Middletown transcript., 1908-05-09
Farm NEWS AND VIEWS

controlled BY spraying with kerosene
emulsion, using the Is per cent. solution
"a solution containing 10 per cent. of
kerosene. II the lice are on trees, flowers
or rose bushes, tobacco decoction may be |
used with good results. The tobacco
decoction is made by taking three pounds
of tobacco stems and five gallons Of water,
and boiling for two hours. Ii is used
without diIuting, but must not be applied
too hot or ii may scald the plants. If
treatment is begun in time, plant lice can
| be controlled. 1t must be done before
the leaves are curled so the spray cannot
reach the pests. There should be several
sprayings, four or five days apart, as one
spraying will not completely do the work.
Clean culture is important in fighting
these insects, as with many others.
A large maio-ity of gardeners and
farmers never properly estimate the ad-
vantage OF thinning their crops. If
strictly adhered to the yield would be
greatly increased and the quality greatly
improved.
Artichokes are in some little demand
in city markets during early spring for
picking. They must be fairly smooth,
uniform and large, and washed very
clean. Only few produce dealers handle
them.
The pigs should have access to pile
of charred cobs or dry wood ashes, as it
is beneficial in correcting the acids and
aids in the bone development Of the
animal. The elements which go to bone
building animals are impaired to them
when they are enabled to get charcoal,
and it is quite as important as salt.
Charcoal will also tend to prevent worms
in hogs and cattle.
Turnips, carrots and potatoes are ex-
cellent in the rotation of farm crops. A
very successful farmer grows wheat,
clover, corn, oats and turnips, and
turnips, carrots or potatoes, beginning
with wheat again. BY this system clover
is the main crop, and the land is bene-
fitted, while corn and the root crops
demand cultivation, thus keeping the
land clean, and making six-year rota
ton.
Horseradish is commonly grewn from
offsets and not from seed. Some claim
they have best success in growing it as
a second crop after early cabbage. beets.
etc. The crop is dug in the fall, the
small roots removed and cut into sets
four to six inches long. The top end is
cut square and the bottom end slanting.I
go as to make no mistake in planting.
These are tied in bundles and kept over
winter in sand. In spring, after the cab
bage are set out, row OF horseradish
is planted between the cabbage rows.
Small holes are made with light crow
bar or long stick, and the sets dropped
in and covered two or three inches deep,
so that they do not come up until July
lst. The roots are dug very late 10 the
fall. Any deep, rich, well-drained soil
will answer for horseradish.
Bush lima beans should be set two feet
apart in the rows.
If the ground is cultivated often enough
no weeds can grow, and if the ground
for crop is carefully. prepared before
putting in the seed, by deep piowing and
frequent narrowing, the cultivation re-
quired after the plants are up need not
be more than one inch deep. If this ls
done after every rain, there can be no
weeds, and they will become fewer every
year, while the cultivation will prevent
loss of moisture in the soil by aff6rdlng
a loose covering of dry earth.
The ground should never be allowed
to become baked, as in this condition q
great deal OF moisture is lost, unneces-
sarily.
Cultivation is moisture conservator,
but if the ground is dry don't run the
cultivator teeth deep; keep the top soil
stirred only:
The late peas should be planted deeper,
so they will stand the dry spells better.
Saltpeter water-one ounce of saitpeteF
to gallon OF water-is good spray for
rust on bean vines and bushes.
For the purpose Of importing the soil.
there is nothing better than green crops
plowed under. For this COW pea is
the most popular, especially for medium
or light soil. The proper time for sowing
is May or June, using at the rate OF one
and one-half bushels OF seed to the acre.
As soon as the crop has gained its full
growth it should be plowed under.
Sowing COW peas is surer and cheaper
method of improving poor soil than any
thing else. ID is nitrogen gatherer, its
growth largely enabling the farmer to
dispense with the use of costly nitrogen
or ammoniated fertilizers, which the COW
pea extracts from the air.
Cow peas enrich the soil even when
the crop is cut of. They not only make
poor land rich, but good land more pro-
ductive. The best varieties are claimed
to be the Southern Black Eye, Blacksor
Rams Horn, Whip-poor-wili and Clay.
The United States Department Of Agri-
culture says peas could be made to bring
more nitrogen to the soils Of this country
| every year than is now purchased an
nually BY the farmers at cost Of millions
Of dollars. II planted about the middle
Of May, in the central corn belt section,
crop can be cut and cured for hay the
same as clover, then the Etuhble in Q
short time will put outsa new growth,
to be turned under In The fall as fer