The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-12-01
Latest Farm Hints.

At the Michigan Experiment Station
a num5er Of experiments were made
with forage crops that are very inter
esting- A plotOf alfalfa yielded nearly
nine tons of hay per acre for the season
from soasr cuttings, the first cutting
being made on May % and the last on
September 3. Half acre plots Of Dent
corn, Kaffir corn and sorghum produe-
ed Of Dent corn, l5,a54 pounds Of green
fodder, l.. ls0 pounds Of KsfIir corn fod-
der aud i9.S5S pounds Of sorghum fod
der. Crimson clover, sowu with oats
and cut for green food on October .
and November Il, yielded 5l34 pounds
OF forage on half-aere plot, anda plot
scwn without oats yielded 1870 pounds
when cut on June "a. The fiat pea pro-
duced .. .997 pounds Of green fodder per
acre, but it was not as palatable to stock
as green clover or alfalfa
Much has been claimed in favor ofthe
COW and her improvement, but the foun-
datiOn ofall advances made in dairying
is the use Of pure breeds and the selec-
ton Ofsires. \ cow produces one young
in about year, but a pure-bred bull
will sire large number Ofealves, hence
one cannot be too particular in the Sec
ton Of the male.
The New York Experiment Station
made some experiments in the use Of
fertilizers on potatoes, - plots being test
ed, on which fertilizer was applied at
the rate Of from l0OO to 1000 pounds per
acre, two plots receiving 1900 pounds
per acre and one plot received no sertil-
izer at all. The 1000 pound appliea ton
increased the yield over the unfertilized
plot IS bushels per acre the first year
and S0.6 bushels the next season. The
2,000-pound application increased the
yield only "A bushels over the ], 900 ap-
plicatiOn the frs. year and III bushels
the next. The tests demonstrated that
the use of over 1000 pounds of fertilizer
per acre would be at loss.
Ii il claimed that the ''cowyr odor Of
milk results from PARTICLES Of manure,
dust, wOrn-out scales OF the skin and
other undesirable substances. To pre-
rent such the udder and teats and the
hands Of the mixer must be washed be-
tore each milking, and stable, stalls
and milking vessels be kept clean.
Unless these precautions are taken milk
will not only possess disagreeable od0rs,
but also be unfit for use.
How much corn will an acre Of land
produce? The Illinois State Board Of
Agriculture offered prizes for the largest
crop OF one acre, and y persons succeed
ed in raising over 100 bushels each.
The first prize was won by Mr.. John
Powers, with yield Of l6G bushels per
acre. Mr.. f. 5. Fursman coming see
Ond with l60 bushels. The next IOper-
sons produced respectively $50, IA, IiS,
l42, ll6, 40, los, lO3, and two others
100 bushels each, the average Of the y
being l2Sl bushels per acre. The best
fertilizer for corn was conceded to be a
previous crop Of clover, depending upon
deep and early plOwing, fine seed bed
and shallow but through cultivation.
About $50 eggs per year is estimated
as the production Of hen, if the flock
is small and well cared for, but with
large fioeks an average Of 100 eggs per
hen for one year is correct, as disease,
lice and mismanGgement cause loss.
The iOwls ON farms give larger profits
in proportion TO capital represented
than larger stock, but are more neglect
ed, aud, therefore, do not give as large
profit as could be derived from them.
Skim milk for calves must always be
fresh, and should be given warm. The
use of a thermometer will save the life
Of calves in cold weather, As the tenn
perature OF the milk should be about
100 degrees. To attempt to regulate the
temperature by hand is simply guess
ing, and viii not prove successful
Low prices sometimes result in bene
lit later. Corn sold so low during the
past year as to make it desirable to Eu-
rOpeans as stock food. This edueates
more customers 10 its use and opens
new markets. Corn is gradually being
accepted over all Europe, and when
the farmers in other portions Of the
world discover its value the demand
will increase.