard times if he didn't happen TO meet
some of his neighbors who eschew all
improved methods.
Sugar beets make an excellent feed for
the hogs. So you may experiment to
find if you can grow beets that will make
good sugar and not waste your crop OF
time while you are doing it. The hogs
viii pay you for them.
The small potatoes are worth nearly as
much per bushel, in food value, on the
farm, as the larger ones. They NAV not
be salable, but the pigs will care nothing
for the size, and will acceptthem as read
ily as they will the best.
Among the causes for the spread of dis