The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-06-01


the potato crop. Yet the per acre yield
the country Is small. due
very largely to poor methods In han
ding the soil. The potato aecommo-
dates itself to many varieties Of soil
and to all kinds Of culture. Perhaps
this fact is taken advantage of 10 too
great an extent, and not enough care
used In any part Of the process Of pro-
ducing the crop. When We consider
that more than 1000 bushels Of po.a-
toes have been raised on an acre In Diff
ferent parts of the country, and that
less than 100 bushels Is the ordinary
yield, We are forced to believe that We
are not using all Of our possible ad-
vantages.
The first requisite Il well-prepared
land. drained II it SO requires This
good preparation means blowing deep
enough to admit Of the fullest growth
OF root. Whatever may be said against
deep blowing yet it certainly has a
tendency to send the roots down be-
yond the summer drouth, which is
often thing Of great importance. The
writer remembers a little corner In
potato patch in which coal ashes had
been thrown. The ground thus in
creased In depth gave moisture to the
plants when Ia all other parts Of the
patch they were dying for lack OF
moisture. The probable reason was
that In that part the soil was so porous
that the roots had been able to strike
deep and to reach into a stratum Of
continuous moisture. This is not to
advocate the use of coal ashes as fer
tlllzer for potatoes. but to illustrate
the principle by which a loose soil
permits the penetration Of roots.
AS to killing there is great diversity
OF opinion. We know that it Is be-
coming quite popular to advocate the
doing away Of the old style OF hill
ing. and to say that the idea Of hill
ing was barbarous one. originating
among the boys of Ireland. The whole
settlement of the question must de-
pend on circumstances. Some varieties
have to be hilled anyway. unless we
expect to have some Of the potatoes on
top Of the ground. The question Of
moisture runs into that of killing. A
certain man some years ago abandoned
the killing process and planted all Of
his potatoes on the level. 1t happened
to be an exceptionally wet summer and
the entire crop was damaged by lying
too much in the water. Killing would
have done some good In this case.
Inspection Of Illinois Orchards.
The state legislature passed during
its recent session a law requiring the
state entomologist to inspect all ILL
nois nurseries once each year, and in
all cases where these are found free
from dangerous insects and fungous
disease to issue certificates to this ef-
feet upon payment by nurserymen Of
the actual expenses of inspection. The
sale or shipment Of nursery stock with
out such certificate of inspection will
be illegal after July 1. BY the same
law the entomOlogist is required to dis
infect, at the expense Of appropriations
made for the purpose, all Illinois or
chards now infested by the San Jose
scale. The office of the state entomol-
ogist, which has been by common con-
sent of the parties concerned located
at the University of Illinois since 1884.
is now permanently established there
by law.
San Jose Scale Abroad.-Dr. Frank,
one of the most noted scientists Of
Germany. recently presented a paper
on the San Jose scale before the Ber-
lin Horticultural Society. In view Of
the attitude taken by Germany and
France toward American fruit impor-
tations and the scale, his conclusions
are Of interest. says Country Gentle
man. He says there are two species
of scale in Germany which have been
thought possibly identical with the
San Jose insect, but that his investi-
cations prove their distinctness. He
quotes American entomologists as say
ing that the San Jose scale produces
three broods yearly, each old female
however, has satisfied himself that
only one generation of about 30 is pro-
duced. He thinks it questionable
the San Jose scale can live in
Europe at all. We respectfully sug-
gest that the Germans and Frenchmen
send discreet man apiece to America
to see the San Jose scale, and learn
something about 1t.
Glover and Timothy Hay.-Clover
unless cut before it reaches the bios
soming stage will have when dried
from seven to ten per cent of al
which makes it very
ration. Timothy, when in
its best estate, which is little before
it has blossomed. has only about four
to five per cent Of albuminOids II it
stands until dead ripe most of these
are changed to woody fibre, which is
very hard to digest. The second
growth of clover is much richer than
the first. 1t is hard to cure it without
from excessive fermenta-
ton. II secured in good order 1t
should be saved for young stock and