Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-02-03

1t is enurely possible for the dairy
man to nave the pasture for his cows
only occupy very small part of his
farm when he has ii in the shape of
silo.
The agricultural products of the Unit
ed States for 1903 are of the value of
$1,000. 100000. Such country can af
ford to have billion dollar congress
and build a $500, 1000 ship canal.
The Wealthy apple has found its
way into the New York market and
this year during its season was quoted
higher than any other apple on sale.
1t is hard to find an apple anywhere of
finer quality or of more attractive APP
pearance.
farmers mutual insurance COM
pany with sixteen cases of injury to
barns by lightning to settle last year
only had one fire loss to pay. This dis
proves the popular notion that when
lightning strikes barn it is almost
sure to burn il up.
A move Is on foot in some states to
secure special legislation to exempt the
horses and rigs of rural mail carriers
from taxation This would be but a
petty relief. not over 81 per year. The
government should raise their wages
TO $50 per month. which in most cases
would be fairly satisfactory compen-
sation.
1t is almost as cruel to keep horse
tied in the barn day after day during
the cold wea Their in winter, without eX-
ercise, as it would be to neglect to feed
and water him properly. Turn the
horses out in the yard, no matter if the
weather is cold. While their coats will
not look quite so sleek, they will be in
every way harder and healthier for
such treatment.
There are good many holes visible
all over the country just nOw-cattle
company holes, oil holes, real estate
holes-hOles down which the nice bank
accounts of western grangers have
mysteriously disappeared. Next time
when you get bank balance buy some
new furniture. send the boy off to
school. build silo buy some blooded
stock or let your bank pay you 4 per
cent on it. Don't drop it into a hole.
The work undertaken by the govern
ment of transforming the worthless
sand hills Of western Nebraska into pine
forests is progressing very satisfacto-
rily. 1t is expected that not less than
100000 trees-bull pines, jack pines,
red cedar and western yellow pine
will be planted and making fine
growth by ten years This is one Of the
most interesting forestry experiments
undertaken by the government.
An attempt will be made the present
winter to enact i'm some of the western
states a good roads law similar to
that Of Pennsylvania, law which di-
vides the cost of building a good road
as follows: Fifty per cent to be paid by
the state, % per cent by the county, 10
per cent by the township and 10 per
cent by the owners of abutting farms.
This plan is meeting with much favor
in all the eastern states where it is in
operation.
There is this to be said in favor of
devoting portion of the average farm
to timber culture--that while from the
money standpoint alone it may not pay
as well to grow trees as field crops it is
also incontestably true that nine out of
ten farmers have more land than they
can profitably work, and the assign
ment of, say. ten acres on the 100 acre
farm for timber culture is thus made
entirely possible. Far better farm less
acres better and grow trees.
We have inquiries as to why the ap-
Piles were so scabby this year. This
matter was brought up before the
meeting Of the Iowa State HOrticul-
tural society lately. 1t was shown
that spraying In no way prevented it,
and II was ascribed to the peculiar
weather conditions of 1908. In our
own orchard Fameuse. n. w. Green
ing, Wealthy, AntonOvka and Duchess
all scabbed. while Patterns GreeniDg
was almost entirely free.
Smart people are very apt to have
some cranky notions. A few years
ago Mrs. Rorer, the noted cook, made
raid on the strawberry and assured
us that it was not fit for food, at which
the whole world laughed, and now she
takes new tack and says that we eat