The Western news., 1904-03-30


piece of forethought. by the way. that
the good wife of the house will thank
him for every day she burns the dry
wood next season,
Should tree peddler tell you that
the Northwestern Greening is good
apple, but won't keep beyond the first
of January, show him the door. He
will doubtless have variety very
much inferior to offer in its stead The
Northwestern Greening keeps nicely un-
til April or May.
There is no agricultural prosperity
In the whole wide world which equals
that enjoyed by the western farmer
who feeds out the raw material raised
on his farm, the seller of beef. pork.
butter, mutton, eggs, poultry and the
like. The farm of such a man is grow
ing richer and more productive each
year.
The writer is enjoying very good
whiff of June time in the shape OF a
sprig of white lilac in full leaf and
bloom. A friend cut a branch from
the bush last fall, putting it in pail
of water in a warm corner of the house.
The growth Of the leaves and blossoms
has been entirely due to nourishment
received from the water and air.
1t by no means follows that because
one man can raise pair of horses
which will sell for $500 all other men
engaged in raising horses can do the
same. Most folks are Just common
folks, and most horses are just common
horses. Only rarely is man found
who rises above the common level, and
equally rare is it to find horse which
combines so many equine eXcellencies
as to make him worth three times as
much as a common horse.
Iowa as one of the leading corn pro-
ducing states devotes 9,5OO,OOO acres to
corn each year, the average yield be-
Ing thirty-two bushels per acre. 1t is
believed that ten bushels per acre
could be added to this average were
accurate and scientific methods of Sc
lecting and testing the seed adopted
and corresponding care exercised in
planting. While this Is not a large
matter for any one farmer, it mounts
into the enormous total of 95,OOOOOO
bushels for the whole state, represent
ing cash value of about $4O,OOO,OOO.
The Wealthy apple has been kept
this winter under ordinary cellar con-
ditions in northern Iowa and southern
Minnesota in excellent condition until
Feb. 10, when selected fruit was care
fully packed in boxes in oats. We saw
these apples, ate them and found them
In quality superior to any of four va
rteties Of New York state winter ap-
Piles which we had in the cellar. There
is really no better way for a large por-
ton of the northwest to secure choice
winter apples than to provide some
way Of holding the Wealthy over. No
apple does so well under cold storage.
A reader of these notes writes in
quiring as to the best method Of re-
storing fertility to twenty acre field
which has been cropped to corn until
1t has about run out and asks If SOW
ing early to oats and clover and plow-
ing under will accomplish the desired
result during one season. We think
not. The fertilizing value of the clover
plant lies mostly in its root system,
which could not secure sufficient de-
velopment in one season. We would
suggest the application of six or eight
loads Of manure per acre with ma
nure spreader, If such fertilizer is ac-
cessible. If not, sow mammoth clover
as early as possible; cut and leave on
the ground in early July, allowing the
second growth to stand. Cut Off crop
of hay the next June and plow the
second growth under in the fall. While
this method requires two years. it is
about the only way if suitable fertili.
zers are not to be had.