Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-02-02
NO BOUN TIE s
Cratiot Farmers Sit Down
on Those Given for
SUGAR AND SPARROWS
Hold a Very interesting and In
structiYe Session.
Pass Resolutions Condemning Trusts, Com
bination and MonopoIies.
SUGAR AND SPARROWS


tions is very unequal varying from
twenty 10 two ana one-halt per cent
Also the average assessment OF real
estate very unequal in different cOun-
ties, Gratiut county being one OF the
best az about sixty eight per cent as
compared with Battle Creek. hich
averages about thirty.SiX per cent OF
the true value. The commission is az
work getting statistics Of sales in diff
ferent counties setting same opposite
assessments thus getting an approx
mate ratio for the use Of state board
of equalization which meets In 1901.
Commissions work largely gathering
statistics now but hope 20 show AK
payers next year that IL has paid SlO0
for each dollar 10 has cost. Amongst
the remedies is To be careful 10 send
repr, Scutatiycs 10 the legislature that
in future shall be like those Gra;iOt
has heretofore sent, incapable Of being
bought Get good supervisors and
stand 10y them. Taxation lisa partner
ship business and you are IL much in
terested in your neighbours a. your
own. Many wrongs in this line can
not be repealed behind your OWN doors
but you must get ou' to the primary
caucus.
Mr.. O. c. Howe. Of the Bureau Of
Agricultural Statistics, Lansing. fol-
lowed with a talk on Michigan. It's
Possibilities and Markets which
proved very interesting and caused
most present 20 feel G!ad their lots
were cast i'm 50 good a state. Most Of
our people do not realize the resources
and varied industries OF our state
which stands first in the union in
many Of the leading articles Of com
merce. Easier TO raise crop than
market il. Pays TO raise good prod
ucts, pack them in good condition and
practice no frauds, which only drive
away customers, and look for good
market at your own price. Impress
on anybody we can raise as good fruit
| as anywhere, We can sell 10 the East
if we send honest goods but do not
stove pipe" your barrels
The Wednesday morning session
was opened Gy Mr.. Dean with talk
on cultivation of an Apple Orchard, "
very much in line with the previous
days work. Must have thorough cul-
tivation to set free the elements OF
fertility and conserve moisture. May
be carefully cropped when young but
with crops not requiring late stirring
Of the ground SO as To avoid liability
Of late soft growth that can not stand
| the winter. Use cover crop for
winter: advise oats sOwn in August.
! Never allow tree TO bear full crop
because the seed takes largest portion
| Of fertility and same number bushels
small fruit has much more seed than
large and will sell for less money.
| Shallow plOw early in spring and fol-
! low and break crust every time forms,
with light harrow. Trim limbs just
above the collar"
Mr.. WoOdmau, on "Fattcning
Steers" would not advise GratiOt
farmers with different conditions from
his TO follow all his plans but can
adopt some to their situation. Would
prefer his barnyard under barn, cattle
10 be fed corn in shock supplemented
by oats aud corn shellcd clover hdy
and straw. His present. barnyard
practically enclosed by straw stacks
and straw sheds except room for water
troughs. Dehorns all cattle with saw
aud thinks crsel to allow animals 10
run with horns on. Has about fifteen
or sixteen pigs TO follow each car OF
cattle. Feeds enough shock corn 20
contain about six quarts shelled corn
10 each head, then enough bran or
other muscle forming foods to balance
the ration. Toward end Of shock corn
start in on clover hay, shelled corn
and straw. Trouble TO get clover
since 1894 on account OF insects, etc .
but by fall blowing then cultivating
till about first OF June and sowing
clover have never failed 90 get catch
This cultivation liberates the phos
phoric acid and the potash which is
the first element TO be exhausted from
our soil. Fair dressing OF muriate OF
potash at cost Of "A dollar an acre {
good investment to secure IA crop o.
clover
Mr. Tower says green manuring FOL
the purpose of keeping up fertility il
based on the fact that the necessary
elements for plant growth are con
slant disSolving and being set free il
the soil and a growing crop takes M
: these elements and when plowed un
? der place them i'm such condition mex
crop can use them, furnishes humu
and makes home for bacteria, tina
work upon the soil elements and ais