The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-05-16

One Of the essentials to better and
cheaper beef making in the cattle re-
glons is the improvement ofthe grass
ranges. In many parts of the South
and Southwest, where droves of our
beef cattle are raised, the chief fodder
OF the animal is coarse unnitritious
grass, supplemented with a little grain,
and general heritage Of an inferior
character. These natural products of
the soil produced the poor scrub cattle
that have for years been coming from
the Southwestern regions
A complete revolution can be made
In that vast cattle country, and there
are some signs of such changes being
1naugurated. Bermuda grass, alfalfa,
lucern and many other grasses are
roofing out the old tough heritage and
covering the country with a rich, sue
culent grass. This is one of the great
economies Of beef raising This grass,
once started, will not only produce
larger crops than the present inferior
stuff, but it will give 1icher and heav-
Ter beef.
1t will make the animals grow to a
larger and heavier weight, and in ev-
cry respect show economy. Why so
many cattle owners still cling to the
old natural heritage instead Of adopt
ing the better policy can only be ex-
planned by shortsightedness stingi-
nes, or a belief that there is no i'm
proving scrub cattle, and that the best
must be made Of them while they last.
The latter error is too common in
this country. So many farmers have
have been taught to believe that the
best thing they can do with their native
stock is to kill them off and buy new
and selected stock. They cannot af-
ford to do this, and Consequently they
cling to their old animals and starve
them along as ever.
The native stock has many fine
points and qualities, and if they can
not be supplanted, by others they
should be improved by better cart and
things for animals. It may require a
generation or two, but the signs of i'm
provement will inevitably appear. The
tough, muscular system will relax a
little, forming a fine basis upon which
to put flesh. In fact, in crosses be-
tween the scrub stock and superior
breeds the former contributes. nothing
so valuable as a tough muscular sys-
TEN. Our fine-bred cattle usually lack
this, and it is good thing to infuse a
little into the new blood of the future
generations.
This question Of cheaper food pro-
duction can be applied to farmers in
other parts of the country. There is
no state where too much grass is rails
ed. When we reach that stage it may
be time to call a halt, but as grass is
at tile foundation Of all good farming,
we are long distance from having q
surplus. Grass will always be useful
in improving the soil and feeding more
stock. If this was in abundance the
cost of raising stock would be but
small for pure grass-raised stock are
not by any means poor animals. With
plenty of this a small quantity of
grain will not be noticeable.-Chicago
Journtl.
Growing Peanuts in the North.
Most of people think that peanuts
cannot be grown in the North, but
this is a mistake, as they will mature
crop as far north as Southern Wis
consin, if the soil is suitable and the
planting is done early. The early va
rieties mature in about five months
from planting. I prefer for garden
purposes the small Spanish sort, as
they mature early, are Of finer flavor
than the large Virginia nuts and may
be planted closer. am not describing
how to grow them as field crop now,
though there are large parts of South
ern Illinois and of the section in that
latitude where they would make a
profitable crop. To grow four or five
rods of them is not hard and the nuts
will be found to be very nice to have
through the winter.
The ground should be plowed five
Inches deep at least, and made very
fine. The soil should be Of such text.
ure that it does not bake, for the pea.
nut has the peculiar property Of bloom
ing above the surface and then the
flower spike turns into the ground and
the nut grows beneath the surface. If
the surface Is hard the spike cannot
penetrate 1t and dies in a few hours,
Soil that has considerable propor-
ton Of sand is best, and lime is nee
essary to a good crop. For five rods
Of ground bushel of air-slacked lime
is about the proper quantity, and if
this is sown after blowing it will be-
come thoroughly mixed with the soil
by the work Of filming it and will be
ready for the use Of the plant. Wood
ashes are good fertilizers and phos-
pilates show good results when used
on peanuts.
For garden plat the rows need not
be more than thirty inches apart, and
the seeds may be planted eighteen
inches apart in rows, one kernel in g.
place, for the larger sorts, and two if
Spanish nuts are planted.
The seeds must be taken from the
shells before planting, but the kernels
must not be broken. Plant about the
same time that corn is planted and
about the same depth. Keep the sur
face stirred and free from weeds. and
when the plants begin to bloom see
to 1t that the soil about the plant is
loose. -
Whom tho r1o MTG