Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-06-02

1t Is very exhaustive crop, and can
only be grown profitably where fertil-
ity is little regarded, or where there
Is good market for both fibre and
seed. 1t is good sign for western
farmers that fax growing as it was
practiced few years ago is going
out Of their farm rotation. The stalk
and fibre was always thrown away
Only the seed was marketed, and
this sold so low that the raw seed, or.
better still, faxseed meal, was one of
the cheapest fertilizers that can be
used. Not until we have mills for
making linen cloth and conveniences
for separating the fibre from the
stalk will flax growing be profitable
in this country. When both seed and
fibre can be sold, the crop will pay
for the heavy manuring it requires to
keep the land fertile.
Rose Culture.
A very successful amateur rose cul-
tiyator says that, as soon as the June
profusion is over, she cuts all of her
enriched with rotten manure, and
their roots kept carefully mulched
with the cut grass from the lawn
All through July and August she
pinches off every bud that appears,
proceeding which seems truly stoical
when one knows that one day recently
seventy buds upon single rose bush
were sacrificed in this way How
ever, a long experience has convinced
our amateur that her course Is wise
throughout, as every September she
is sure of great crop of roses almost
equal to the June display.
The Crescent Strawberry.
1t was most unfortunate that when
berry was heralded as the lazy
mau's strawberry" There is really
no such kind of strawberry. All re-
quire a good deal of work. The
Crescent will pay for this as well as
most other varieties. 1t fruits so
best of care, are never really large.
But they are not difficult to pick, as
the berries grow close together, and
two or three may be picked at once.
When allowed 10 be overgrown with
weeds, the Crescent will still bear
some berries, but they will be so
small as to not pay for the work of
picking, as small berries do not
sell well in the markets. But for
canning the Crescent is excellent. 1t
is worth growing and caring for, if
for no other than this.
Thinning Melons.
Every year there are many melons
that start so late as to make it i'm
possible that they should ever ripen,
The value of the crop can be much
increased If all these late-setting
melons are removed, and the whole
strength of the vine concentrated to
produce the really valuable fruit.
There is still better way to do this.
That is by stopping the growth of
the side branches after one, two or
three blossoms have set. The main
stem should be checked as soon as
the side branches begin to blossom.
The main stem bears male blossoms
and the side branches only the pistil-
late flowers which set the fruit. If
the vines are checked early, so as to
turn the whole sap to fruit making,
there will be much fewer blossoms
than there will be if the vine is
allowed to spread as it naturally will,
Kill Surplus Cockerels.
At this season the early-hatched
male chickens will begin to make
nuisances of themselves among the
flock by paying undesired attention to
the older pullets and to the hens,
which at this season ought to be
moulting and preparing for winter
laying. Killing off the surplus cock
erels, retaining only those desired for
use next season, and keeping these in
yard by themselves, will therefore,
be entirely for the advantage of the
flock. What is more 10 the purpose
to the minds Of many farmers is that
the cockerel killed now and sold for
broiler viii usually bring a higher
price than later in the season, when
there is always a grut OF poultry on
the market.
Liquid Manure.
1t does not generally pay 70 use
liquid manure on a large scale. Ii
is a costly method of manuring, as
the water adds greatly to the bulk
and nature in the course Of the year
usually supplies water enough TO
liquefy all the plant food the crops
require But there are special cases
where liquid manuring will pay if
used properly. The most common
mistakes are first, making liquid ma
nure too strong, in which case ii will
rot the roots instead OF feeding them.
The other is allowing any liquid ma
nure. however weak, to get on the
leaves of plants. They are benefited
by being washed by rains. but by
nothing stronger.
R1anpbipg ralarv