Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-07-16
agricultural lore

lstem a green apple, he thought that
was the fruit, which he had no idea
was concealed under the earth. He
caused some of these apples to be
boiled, but finding them nauseous to
the taste. he concluded that he had
lost his labor, and for some time
thought no more Of potatoes. How
ever, having some time after given
directions that the ground should be
dug up or plowed, to his great surprise
he found a plentiful crop Of fruit,
which proved most grateful to the
taste They soon got into general
use and became the principal food OF
the Irish peasantry.
The seed-bed should never be al
lowed to become too dry, and yet 1t is
easy to ruin a bed entirely by i'm
proper watering. The object should
be to water so as not to pack the earth
either on the seed or around the
growing plants. A simple contrivance
for this purpose is used in Florida. A
barrel is placed on a stand or 10 feet
above the bed, and to one side. In
the bottom of the barrel is inserted
three-quarter inch pipe that reaches
nearly to the ground. To the pipe is
attached hose long enough to reach
! the center of the seed-bed. A pointed
stick supports the Rose in the middle
of the bed, and in the end is placed a
revolving sprinkler. When the water
is turned on the effect is as near that
! of light rainfall as can be obtained.
The best time to water is in the even
ing, making the beds so moist that
they will not dry out during the next
day.
The Kievskoe is one of the most
promising of recent apple importations
from Russia. 1t has fruited several
seasons, and last year bore a large
oblong conical in form, and solid green
in color. The stem is rather thick and
short the cavity narrow and deep, and
! the basin narrow and of medium
depth. 1t is of average quality, rather
firm flesh, and on account of its size
attractive. It's productiveness and
hardness may prove it to be a valu.
able acquisition, although further
tests will be necessary to determine
that it is really more valuable than
varieties we already have. However,
there is no doubt that it is far superior
to dozens of Russian varieties that
have been widely distributed.
If pullets cannot be Matched early it
will be an advantage to retain the
hens, as they will lay until four years
old. While the pullet may surpass the
hen at times, yet much will depend on
the mode of feeding. One reason
why hens seem to fall off sooner than
pullets is that the hens are mature.
and hence fatten more readily, the
pullets being in growing condition
and as it is detrimental to laying hens
to have them too fat, overlooking may
be at the foundation of the difficulty.
There is also an expense incurred in
raising the pullet that supersedes the
hen for two or three years, or even
longer, than to raise a lot of pullets
from chickenwood every season.
The capon industry is growing
rapidly in the middle west and the
poultrymen are making much money.
Philadelphia is the best market for
capons and the demand appears I'M
limited. The dressing of these
chickens is an art by itself. They are
hung up by the feet and their threats
cut so they will bleed to death, and the
| picking is done before thew get cold
enough to set the feathers, no water
being used. The manner of picking
is peculiar, feathers being left on a
third OF the leg, half of the wing, the
tail and those over the craw, so that
the bird may be laid in such position
that it will appear not to have been
plucked at all.