Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-07-07

ever, that IFS value varies daily.
A crop OF green clover contains
1000 pounds of water per ton,
and when a ton of dry clover
hay is hauled TO market 200 pounds Oh
the load consists of water. Every nun
dred pounds of milk sold contains 81
pounds Of water, and the mixed staoie
manure which is spread on the heids
Is more than one-half water. NO mat
ter how dry Oh well cured the hay ana
fodder crops may be, from the farm-
er's point Of view, there will be water
to haul that is contained in the plant.
A ton of cured fodder contains 90
pounds OF water, and even salt nay,
which is usually apparently as dry as II
passed through kiln, contains over
100 pounds Of water per ton. The far
mer sells this water, and the more VA
ter he can sell the larger his profit, as
all heterogeneous and mineral matter
taken from the soil by the plants Is
direct loss unless the price at whlch
the crop is sold is sufficiently large 10
reimburse the farmer for his loss OF
plant food, as we'll as afford him
profit. The greatest profit from the use
Of water as an ingredient Of farm pro-
duets is when the farmer grows such
crops as beets, carrots, potatoes ana
turnips. as they can be utilized on the
farm instead OF entailing cost OF trans
portation to market. While these crops
contain a large amount OF solid matter
in proportion to the yield per acre,
their chief value is in the water, as the
water is valuable aid to digestion and
contains the nutritious matter in solu-
ton TO a large extent; hence the water
is not useless substance which adds
weight only, but is as desirable in the
form in which IL exists in the plant
as the solid portions. but while the SOL
id portions cost the farmer sometimes
the water does not, and that is an i'm
portant consideration which must not
be overlooked. The water in plants
cannot be supplied artificially Every
one knows that there is difference be-
tween green apples and apples that
have been dried and cooked in water
1t is the same with vegetables and
roots. We can dry them and render
them juicy again by cooking them in
water, but We cannot regain the condl-
ton in which the water existed in the
plant before drying or evaporating 1t.
II is more valuable than that which is
supplied. Beets and carrots contain
1900 pounds of water per ton. A crop
Of twenty tons of beets per acre de-
notes that the farmer has taken from
that acre as crop $4,000 pounds OF
water, and such a yield Of beets Is aot
A large one compared with results fire.
luently obtained. Turnips, one OF the
staple crops Of the farm, contain but
little less water than beets or carrots.
and potatoes are sold at good prices
some years, although there is about l.
500 pounds Of water in every ton. The
proportion Of water in fruits is much
greater, especially with grapes. straw
berries and cherries; in fact, water in
fruits brings higher price than is OBJ
tanned for any material, as box of
strawberries selling at 10 cents would
allow less than one cent for the solid
matter contained. leaving nine cents
Tor the water To secure this crop of
water, however, the farmer will be
compelled to use care and judgment. 1t
comes from the clouds. 1t is true. but
here are periods when the plant cannot
store it.; hence the fruit and vegetables
do not grow to perfection and the far
mer will lose a portion OF his crop of
water, while his land will have already
given up more than the proportionate
supply Of mineral matter.