The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-03-20

his own cultivation does no killing but
uses the shallow and level system of
cultivation. He harrows Immediately
after blowing. He harrows the field
at least ten times before the potatoes
are out of the ground. He cultivates
often and follows crossways. with
weeder. He keeps the horse and Guilt
vator going until the potatoes are ripe.
Blossoming cuts no figure in cultiva-
ton.
There was some discussion as to the
proper depth to plant potatoes on clay
soil, and it was thought that four in
ches was the proper depth. Mr.. Terry
said he thought this was the correct
depth for potatoes on clay soil without
killing. If the land is properly drained
little killing is necessary. Big hills
run the water off when it rains and de-
feat the very purpose of cultivation.
Mr.. Terry spoke with much authority
as he has tried all means and systems
of farming, and as Mr.. Trow said the
Ohio farmer had read about potatoes
and studied about potatoes and had
raised potatoes. Mr.. Terry's system
of rotation was wheat, clover and pota-
toes, and of the latter crop it was the
chief money crop. Mr.. Terry took, as
has been said, a worn out Ohio farm
years ago and to-day has his farm
buildings insured for. $4,000.
The institute was getting mighty in
teresting at this point and Mr.. Trow
remarked that he guessed it would
have to be called the "potato insti-
tute." N. E. Jesmer who was present
and taking much interest in the meet
ing, remarked to Director Trow that
potatoes was the bread and butter in
this section and he was pleased to see
so much interest manifested in so fruit
full topic. Mr.. Fairfield described his
method of treating the vines with Paris
green, but as this has been published
in the UNION it will not be described
again.
In the matter of digging the speaker
said he used a machine digger. He
narrowed and used hay rake to remove
weeds to get them out of the way for
digging. Some one asked about the
time for planting and Mr.. Fairfield
advised planting for. early market as
early as possible, and avoid the frost
which he said hurt the plant. Mr..
McKeen told of how the farmers in
Aristook county, Maine, managed early
planting. When the first hills appear
the rows are ridged and cultivator is
used to cover the leaves over and de-
stroy the weeds, thus protecting the
vines from the frosts.
THE DAIRY COW. 7
Henry VanDreser of Cobleskill, N.
Y, next spoke on the ''Dairy Cow, :"
and told how he and his brother saved
themselves from making a failure of
farming by selling off their herd of
scrub COWS and buying thoroughbred
HoIsteins with which they made sue
cess of stock farming and paid off the
mortgage on the farm. The COW is the
benefactor of mankind and the speaker
said that Minnesota was destined to be
the greatest dairy State in the United
States. Mr.. VanDreser paid a fine
tribute to farm life and dwelt on the
necessity of making the farm an at
tractive place for the boys who are
growing up. ''Infuse some good, clean
blood into your stock to interest your
boys" said the speaker. 1.-THE boys
love to breath the air impregnated
with the air of progression.
He made an earnest plea for an in
telligent system of breeding which he
said would make the farms to blossom
as the rose.
THE corn STALK AND s1Lo.
B. W. McKeen spoke on the corn
stalk, which he considered Americas
greatest forage crop. After the ears
of corn are gathered the farmer has
then not gathered one-half the value
of his corn crop. Seven-twentieths of
the value of the corn stalk is in the
leaves while in the husks there is four
teen one-hundredths of the stocks
value. One acre of corn stalks repre-.
sents enough feeding value to keep
one COW one year. Investigation shows
that there is more feeding value in the
fodder than in the ear, in the proper
ton of IS to IS. It is food from the
ground up. 1t is grown not only to
feed in the winter but when the past
ures get dry in mid summer. It is so
valuable that no opportunity to pro-
duce it should be neglected.
Mr.. Trow said that the product of
the corn stalks was the chief coarse
feed of Minnesota. He was of the opin-
ion that the best method of feeding the