The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-13

The production of peas is isexceedingly
variable, ranging from to 80 bushels
per acre. A very rank growth of vine
may be attended by very little fruit
age. The average is about 90 bushels.
They may be left on the vines till all
are ripe and then gathered by children
quite rapidly. Threshing must be done
with fail, as all pea threshers thus
far tested are unsatisfactory. Put in
tight barrel, pour two ounces bisul.
phide of carbon over the top and quick
ly cover close, This will kill all wee
vii. Examine occasionally and if wee
vii begin to appear, give them another
dose. The seed are often scarce and
high, but range in price from 30 cents
to 50 per bushel, usually, bringing 81 TO
81 so.
EXPERIMENTS WITH TOBACCO.
Bulletin AZ, of Hatch Mass station,
gives an account of a series of expert
ments in tobacco culsure carried on by
that station conformity with the Valley
Tobacco Experiment Association, an
organization of tobacco growers. in the
valley of the Connecticut river. These
experiments were carried on at three
central points, for three successive
years.
It was found to be important to plant
as early as possible in order to get the
advantage of the winter moisture. 1t
was also found that too much space be-
tween plants causes a coarse leaf, while
too little interferes with leaf develop
ment Rows three feet apart and the
plants two feet apart in the row gave
best results.
Frequent and shallow use of cultiva-
tor and hoe gave best results. Careless
or deep cultivation always checked
growth.
Fertilizers affect the quality much
more than the quantity Of the crop.
Mineral fertilizers containing much
salt makes tobacco burn poorly. CT
ton seed hull ashes and high grade sui
phate of potash have been the most sat.
isfactory potash fertilizers used. 4
good acid phospnoric acid. Cotton seed
meal, linseed meal, and castor bean pO-
mace are about equally rood sources OF
nitrogen but one pound of the nitro
gen used should be in the form OF
nitrade of soda. II barn yard ma
nure is used, it must be we'll rotted and
must be supplemented by ascid phos
phate and ashes or sulphate of potash,
to balance its excess of nitrogen.
POTATO MACHINERY.
! Bulletin So, of Minnesota station, re
views some tests of new varieties OF
Irish potatoes, and discusses and illus
trates large number of machines for
cutting, planting, digging and sorting
| potatoes
Several years observation OF variety
tests have shown that, to make the
comparisons fair AID instructive, it is
necessary to have all the seed used OF
equal soundness and vigor. II seed OF
one variety is firm and sound, while
that of another has been exhausted by
continuous sprouting, no just compari
son can be made. Again. the place
from which seed comes may or may not
make difference. In most parts OF
Minnesota, potatoes may be grown for
years without any deterioration of seed
but in that part of the State where the
experiment station is located, all vari
eties deteriorate after the second year,
and fresh seed must be brought from
elsewhere. Again, if seed Of one vari'
ETY. carries with it the germs of scab OF
blight while the other is free from faint
of disease, the comparison will be mis-
leading. Hence, at this station great
care is exercised to secure seed of the
different varieties as nearly perfect il
health and vigor and as uniform in de,
velpment as possible.
OF extra early new varieties tested,
Ohio Jr., stood first. Vaughan %, Van
Ornam's Earliest Sd, Burpee's Extra
Early 4th. OF second earlies. Bovee
was 1st, Good News I'd, Polaris Sd,
Early Fortune 4th. OF later kinds,
Rose No. 9 stood 1st, Enormous 2d, and
Early Cyclone Sd. OF latest kinds,
Country Gentleman stood LIST, Summit
Od, Irish Cobbler Sd, and Pfizetaker
Blight was measurably controlled by
spraying with Bordeaux mixture, and
scab by soaking the seed in corrosive
sublimate solution.
While potato growing has been
largely over done for bWo years past
and low prices have caused many to
abandon extensive planting, the crop