Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-03-14
WHICH COURSE TO FOLLOW,

WHICH COURSE TO FOLLOWs
A reader of these notes residing at
Ottumwa, Ia, writes inquiring what he
would better do with a forty acre piece
Of land which he has recently bought
without any improvements-whe neither to
accept an offer he has had of $500 cash
rental for the whole piece or to seed it
down at his own expense and get what
he can off it. Our correspondent ex-
presses the fear that the man who pro-
poses to rent the forty acres may try
to beat him out of part Of the rent,
which at best makes that proposition
a somewhat dubious and unsatisfac
tory one. While we are in the dark as
to the price paid for the land in ques-
ton, it may be laid down as general
rule that the rent received from
piece of land should at least equal &
per cent Of it's purchase price. At this
rate a rental Of $500 for forty acres
would be too low if the farm cost more
than $1,000, or $41.50 per acre. In any
case, the rental should represent a re-
turn of 6 per cent on the money in
vested. Touching the matter of rent
ing the land to a tenant who would
likely not pay the rental after he had
used the land we would advise against
it. If the land has only been cropped
two seasons it would hardly need to be
seeded down for the purpose Of con-
serving its fertility, but if an honest
renter cannot be secured and the own
er Is so situated that he cannot give
a titled crop his personal attention it
I would be better to seed it down and
hire the necessary work DONE Were the
land ours and were this the alternative
we had to follow we would seed down
to oats at the rate of three bushels per
acre just as early as the land could be
worked next spring, sowing at the same
time two quarts Of clover and four
quarts Of timothy per acre. The oats
will be ready to cut in July. By that
time the clover and timothy should
have become we'll rooted, and on the
removal Of the oats the grass should
make a good stand by fall. In June
of the following year good crop Of
hay could be cut and a second crop
in the early part of September unless
the owner were planning to raise corn
the following year, in which case it
would be just as well to plow the Sec
Ond crop under. We have conviction
that the renting Of any piece Of land
for shorter period than three years is
unw1se, while FIVE year lease is far
preferable t..
NEITHER Tolls NOR SPINS.
A central Iowa reader Of this depart
ment sends us query concerning a
handsome pear tree set some sixteen
years ago, but which has never had
more than two or three blossoms on
during any season and which to date
has produced just one pear, this of
large size and excellent quality. Our
correspondent states that be has root
pTuned it and top pruned it and ferd-
lied it. but all to no purpose; the tree
clearly belonging to the lily class Of
the Scripture which neither tolls nor
spins. In view Of tho lack of data
relative to the location and soil condi-
tons under which the tree is growing
and not knowing the variety we would
suggest that possibly the tree has been
given too good care and attention. It
II fact generally recognized by horti-
culturlsts that fruit trees may be ferti-
lied to the point where the growth of
the wood is SO strong and rapid that
no vitality seems to be left for the
forming Of blossoms and production of
fruit A contrary fact Is also well es-
tablished-namely, that diseased or
weak condition seems to result in an
almost conscious effort on the part of
the tree to reproduce itself in the bear
Ing Of fruit. With view to superin-
ducing this condition in overhealthy
and vigorous trees fruit growers often
girdle limbs or trunks of such trees
with sharp knife and cut through the
bark and soft or cambium layer in the
winter months, while the tree is dor.
mant. This tends to check the woody
growth and to produce conditions ia.
vorable to the setting Of fruit buds
This would better be done by one who
has had experience in such work and
understands the job thoroughly. Be
fore trying this, however, we would
recommend removing all mulch and
fertilizer if these be present. This may
produce the desired result. In some in
stances shyness Of bearing seems to be
characteristic Of certain varieties OF
fruits, in which case variation in meth
cd Of care and treatment seems tc
have little effect In case our friend
fails after trying the plans suggested
it would seem necessary for him to be
content with the tree in question 70,
its shade and ornamental purposes.
/, ROCKY ROADS.
There are still good many localities
in which the gospel Of good roads
needs preaching In most vigorous fash.
ion. One such is city we visited late
lx1 to- >S>l, IL. Il