The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-08-09
FOR THE IA RMERS.
INTERESTING FARM TOPICS FOR
RURAL READERS. 3#S
Prospect of the Dat Crop of 1s94-A
Device for Trappers-The Poultry
Yard-HOw to Ship Hny-Farm
Notes. it.F1 -

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are rather discoura ging at this time,
writes w. b. Farmer, in an exchange;
but the prospects Of high prices for the
grain that is raised are astonishingly
good. Oats have been climbing up in
value 50 fast that they have greatly
:out-distanced both wheat and corn.
Farmers that have oats in abundance
to sell to-day may consider themselves
fortunate. But is it fortune or good
luck that makes them on the right side
Of the market at such time?
For a year or two past some Of the
most progressive agriculturists have
foreseen the ultimate outcome OF the
large crop yields of corn and wheat,
and the comparatively small crops of
oats and hay. It may be that holders
Of oats are simply showing their dis
erection by being in possession Of this
grain. Oats after this year will hold a
more prominent position in the eyes
Of grain growers than eyer before, and
instead Of talking nothing but corn and
wheat there will be many to ask the
question, ''What is the matter with
oats p Some farmers will say that oats
sap the soil so that it does not pay to
raise them, but it is much better to
raise oats and add manure to the soil
than to raise corn and wheat at a loss.
Then what is wrong about alternating
with oats and hay SO that the green
manure can add to the land what the
oats take from it? Hay, like oats, is a
crop that is looming up on the horizon
as the most important crop raisel, and
with these two popular crops continual
~ growing no farm need be run down.
The demand for oats this season over
that for corn or wheat simply shows
the tendency of the relative impor-
lance of the three grains in the future.
Parts Of the country are better adapt
ed to the cultivation Of oats than to
either that Of wheat or corn and such
land should be turned over to oats i'm
mediately. The heavy yields of oats in
Canada and Maine give results that
many grain growers in other states can.
not expect to reach, but even with less
than these heavy crops one might be
well cOntented. In selecting the seed
for oats the heavy ones from the oat
producing centers should be obtained.
The seeds that come from the North
west are heavy, clean and very meaty.
When planted on a good soil and
properly cultivated, every bushel turns
the scales at forty pounds or a little
over. When one realizes that it is the
heavy oats that tell in the market it
would pay one to buy such excellent
seed, even though there is enough in
the bin to satisfy all needs. More
over, this heavy seed Of the North and
Northwest is backed up with the
recommendations of many Of the ex-
pertinent stations, whose motives in
Investigating such matters we must
accept as unbiased. It may be WE'LL
EhoWever,s to take all of the stories
about the wonderful yields with a slight
discount
When oats are a drug in the market,
| then it is time to consider ways Of
utilizing them as cattle food. That
| they are excellent when mixed with
straw, no one disputes, but it looks
very much as if corn and wheat would
be cheaper cattle food in the future
| than oats. The demand for the latter
cereal during the coming season will
be general, and the prices paid for
them high.