Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-11-07
RETENTION OF MOISTURE.

The proper time to pillow for fall
wheat, as we have been steadily urg-
ing throughout the season, is as soon
as possible after the previous crop
has been removed. Among the numer-
Gus advantages attending this prac-
tice, the fact that it makes the soil
more retentive of moisture during
the remaining period of hot weather
is not the least That it does this
is generally known, the plowed soil
acting in the same way as a mulch,
but the extent to which it does it is
not so exactly understood. Expert
ments at the Kansas Experiment sta
ton, the results of which have just
been published in a newspaper bull
letin, show that one of the fields on
the experiment farm, which on July
7th contained in the first foot Of soil
26 per cent. of water, retained at the
end of the four weeks following Is
per cent in that part which was
left untouched, Is per cent. in that
which was plowed. The plowed ground
was in excellent condition for seed
ing when the time came, while that
which had been left unplowed was
not in a condition to pillow satisfact-
orily at all, as it plowed up lumpy.
The loss which the untreated portion
of the field sustained during the time
stated was equivalent to over one
and half inches of rainfall, which is
a good deal in midsummer in the
west, and is about One-half what the
ground would hold after a soaking
rain. The experiment proves that
stubble ground ought to be plowed as
soon as possible, and that blowing is
as satisfactory a method of conserv-
ing the moisture as any kind of tillage
yet tested. If rain falls shortly after
and starts the weeds, the harrow
should, of course, be put on, both
to kill them and to break up the crust
that forms after a rain and interferes
with the efficiency of the soil-mulch.
Watering Milk.
Some milk producers have an idea
that if they have very rich milk they
can water it without much risk Of de-
lection. This is a mistake, for any
considerable addition of water is
readily enough detected, even though
the added water leaves the mixture
fairly rich in fat The relation be-
tween fat and solids not fat in milk
is not an absolutely fixed one, but it
is nevertheless fairly constant, and it
is upon this fact that the detection of
watering depends. In a recent test
that came under our observation a
sample Of milk contained Sc per cent.
fat, making a total of 1871 per cent.
When one-third water was added to it,
it still showed 81 per cent. fat, but the
solids not fat were reduced to per
cent, making total of 1911 per cent.
solids, whereas normal milk having
81 per cent fat should contain about
1873 per cent. of solids. The addition
percentage below what is often found,
but it did reduce the total solids and
thus revealed the adulteration.
Storing Cabbage for Winter.
Find dry, well-drained place, dig
trench about three feet wide and
two feet deep, put small boards across,
pull the cabbage and hang them be-
tween the boards head down, leaving
a space about six inches between the
cabbage and bottom of the trench;
cover with earth to keep from freez-
ing, leaving each end open.
Raise More Onions.
Cat onions in May and doctors will
all the year play" is an old adage,
but why can't many people obey it?
asks an Illinois farmer. For the very
reason that they cans get the onions.