The independent., 1907-02-28
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FARM NOTES
Observation-Disclosures

Nebraska farmers will be a trifie sur
prised at the size of the figures given
by the agricultural department as the
average cost of marketing grain Oats
the country over were hauled an aver
age of 73 miles, corn a trifie farther,
live hogs nearly eight miles, and wheat
over ten. The average cost of hauling
wheat is found to be cents per hum
dred pounds or about cents d busiiei,
while corn costs nearly as much. Need
less to say the agricultural districts Of
Nebraska show a much lower average,
both as to distance hauled and as to
expense. Naturally smooth and fairly
level dirt roads give Nebraska farmers
an advantage in this respect that they
do not fail to appreciate.
The Nebraska state horticultural So
ciety has just issued bulletin No s.,
orchard Spraying" telling when to
spray what to use, and the different
ways of applying it; also showing the
tanks, wagons and machinery in use
by one of our successful orchardists
Is is believed by the best fruit grow
ers that to produce the very best fruit
possible, and to compete with success
full growers of other states, raisers
must become thorough III this work.
This fifteen page bulletin can be se-
cured by addressing L. M. Russell,
secretary of the society.
Chicago proposes to test the power
Of corn to draw crowd. The sue
cess Of the live stock show, the auto
mobile show, the dog show, the horse
show, have encouraged the promoters
of a greater Chicago to try large
scale corn show. The idea in its SIM
plicity is that by offering about $780,
900 in prizes for corn exhibits the
finest display of corn ever gathered
together can be installed in Chicago
and q tremendous crowd of people be
drawn to the city to see the sight
Chicago's remuneration would be
mainly the business brought by the
visitors. The display is to be open
for two weeks next fall. In various
western states, including Nebraska,
corn shows have been held success
fully in connection with other agri-
cultural meetings, and the winning
exhibits have sold at high prices The
interest of great numbers of agricul-
turalists in the subject of corn breed
ing has not yet been put to the test
of trip of some hundreds of miles
for no other purpose than to see a
corn show. Should the Chicago ex-
periment prove that interest has
reached this pitch the progress of
scientific agriculture will have re-
ceiyed a rare demonstration.
The American humane association has
been moved to protest by the suffering
of live stock on the northWesteri
ranges this winter. The present winter
has been the worst for twenty years
over an area of 100000 square miles
extending from western North Dakota
to the Rocky mountains. A single
ranchman reports that he has lost
12, coo head of cattle. Mounds of sheep
and cattle, dying huddled together in
a vain effort to warm their starved
bodies. raise snow hillocks to dot these
plains The humane association COM
plains that this matter has been treat
ed entirely in it's economic aspects. If
the ranchman could in the long run
make the most money by letting his
cattle run unprotected and unfed on
the plains during the winter, we'll and
good; that is the thing to do. Fer a
nation that processes horror OF bull
fighting this is not a consistent view
in the opinion of the friends of the
dllll11dlS. IlSil piOpOoNU Se1ihldiSi
through the press is to be welcomed.
Changing conditions in the live stock
business promise in no great time to
make Improbable the system conf
planned of in which case it will dis
appear but nothing but good can come
of the efforts to create sympathy for
the suffering cattle and sheep OF the
present time We disgrace ourselves
nv letting our cattle and sheen starye
and freeze like Russian peasants. Be-
sides. a movement which educates lis
to demand the protection of the lives
of animals even though that might
make the cost of meat higher, could
conceivably lead finally to the protec-
lion Of human life also, even though
that involve costly steel railroad cars,
properly equipped and inspected steam
ships and mines. and even devices TO
prevent the packing of people into
street cars like cattle on their way 10
market
Edgar r. Howe, editor of the Im-