The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-04-25

AGRICULTURE.
Better go back to the time OF the
cradle and the scythe than to abandon
the silo; it is the most important inven-
ton Of the age. 1t increases the crop
by increasing the nutriment, and it is
the nutriment we are after rather than
the bulk. There is nothing which an
swers the problem of saving as does the
silo.
For the silo we do not have to cut the
corn by hand. nor pay for the husking
or cribbing, nor for the loss from mice
or Smelling, nor haul to the mill, nor pay
the 1.-THE for grinding. Stalks and cobs
are saved, and the yards not Uttered up
with them. To be without silo is to
be % years behind the time.
The gardener often grows two or three
crops from the same land in one season.
This is economy, for he manures so
highly and cultivates 30 thoroughly for
the first crop that the soil is filled with
plant food which would be wasted away
If something we're not planted to gather
it up. Thus many of our fields might
produce late crop of something better
than chick weed.
| We are not saving people. We have
yet to learn the art from those who are
still cultivating the lands used by their
grandfathers, on the other side of the
water. Necessity may some time teach
us to look after little things. A truck
farmer, from his culls and refuse, may
feed as much stock as does neighbor
from the entire product of like tract.
The using of tools does not wear them
out 30 rapidly as do rain, rust and ex-
posture. Because one has no fine barn
or nicely built shed he is not excusable
If he does not care for his implements of
indsutry. He who will not provide some
sufficient makeshift will never see the
day when he will be able to put up the
good buildings.
Throwing away the "seed end" of
potatoes has been advocated on the as
sumption that one reduces the tendency
to produce small tubers. Experiments
have not justified such practice. In
any event, before 30 doing a farmer
should make test by planting clusters
Of eyes by themselves, and noting the
results.
See that the earth is banked up
about the newly set fence posts, so that
the water will keep away from them;
otherwise the water will settle about
them. causing them to decay and to
break off near the ground, which is
common thing with fences not yet old
by any means.
1t is the part of wisdom to replow
badly frosted field Of potatoes, and plant
it to corn or other crop; after frost
new shoots may branch out, il left to
grow. but the performance is not equal
to the promise. II frost threatens,
throw ridge of earth over the rows,
and this can afterward be leveled down
with the harrow.
AS a rule the caulifiower will do we'll
where cabbage will, though somewhat
more tender. The ground must be rich,
and kept moist. naturally or artificially.
In the home garden, soap suds and
other slops can be poured around them
with profit, when we'll along in growth.
How few Of the novelties of the last
| 10 years have proved valuable? Farmers
do not wish to be behind the times, but
they should go cautiously. 1t is not
we'll to be carried away by our pride in
having the very newest; this is the work
of our experiment stations, and of those
farmers who have both the strong incli-
nation and the time and means.
Pumpkins fill well the gap between
summer pasturage and winter barn
feeding, and keep up the flow of milk in
cattle which is SO apt to fall off about
this time. They are the cheapest and
most easily raised of all our winter
green foods. They do not do their best
in corn fields, but on even poor ground
will do we'll by themselves if the hills
are MANFRED at time of planting.
Avoid deep roofing crops in a thin
exhausted soil. Kainit and plaster will
furnish to the surface soil potash, lime.
magnesia and sulphuric acid spare
what stable manure is possible, remem-
bering that it can not assimilate over
much. Have crop of peas to turn
under the next year, after an application
of more mineral fertilizers, and the field
will be ready for regular crops.
The farmer and his family should live
better than any one else in the world.
II they can not increase values and
make their crops worth more money,
they may improve their condition and
make life easier by producing more Of
the luxuries and using them at home.
Some do; il others do not, it is their own
fault-yes, misfortune.
DAIRY.
Successful management Of the calf
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