Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-12-26
Facts for Our Farmers.

at work around hedges and bitches In
eekiIg their favorite food, which,
by the way, seems to vary with the
different professionalism Cultva-
tor.
Fair Play.
Cheat will not turn to wheat under
any circumstances. 1t is an entirely
distinct species of plant and If it were
true that cheat would turn to wheat,
why should not other species of plants
change as well? If it were true that
one species turned into another, there
would be no stability to plants or AMI
mails. It is the inflexible rule of ma
ture that plants and animals breed
true to type. 1t is the fundamental
law that makes possible the main
tenance of existing conditions and
holds the universe in equilibrium. The
late pasturing of wheat often kills it
out and as cheat is plant indigenous
to the whole of the United States. 1t is
not surprising that it should spring up
and take the place of wheat when the
latter is frozen out, pastured, Or fails
to terminate and make vigorous
growth by reason of using bad seed.
It is no more remarkable that cheat
should spring up under such circum-
stances than that white clover and
other we'll known plants should make
their sudden appearance in favorble
year and then disappear for an interim
of several years. The question of
cheat turning to wheat has been most
Thoroughly and carefully investigated
and F. G. r. may rest assured that
the cheat which you observe comes
from seed that has lain dormant in
the ground and started up under IA
vorable conditions.-Prof. A. NJ. Soule,
Tennessee Experiment Station.
Castor Beans.
The castor bean is a native of the
East Indies and northern Africa, and
in these countries attains the charac-
ter of tree, and grows sometimes to
80 or 40 feet in height, but in the
temperate latitude of North America
and Europe it is an annual plant. The
stem is of vigorous growth, erect,
round, hollow and smooth, glaucous,
somewhat purplish toward the top,
branching, and from 3 to s feet or
more in height. The leaves are pal
mate, with seven or nine pointed
serrate lobes, smooth on both sides,
and of bluish-green color.
Tho i- 10 ~,
various parts of the world, and per-
haps no more largely than in the
United States. Oklahoma has been
quite successful in growing this crop,
Logan, Payne and Noble counties be-
ing the ones most largely interested
in its culture, although almost every
county has a small acreage, and the
crop could be raised with profit in
nearly all parts of the territory.
1t requires considerable hard labor
at picking-time, but not more than
cotton or other crops. and no special
is required for cultivation,
or preparing for maket. The soil is
the same as for corn, and
seed each IL to Is inches apart in the
row. Shallow cultivation should be
given until the plants shade the
ground. After this, no attention is re-
quired until the first crop of spikes is
ripe. This stage is indicated by the
drying of the seed pods, and the tend
ency of the beans to pop out" and
picking should begin before the pop
ping stage is far advanced.
A box is fixed on runners and is
drawn by man between the rows, the
picker cuts off the ripe spikes and
throws them into the box, taking two
rows at time. A piece of hard soil
is cleared of grass and weeds, and
the spikes of pods are placed here in
thin layer, so that they may dry rapid
ly. AS the beans pop out" they may
be easily gathered up and cleaned
through tanning mill. The beans
should not be allowed to get wet, and
in case of rain should be covered.
Three pickings are usually necessary.
The seed pods or bulls, as they are
called, are equal in fertilizing value to
wood ashes, and form an excellent
mulch and manure for fruit trees.
No part of the plant can be used as
food for animals. Horses seem to
have fondness for the beans. but
must not be allowed TO eat them. as
they almost invariably die from eating
even a very small quantity of the
beans.
The profits on the crop are not large
II bushels per acre being
an average yield; and selling at rs
cents to $l.25 per bushel. Those who
grow them. however. think a small
acreage Of the crop each year de.
sirable. By selecting good seed. the
crop may be increased 2 bushels per
acre One bushel of good seed Yields
or 6 quarts. or about 25 per cent of
the best oil.
The castor bean is a crop that is !
always salable. and a market is usual. !
y found in every railroad town. or |
sven at the country stores. II is a I
profitable crop when grown on sod /
md consequently the settlers in
lew country often plant them on the /
lew breaking. as this sod crop can he
urned into money sooner than almost