The National tribune., 1896-04-16
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions = for Our
Agricultural Readers


Method of Seeding Oats.
The Kansas Experiment. Station has tested
iour methods Of seeding oats The average
of f7e years trials showed that broadcasted
oats yielded IS 8 bushels to the acre; where
put in with the hoe drill the yield was 27.5I;
where put in with the shoe dnll with press
wheels, the yie,d was 3O.31 Where put in
with the shoe drill without press wheels.
2S.42. These are interesting facts. They
show that for climate somewhat dry drill
ing is better than brOadcasting, and that
rolling with little press wheels on the drill
was of decided advantage. As these results
are for five successive years, more than ordi-
nary weight should be attached to the con-
illusions drawn, yet between broadcasting
and drilling, the difference is so small as to
be within the limits Of experimental error.
Suggestions From the Ohio Station.
Strawberr es do we'll on almost any we'll
drained soil which is free from frost, reason
ably fertile and not infested with white
grubs
There is little danger of making the soil
too rich, but there is a possibility OF iniuring
the plants with commercial fertilizers, If
placed too closely about the roots, and with
coarse manure.
Commercial fertilizers seem to have no
effect on white grubs, nor does manure. but
the latter stimulates the plants, so as to re-
pair the damage.
The best fertilizers are well-rotted ma
nures, bone meal and wood ashes.
The best method of preparing the soil is to
plow in the Fall, mulch with manure and fis
the ground IN the Spring with cultivatOr and
harrow
The best time to set strawberry plants is
in early Spring. When plants are to be set
in the Fall they should be especially grown
for the purpose either in frames or in pots.
For matted rows the plants should be set
Is inches by four feet apart, and for hills,
one foot by three.
In hill culture the runners are all removed,
and for the best results in matted rows q
part should be cut of, OF some of the plants
dug out
Generally, it is better to keep bed only
one season, but if kept longer the best treat
ment IS burning soon after fruiting
Winter protection should be given By
mulchiDg, and the best material is swamp
hay.
IL is not advisable to remove the mulch
in the Spring, either to cultivate or to avoid
frost, unless the soil is very weedy.
A good rule in selecting different varieties
IS to take only those that have shown the
best results IN many different sections, re-
jecting those that appear to be variable and
nave exhibited weaknesses elsewhere.
Farm Notes.
At the Iowa Station it was found that
lambs of the mutton breeds have made
lnr aInc iyhf A
than twO-year-Old steers. This is a valuable
and very favorable to the keep
ing of sheep for mutton, instead of for wool.
There is nothing on the farm that pays az
we'll as early lambs and fat WetheTs Of tho
large mutton breeds.
In England, where pure-bred cattle and
sheep are raised in order to provide the
markets with choice meat. and where the
cattle industry has been prominent feature
IN farming for over two centuries, high prices
are still paid for very choice sires. The
English farmer does not consider the cost of
an animal so much as be does the ultimate
results of its use aud the improvement of
his stock. The scrub animal is rarely seen
on an English farm. The stock is pure
breeds or choice grades.
Experiments at the New York Experi-
MSnJ ObdtfO0 IN tue IeeulDR OF onSila96 10
cows show large increase in milk produce
ton due to its use, and that it is also an
economical food. 1t also increases the per-
centage of butter fat in some cases, and in
no instance did the butter fat decrease with
any of the cows
The most important point to observe when
setting out q young orchard is to secure
strong and healthy trees. Many fruit
growers import diseases on their farms at
the time of purchasing their young fruit
stock. Trees one year old will often thrive
better than those that are older, and they
are also more easily examined. Every tree
should be carefully inspected from the tips
TO the roots, and should be procured from
known TO be reliable.
The growth of the honey industry has
been very rapid. According to the last CEN
sus the production during the preceding
year was SO 500 327 pounds compared with
only 25,743,2O8 pounds 10 years earlier. It
is not generally known that Iowa led in
production with 6,81300O pounds, although
Utah and other Western States have in
creased heavily.