The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-02-03
killing tho weeds.

The main trouble with us farmers
is that we do not kill the weeds be-
fore they have done mischief In dry
ing out the ground and robbing the
planted crop of that much fertility that
it takes to grow the weeds. even
though they are not allowed to go to
seed, says Homestead. 1t takes q year
or more because these big weeds decay
and are available Is plant food. we
can't very we'll keep weeds from grow
ing, but we can keep them from doing
much damage by early and persistent
cultivation. If your planted corn Is
we'll narrowed, SO that there are no
clods, you can cultivate it the first
time as soon as the first sprouts are
seen above ground, and you can do 1t
quickly, too, as it don't matter II some
loose dirt does the sprouts. Az
ter such a cultivation. when the corn
is three or four inches high. you can
use a light harrow to advantage, not
alone on account of the weeds 1t will
kill, but mainly because it. levels ana
pulrerizes the ground, making the Sec
ond cultivation as much easier. l new
er slant the teeth much when harrow
ing corn in this way, because I ind
that a slanting tooth cuts the plant
severely, and If there is any trash.
stalks, ETC., a slanting tooth will drag
them for some distance anyway, and
tear out the corn. There is more room
under the harrow for old roots and
stalks to dodge the teeth, when they
(the teeth) are straight or nearly 80.
and by watching carefully and stop
ping instantly when anything is wrong
you can do a good job narrowing. !
nearly always harrow my corn after
it is up, but I always cultivate it first
Storing Roots.-Such roots as car
rots. p~arsnips. beets. satisfy. turnips.
winter radish and horseradish should
be stored in boxes or barrels. the
spaces being filed in with dry soil, a
thick layer also being placed over the
top. These vegetables do not remain
long in good condition If exposed to
the air, especially that Of q poorly
ventilated cellar. They should be kept
as near the freezing point as possible,
being able to stand nor cold when
packed in earth and the temperature
is also kept more even by its use. Car
rots, turnips and parsnips are espe-
cially susceptible to changes in tenn
~perature and quickly show the effect
of too much heat by becoming with
cred and tough almost Immediately
after being pulled, after which no
amount of cooking will make them
tender.-Ex.
Nitric Acid.-Nitrogen al nitrates.
such as nitrate of soda and nitrate Of
potash, acts most quickly. Ammoniacal.
nitrogen, as for example sulphate Of
ammonia, while it may possibly be
utilized directly by plants to a slight.
extent. is practically all changed to,
nitric acid before it's assimilation. For
this reason it cannot act quite as
quickly as nitrate nitrogen. Some loss
of nitrogen is also possible, since a q
rule nitrogen as sulphate Of ammonia
has been found but about nine-tenths.
as useful as the same amount Of nitro
gen in the form Of nitratee.
Woods Of the Philippines.-One Of
the best known woods Of the Philip
pines is termed "Molave." It 10 brown
in color, as hard az bone, has remark
able strength and susceptible Of q high
finish. A government oflcial who has
been making a study Of the resources
Of the islands states that they abound
in valuable hard woods; forests Of
which have. heretofore. been practice.
ally untouched.
Wood Ashes.-Wood ashes. besides
containing. from s TO 8 per cent of.
potash, contain about IS psr cent Of
lime, 1.6 per cent Of phosphoric acid
ana : to I per cent Of magnesia. al O.
which Ingredients under certain cit-
cumstances may have . special and;
marked value q their own.