Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-30

Potatoes at dollar bushel are
luxury. Fifty cents is enough.
New York market is in daily receipt
Of potatoes grown in Germany. 1t
looks queer that this country some way
cannot grow its own potatoes.
The Pacific coast will send to eastern
markets 10000 carloads Of citrus
fruits this year and probably with
more profit to the grower than last
year.
The cut over Jack pine sections Of the
north country are not apt to prove
very good investment for the farmer.
The soil is almost always very thin
and sandy and about two decent crops
are its limit.
We have more respect for lady who
can concoct savory soup than we
have for one who can play fandango
on the guitar. Music is all right, but
while it may soothe a savage man it
will never act as pacifier for hun
gry one,
Alfalfa and corn make perfect COM
bination and perfectly balanced ra-
ticn. Only 6 small part OF the country
Is able to successfully grow both of
these crops. 1t is more successfully
done in the states Of Kansas and Ne
braska than anywhere else.
Some men claim that four quarts Of
clover seed is ample seed for an acre
of land. 1t might be If it could be
sown exactly right, but with our usual
methods Of sowing 1t Is not Many
clover raisers lose half the value Of the
clover rotation by scrimping on seed.
An eastern farmer will pay dollar
a load for manure and haul it ten or
twelve miles, while out west we have
known men to move their barns to
get rid of the accumulation Of fertilizer
and in one case to clean up a feed
yard with four horse. scraper and
dump the scrapings into the creek near
by to be washed away.
One Of the funniest things we have
come across lately was the case of
prominent breeder Of Jersey Red hogs.
He had some pedigreed hogs of this
breed on exhibition at state fair, and
some Jealous rival made the discovery
that red paint had been literally used
to cover up some color defects in the
animals. 1t is needless to say that this
breeder will never. hear the last Of this.
We have a friend who rented
large farm last year on share rent, he
to have two-fifths Of the corn crop de-
iyered In the crib as rent. He told us
The other day that his share Of the corn
him Sc per acre. While this
ls good rent, there IL one bad feature
about it. He thinks It IL such good
thing that he wants all Of his farm
planted to corn this year. He has only
got to follow this up for very few
years and the land won't return him
81 an acre.
The Jap has learned to i've and sup
port family on two acres Of land OF
ess.. The time IL coming when men in
the United States can do no better
than to learn how to do the same
hing on ten acres Of land. The posi-
oilities Of securing good living in con-
nection with the scientific and intel
ligent culture Of a small piece Of land
are only just beginning to be under
stood In this country. Too many Of the
American people are trying to 1--we of
each other
We noted field Of corn the other
day which did not yield to exceed
twenty five bushels an acre, and one
corner of the field had been used by
city Of 1000 people as a dump ground
FOR the offal and garbage Of the town.
1t seemed queer that with this abun-
1ant supply Of fertilizer right on his
land the man did not have sense
enough to use it to feed his poor corn
crop; but, then, there are lots Of men
who own land who do not know
enough to last them overnight.
We are all aware that there has been
II late a very marked advance in the
price Of leather. The hide Of a beef
critter Is worth more than twice as
much today as it was four years ago.
A reason for this is to be found In the
great demand made upon the leather
supply by the automobile trade of the
country and the further fact that Amer
ca Is now not only producing shoes for
our own people, but is capturing the
markets Of the world. The hide Of the
Did Gamer is now worth as much as
he meat.
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