The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-01-02
FARM NOTES.

Sour apples, when well ripened,
have considerable value as food for fat
tening swine.
An experienced dairyman claims
that winter mixers require liberal
grain feeding.
In 1898 the quantity of wool avail
able for the commerce Of the world was
about 9, 267, OOO,O pounds.
Alfalfa is one of the best crops grown,
where it will grow. But in our north
ern climate we should go slow on alfalfa
Sweden last year manufactured IL
600 tons of beet sugar, about IL, 600 tons
in excess of her domestic consumption.
1t is calculated that the cost Of carry
ing ripe beeves from Australia to Lon
don is about $40 per head. The cost
for sheep is Sc.
The best dairy calf can be practically
ruined by rearing tand keeping it as
beef animal. Beware Of carcase fat
and beefy outline.
There were 7O,UOO,O0O pounds of oleo-
margarine made in this country last
year, which is equal to the product of
OO,OOO cows, a fact that shows its detri-
mental effect upon the dairy.
Missouri is said to have produced g.
SAG, 600 barrels.of apples.this year. Thus
Missouri is fourth in the list of great
apple-producings states: only New York,
Pennsylvania and Ohio exceeding her
this year.
1t is contended by some that an
acre of clover 10 equal to one of corn for
hogs. It is certain that rye pasture
is very valuable, especially in a dry
season. Both grass and the exercise
are desirable.
1t is said that if team is inclined to
pull unevenly the trouble may be
remedied by unhltching the inside
traces and crossing them, so as to have
the same horse attached to the same
end of each singletree.
Cuttings for trees or plants, for any
purpose will start quicker if they are
cut just below joint. They should
never be taken from the woody part of
the plant, but from the tender branches,
which will break, when bent, with q
snap.
Do not put sweet and sour and every
other kind of cream together when
you 60 to ripen it. If it must be held
over to have sufficient for a churning
the next day, let it be kept as sweet as
possible until the next cream comes
from the separator, and ripen all to-
gether.
For winter eggs select some choice
young hens ,and pullets. Keep them
away from the rooster as unfertile eggs
keep better. Feed rich food with
scraps Of meat, ground bone, variety
of grain and other feed, with warm
quarters, and you will have plenty of
winter eggs.
Farmers are disposed to defer until
spring much of the work that could be
done before that season arrives. On
the opening of warmer weather all the
work must be hurried and dozen jobs
seem to be ready for the farmer to per-
form at the same time, which delays
planting to later period than should
be the case.
According to conservative estimates
the apple crop of the country is &C, OOO,-
600 barrels, which is about 9,OOO,OOO in
excess of the great crop of 1889. And
yet the city CONSUMERS are paying high
prices for the best quality of table fruit.
If producers and consumers could get
nearer together they would derive
mutual advantage.
Tha.department of agriculture reports
the average yield of potatoes in the
United State this year to be 1907 BUSH
els per acre, the largest average yield
being 172 bushels in Utah. Maine
comes next with l63 bushels per acre,
Vermont, 154 bushels; Washington,
l49; Minnesota, 15S, and Nevada, $50.
California is reported at IS bushels per
acre.
The pigs are very fond of boiled DO
tatoes, and they fatten on them faster
than any other single diet. Boil the
potatoes thoroughly in a big kettle,
adding a little cornmeai, and a few
apples if they are handy. Mix together
thoroughly and feed to the pigs either
warm or cold. They will relish such
diet, and thrive nicely OH it during
the winter months.
Under the last year of the Mckinley
tariff the imports of wool paying duty
were So, l52, 55S pounds, valued at S.
l07,43S. Under the first year of the
present tariff the imports free of duty
were 19l. 326, 243 pounds, valued S23,-
$685. 24. This naturally sets the wool
growers to asking the question: "What
benefit is free wool to us, and why did
We vote for it in 1892"
Mr.. Allen, apiarist, Snohomish,
WASH, says that his most successful
method of wintering bees is by using a
cover or double hive with the space
between filled with chaff. The stands