The Columbus journal., 1897-07-14

-
ever. that it's value varies aaiiy'
A crop of green clover con'a'ns
1,6OO pounds of water per Ton
and when a ton Of dry Glove.
hay is hauled to market 200 pounds OF
the load consists of water. every n" =.
cred pounds of milk sold contains o.
pounds of water. and the mixed stao,e
manure which is spread on the neics
is more than one-half water. NO mat.
ter how dry Oh we'll cured the hay anu
fodder crops may be. from the Ialm-
er's point OF view. there will be water
20 tau! tfat is contained In the plant
A ton of cured fodder contains 90
pounds Of water, and even salt nay.
which is usually apparently as cry as II
passed through q kiln. contains osef
100 pounds Of water per ton. The 1as-
mer sells this water, and the more Va
ter he can sell the larger his pront, as
all heterogeneous and mineral matter
taken from the soil by the plants Is a
'iirect loss unless the price at WHICH
he crop is sold is sufficiently large 10
eimburse tho farmer for Ills loss OF
plant food, as we'll as afford him a
profit. The greatest profit from the use
Of water as an ingredient OF farm pro-
ducts Is when the farmer grows such
.rops as beets. carrots, potatoes end
nrnips, rs they can be utilized on the
arm instead Of entailing cost OF trans
.,ortation to market. While these crops
,ontain a large amount OF solid matter
il proportion to the yield per acre,
heir chief value is in the water, as the
water is a valuable aid to digestion and
'ontains the nutritious matter In solu-
ion to a large extent: hence the water
s not a useless substance which adds
weight only. Eut is as desirable In the
form in which it exists in the plant
!s the solid portions, but while the SOL
d portions cost the farmer sometimes
he water does rot, and that is an I'm
pOrtant consideration which must not
We overlooked. The water in plants
-annot be supplied artific:ally. Every
me knows that there is a difference be-
e green apples and apples that
AVE been dried and cooked in water.
I is the same with vegetables and
cots. We a dry them and render
hem juicy again by cooking them In
water, but We cannot regain the condi-
ION in which the water existed in the
liant before drying or evaporating it.
I Is more valuable than that which is
upplied. Beets and carrots contain
! SEQ pounds Of water per ton. A crop
4 twenty tons OF beets per acre de-
totes that the farmer has taken from
hat acre as a crop $4,000 pounds of
water, and such a yield of beets is lot
|, large n compared with results ire
obtained. Turnips, one Of the
staple crops Of the farm, contain hut
little less water than beets or carrots,
md potatoes are scld at good prices
;ome years. although there is about l.
100 pounds Ut water in every ton. The
of water in fruits is much
especially with grapes. straw
'erries and cherries; in fact, water in
brings a higher price than is OBJ
aimed for any material, as a box of |
selling at 10 cents would
lllow less than one cent for the solid |
natter contained, leaving nine cents
or the water To secure this crop of |
however, the farmer will be
ompelled TO use care and judgment. 1t
from the clouds. 1t is trie. but
here are periods when the plant cannot
it: hence the fruit and vegetables
@ not grow to De.fectiOn and the far
ner will lose a pcr:ica of his crop of
rater, while his land will have already
iven up more than the proportiorate
upply of mineral matter.