The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-05-05

stated in this department before, which is
best Is a thing which must be largely de-
termined by every grower for himself.
One thing is certain, however, at least
so far as comparatively young trees are
concerned, and that Is. that q space
around the base Of each tree extending
for from one to three feet from the tree
according to its size, should be kept cult
waited and free from grass. A breathing
space, SO to speak. The writer is aware
that this is not In accordance with the
views of those who advocate the grass
mulch as they term 1t, but trees grown
both ways us show a decided difference IN
favor Of those around which the cult
waited space Is ut all times kept free from
vegetation and hoed several times dur
ing the summer OF course the fertilizers
| applied are those which will benefit the
trees without regard to their effect on the
grass.
Results From Tests.
The editor of this department has long
urged farmers and fruit growers as well
as those who raise vegetables in consid-
cradle quantities to lave q portion of their
grounds laid off for testing purposes. The
contention Is that In no way can one be-
come SO familiar with the points of a new
variety as under their own eye on their
own grounds. Any intelligent man will
concede the value of such a test plot.
There is, however, another side to the
question, that Of taking the result of the
test of q single season as a guide for fu-
ture operations. Here is just where many
mistakes are made for there is scarcely a
new sort Of small fruit, vegetable or grain
sent out but what, under certain Condl-
lions, will run behind its record in test
ing the second season.; hence tho I'M
portance of at least two seasons testing.
If a new sort Is only fairly promising In
%lo Gret raocnr'u tnct tIn nhanrpI ire
more than half that 1t will not do as well
the second season, therefore it would be
far from wise to plant largely of 1t, TAX
ing the first seasons test as a guide.
Grain for Cows on Pasture.
It Is hard for the dairyman who has
spent most of his substance for feed dur
ing the winter to feel that there will be
any advantage in feeding grain during
the portion of. the year his. COWS are on
down the hard and fast rule that this plan
must be followed in order to obtain the
greatest measure Of success, but on the
other hand there can be no objection to
ones trying the experiment and ascertain
ing what there is in 1t. AS to the ration
this must be, In quantity at least, what Is
deemed best by the feeder. If the expert
ment promises to be too costly select a
single COW and feed her grain during the
time she Is on PASTURE; keep g careful
record of results according to the milk
pail, both as to quantity and quality Of
milk and you'll know what to do q sec
ond year. Make the test a fair one by
selecting for the experiment an average
COW; neither a poor mixer nor a heavy
one. Make the grain ration say about
~one-quarter Of that fed during the winter.
The cost will be small and the results
interesting and, likely, profitable.
Raising Crops for Hogs.
The hogs Of this country are being ruined
by continuous feeding on corn. In some
sections to such In extent has this been
carried that the animals are being raised
understand that the animals in their care
need protein to obtain the best results,
Just as much as cows need protein. Ii
alfalfa or clover cannot be grown to -ad-
vantage try cowpeas, or, If your land Is
too good for such q crop and you want
!, something for summer feeding which will
!, supply the needed protein, try Canada
field peas, which can be readily grown on
? any good corn land. The best plan for
5 raising this crop Is to sow the pease at
) the rate of q peck per acre, plow them
under two or three inches and SOW q
) mixture consisting of a peck Of oats, q
: peck of barley and one-third Of a bushe
r Of wheat to the acre. This will make 6
, good growth and furnish an abundance o.
: food containing protein for summer feed
l ing.
. Early Care of Strawberry Beds.
, The Importance Of a summer mulch can
/ not be appreciated by any one who ha!
not tried it. II the winter mulch has beer
removed from the strawberry bed then thu
soil should be lightly cultivated and thu
space between the rows covered with fin
. manure. This Will serve as a fertilize
;. and a little later q layer Of straw may b.
i put on over this manure or the latter ma,
be removed and the straw placed on tn
t soil; this latter Is the best plan where tn
soil Is light ard there is danger Of NOR
OF less dry weather. The use of thi
g mulch keeps the soil moist; that is tn
moisture in the soil Is conserved and tn
4 fruit is all the better for 1t. Again, Their
Is no trouble with berries soiled during
heavy rain storm, which Is likely to oc
a cur during berry season. The cost Of tn
a summer mulch Is small compared with it
val~se and Is worth testing even thong
one may doubt It's value.
d The Famous Toulouse Geese.
In many sections Of the country the, de
e mand for geese largely exceeds the SUP
lie ply, and this is especially the case in tn
d large cities. The Illustration shows
Toulouse gander, the breed being one c
the largest and quite as popular as tn
y Emblem, the other large breed general
,e raised, although the latter should b
1T raised and especially where they are t
be kept on rather confined grounds fo
Is they are not good foragers, none Of tn
large breeds are. Some water is desi,
able for geese, like ducks, are fond {
~ g.