The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-08-11

> 1A W VI w l. ILL.,
increase OF from three to seven bushels
over the crop preceding the flax crop.
"A great many tests are made, but these
were most successful.
The question otplowing under green
crop came up. Professor Ladd said that
oats and barley plowed under had no
value, but recommended the leguminous
plants such as peas and clover, these
have the property of drawing nitrogen,
an important element in a grain crop.
The common red clover is sown with
some of their crops each year and with
good results. A good stand is not al
ways secured, but any year a consider
able quantity grows and if it is found not
good enough to make a crop of hay it is
plowed under; the benefit obtained from
the poorest crop so plowed in, being con-
sidered as profitable, more than paying
for the seed. It does not stand the
winter we'll unless covered by snow, but
they sometimes cut two tons to the acre.
They recommend the sowing of clover.
Some of their tests upset our ideas.
For instance as to time of plowing. We
may remember that all their tests are
made by an average of a number of
years by the same method of tillage.
For period Of seven years one plot of
land had been plowed in the spring with
a total yield Of III bushels, and at the
end had fifty per cent wild oats. An
other plot Of equal size, plowed Septem-
Der 10th, yield 129 bushels, with fifteen
per cent wild oats. Another plot of
equal size, plowed October 10th, yield
l3O bushels, with 30 per cent wild oats.
Another plot of equal size, plowed No
vember lst, yield 1872 bushels, with just a
trace of wild oats.
Bromus inermis is considered the best
grass; it yields well, forms strong sod,
filling the land with roots. For pasture
it is relished by cattle more than timothy.
They have field being pastured by cat
tie now, part of which is timothy and
part bromus. The timothy has gone to
seed while the bromus is closely eaten
down and all the cattle were on the
bromus part.
The two natural enemies of grain are
weeds and smut, (that is, enemies that
we can deal with the latter is the easiest
managed. At Fargo they have to a large
textent overcome the smut evil: Faff,e,
have growing side by side, wheat grow
ing from the smuttiest seed they could
find untreated, and the same with seed
treated by their method. The first is
more than half smut; the other free from
it.
Formaldeheide is the specific for smut
All their grain is treated with it, excep
some that is under experiment. Coco
clean wheat treated will be free hon
lsmut. They Go not Recommend the use
of blue stone, it not being so efectua
and besides being a virulent poison, in
lures the grain, reducing the yield, while
formaldeheide acts rather as a stimulan
increasing the yield.
Smut may be in the grain wilhou,
jshowing i'll the head. 1t NAV be in the
plant and not developed enough to reach
the head, and would reduce the Weld
Grain is SO susceptible to infection by
smut, that if put into bin, or into sacks
which held smutty grain, it will become
tainted.
The loss through it is great, for the
wheat will not make good -four. The
buyer must keep himself safe, and prob.
ably lowers it below its real value. A
profit can only be made by sowing the
best, SO we should take no chances.
The quantity Of tormalieheide used is
1 pound to 45 gallons of water. The
cost of 40 per cent solution is so cents
per pound.
| am taxing too much of your space
and must sum up with few suggestions.
First as to weeds. Adopt some method
that will prevent them from going to
seed, and we will in time get rid of them.
Treat a seed grain with formaldeheide.
Adopt such rotation of crops as will
suit your own individual case, and pres
erve the fertility of the soil. Where wa
ter is plentiful, and stock can be grown
to advantage, include corn in your rota-
ton. Oscar Will of Bismarck has varia-
ties Of corn that mature here and Weld
well, the stalks furnishing large guam
tity Of good fodder. 1t can be. cut with
a binder. But l have occupied too
much space, and would close by sug-
gesting that others who visited the Ex-
perimental Farm, give the benefit of
their experience to the public.
w. DOUGLAS.
nl.o D-~x