Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-02-11
About Kaf1ir Corn.

sas experiment station says that in an
average season red Kaffir corn will
mature in about IL or IA weeks.
planted in the middle or latter part
Of May, the seed is ripe by the middle
of September, and it should be harry
ested at once The fodder viii remain
green until frost, but this fact should
not be made an excuse for putting off
the harvesting The earlier it is cut
after the seed is ripe the more time
will there be for the stalks to cure,
which is an essential point, especially
if fodder is stacked Any of the many
good corn cutters on the market Will
do the work When the seed has dried
out sufficiently so it can be stored,
which condition it will not reach until
the end OF November, it should be
threshed. 1t is true that many growers
feed the crop as it comes from the
shock seed and all, but it is a waste
FL! way to handle it, though Of course
the cost of threshing and grinding
must be taken into consideration, and
doubtless there are considerations un-
der which this cost will exceed the
value of the waste incurred by feeding
without threshing or grinding. One
way of proceeding is to gather the
heads in the field. as corn is gathered,
before the crop is cut. A better way
is TO cut the heads off in the stock after
the seed is dry, and thresh them at
once. We have on one occasion
threshed the whole stalk but this has
the objection that the fodder is badly
broken up, and it also requires that
the stalks shall be we'll cured in order
to avoid heating when stacked. We
have also threshed it by taking each
armful of fodder and sticking the heads
into the cylinder for an instant; but
this method requires too mcuh hand
ling of the whole crop and is, therefore,
uot desirable unless the fodder in the
process OF stacking or storing away
must be handled anyway. AS in the
handling of corn fodder, it is desirable
TO save as much time as possible. The
seed is hard and brittle especially the
red sort. and will sometimes crack
badly in threshing When this is the
case it can largely be remed'cd by re-
moving the concave in the thresher
and putting in boards instead. For the
reason noted above the seed should be
ground. and the finer the better, in
order to utilize it to the best advantage.
Pat Followed Instructions.
An Irish laborer, who was somewhat
new to his work, was blowing one day,
and the burrows being uneven, the
farmer told him to look at something
at the other end of the field as a guide.
That COW by the gate said he, is
right opposite us. Now, work straight
for her" Right you are, sur, says
Pat Coming back later on the farm
er was quite Mortified to find the plow
had been travelling zig-zag all over
the field How is this?" said he.
What have you been doing?" "Shure,
sur was Pats reply, Il did what you
tod me. | worked straight for the
COW. but the craychur didn't keep
stin."
Frost as Pulyerizer.
Make the frost do some OF the work
vi puverizing the soil. When sod
lands or soils that are difficult to re-
duce are plowed late in fall the frost
puIyerizes the Jumps and also destroys
any insects that are brought to the
surface. The expansion and contrac-
ton OF the rough powed land by alter
nate freezing and thawing will bring
II TO a fine state before spring, at which
time cross blowing will cause 1t to
turn over in a mellow condition for
crops
The Farmers Happy Home.
S recent letter from the superin-
'endent of farmers institutes in the
state OF Pennsylvania states that at
every TWO days institute held in the
STATE during the coming winter the
evening session of the first day is to
9a So. apart to the ladies, and the
'one is to be Country Homes. All
topics relating 10 home lf5 in the
country will be included, such as the
ruction Of homes, the heating
--Atug yentilating and sanitary ar
'.H sements for country homes; the
walter supply, sewage and plumbing
ny. houses in the country; the cooking
E. taod the care of the children; flow
gardening, kitchen CARTE ning. house
'..2-a-on, and all that relates in any
way 20 comfort. convenience, health
-# Enjoyment in a country home"
Selecting Seed Corn.
@etton Of seed corn and its care
1."f| wards are OF much more import
taan many realize until bitter
9pointment faces them. with per-
.e one-third of a stand and then
E 100 late to recover for the year
sllll farmers go right on and do
same thing another year. While