Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-07-04
~%oE%~

N:.x EkQ
two or three years previous to the veal
OF growing the crop. 1t consists In
keeping the soil clean 20 there will ba
few weeds to contend with In potato
cultivation. Sheep and calves are good
agencies to use In cleaning potats
ground. A clover pasture OF an old
pasture of any kind will supply an
ideal potato plat and should be plowsd
in the fail. Potato ground plowed IN
the spring should be p'owed late.
Many Soils Need No Bacteria.
The Department of Agriculture after
many tests of soils finds that there are
many that need no incubation in order
to at them for growing alfalfa and
other leguminous crops. Bulletin No.
24O, issued by the department. fully
explains this whole matter Of nitrogen
culture In regard to soils and growth
OF legumes. 1t is a valuable bulletin.
Referring to the erroneous impress.
sion abroad on this subject. Prof. @. F.
Curtiss. of the Ames. Iowa. Experiment
Station. In recent circular on the sub.
ject. says:
"Barnyard manure and thorough till.
age are worth more than all the nitro
gen cultures on the market. Put the
soil in good enough condition to grow
bushels OF corn per acre:
then sow twenty rounds of alfalfa seed
about the middle of August, following
a crop of small grain, and the question
of cultures will take care of itself"
ArtfchOkes Valuable Crop.
The value Of artichokes Is not gen.
orally understood. Last spring a Mis-
souri, farmer planted nine bushels
of the tubers on three-quarters
Of an acre and in the fall har-
vested 300 bushels. This would
make 400 bushels to the acre. Some
years ago this farmer raised COO BUSH
els on one acre, with but very little
cultivation. Not only do they make
the, cheapest, but in many respects the
healthiest hog feed grown, being nat
ural specific for cholera. Once planted,
the hogs will do the harvesting, and
after the first year there will be no ne
cessity for planting. Some think that
artichokes can not be exterminated, but
this is easily accomplished by letting
the tops grow about foot high and
then plow them under. But why exter-
inmate crop that will bring you $2S
to $35 worth of hog feed every year
without the trouble and expense Of
planting or harvesting3
Diverted Chicks.
too much starchy foods till diarrhe0
has resulted, the following ration has
been found beneficial In correcting the
trouble:
Bran three parts by measure, corn
meal two parts. cut clover two parts,
meat meal one part, Let the birds have
access to this at all times. Feed roots
and cabbage, all they Will eat, and one
full feed Of whole grain an hour before
they go to roost. Let this be wheat
one night, barley the next, corn the
third, and then 60 over the list again.
Give no medicine. Deep litter for exer-
else in getting the grain, with fresh
water several times day. When the
animal supply Of food has been too
small the birds fill up constantly on
starchy foods, oyertaxing the liver and
digestion. Diarrhea and breakdown are
the natural outcome Of this method OF
feeding Growing birds will stand high
feeding, but when bird has reached
maturity more careful feeding Is re-
quired.
small Fruit Farm.
siiiali iruit culture VIII Dring tne
ramily Digger returns than ahytnlns
eise ABOUT 'tle iarm. knowing TINS, IL
is s.raiise that 80 many country people
prefer 10 Duy arled fruits ratner tnan
grow them risht IN thelr own gardens.
ANY SOIL that VIII produce a vigorous
grown OIL corn ana potatoes VIII De all
risht ior Irults. Inc eurraht Is one
1t is hardy, easy to cultivate and yields
Good cultivation and So
we're pruning will increase the size of
the fruit. Plenty of old manure should
be spaded in about the roots, and the
coil should be kept clean and mellow.
On account of Its hardness the cur
rant bushes are too often left to shift
for themselves, and of course when
left In this condition one need not ex-
pect big, fine-fiavored fruit. Currants
do best in somewhat protected loca-
ton.
The gooseberry bushes are also
shamefully neglected, until blight and
disease destroy the prospect of crop.
With sensible care, such as pruning,
cultivation and the use of fnngicldes,
the culture of this fine fruit may be
made certain and even remunerative.
So many of the best varieties are at