The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-04-08
April on the Farm


drop out of sight next year to give
place to another batch Of new varie-
ties, all Of which are ''the best ever in
troduced.' II j. well for farmers 10
test new varieties, bat this may be
done to advantage with one or two
potatoes. For your general crop stick
to the kinds that you know are adap-
ted to your soil and climate until you
are sure that some new variety Is bet
ter.
The garden is never so rich that Il
will not be benefited with more man.
ure or fertilizer. Keep 1t always up to
the highest degree Of fertility, and be-
gin war on weeds as soon as they be-
gin 10 appear out Of the grognd. New
er use poor seed in garden, as you
cannot afford to take the risk Of failure
in termination, and as early vegeta-
bles should be an object, every week IS
important in the spring, for the crops
should get a good start before the dry
season sets i'm.
II is much easier 10 feed whole grain
than 10 grind it, but it is better to put
the labor TO il than to lose in the feed.
Ground grain can be more intimately
mixed with coarse food, and in that
respect it not only serves to balance
the ration, but the combination Of
foods cheapens the whole and more
perfect digestion results.
Sow patch OF oats 70 be cut as green
food. The oats should be cut just a.
the seeds are in the milky stage, which
arrests the nutritious matter in the
stalks and renders them very
palatable. They are cured the same a.
is done with hay. Farmers who Use
oats in this manner run them through
a fodder cutter stalks and heads and
sprinkle little eOrnmeal over them.
They are highly relished by cattle and
horses.
If your wheat does not appear prom
ising apply from 80 to 100 pounds Of
nitrate Of soda per acre upon it. The
effect will b. quickly noticeable, and
the wheat will appear to take on new
growth at once. the nitrate is some
what expensive, but the results at har-
vest time will show that the increased
yield viii nearly pay for the fertilizer.
Get ten cent package of rape, KAT
fir corn and sOrghum, in or,ler to test
them. Ii will be but little loss if they
do not prove satisfactory
Grow a small plot in hOrseradish.
Simply place the roots on top Of the
ground and turn a furrow on them.
They will grow and thrive just as well
as when more labor in planting is be-
slowed.
Don't buy a bag of cheap fertilizer
that you may not want. Where phos-
pilates are the principal ingredients in
a bag, the fertilizer will sell at low
price because phOsphates or potash
may be much cheaper than nitrogen
Your land may not require but a small
proportion of phOsphates, hence the
price paid may Re reasonable, but the
unwise. Farmers have
much to learn in regard to buying fer
tiIizers, and they should endeavOr TO
become more familiar with the sub
stances entering into their compost
ton.
Here is point on asparagus. \
great many persons who grow it do -
with fiat culture. The proper mode for
the best results II 70 hill Up the rows
Apply fertilizer on the rows now while
they are flat, and then turn a furrOw
on the row from each side Ii the row
is filed up two feet high il is all the
better Cut the stalks just as they are
peeping ont of the ground They will
then be tender from the tips to the
butts, and as white Is celery. If al
lowed to grow out of the ground the
tips will be tender and the butts tough
Farmer. may make a mistake in
Overl Joking their local markets.
When articles are shipped to the large
cities, owing to inducements in the
shape Of better prices, the commissions
and cost of transportation may leave
less profit than could be secured nearer
home. Butter and eggs can always
find good market and ready sale, be-
ing in demand everywhere.
II should not be satisfactory that the
farm pays. Make every portion of it
give a profit. If there Is a field that is
not as fertile As the remaining portions
of the farm il should receive extra at
tcatiOn. Never be satisfied with what
the farm does, but endeavor to still
further improve it. The farmer who
concludes that he has reached the best
that can be obtained from his farm
will find himself going backward
Successful farmers are those who are
striving to obtain more.
Farmers who buy feed To he used on
the farm not only derive a certain pro-
fit from it by converting it into milk
and butter, but more and better manure
is made, especially when eottOnseed is
used. No farm will lose its fertility as
long as there is something being
brought on it as well as sold off, as the
land receives back in the manure the
fertility given up to the crops.
1t is perhaps as cheap to buy cotton
seed meal, to be applied directly on the
soil, a. to purchase some fertilizers
that are mixed. COttOnseed meal enters
largely into the composition of fertiliz-
ers intended for tobacco, and if the
hulls are also used the land will Te-
eeive potash, phOsphOrie acid and nj
trogen in fair proportion.
The Stagnant water of a pond is not
suitable for any kind Of stock. If there
is no running water the use Of a wind
mill should be resorted To.
The sun calls attention 10 the
fact that the popularity of carnations
for several years past has resulted in a
higher grade of these flowers being
placed on the market. Its fragrance
and lasting quality recommend the
earnation TO men who wish to wear n
lapel flower, and dealers say that the