Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-06
The Strawpile


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butter increased the tendency to fish,
ness, and this flavor could be pro-
duced with reasonable certainty by
overworking high-acid butter. All but
ter contains considerable quantities of
air, and this is increased by the
working, thus producing conditions
more favorable to exidations.
F'ishy flavor may be prevented with
certainty, says Mr.. Rogers, by making
butter from pasteurized cream, with
out ripening. The addition of starter
to pasteurized sweet cream without
subsequent ripening improves the flaw
Or of the fresh butter without adding
enough acid to cause fishiness. Pas
teurization of sour cream will not pre-
vent the development of fshy flavor.
Effects of Narrowing.
With the farmer it is often a ques-
ton whether it is policy to harrow his
corn or potatoes after planting, or, If
so, how long it is safe to continue this
cultivation. From many years exper-
fence I have learned that one can use
the harrow after planting with decided
benefit to the coming crop, if used with
judgment, or one may use it in a way
that means a permanent injury.
Before the little rootlets have taken
hold of the ground, either with corn or
potatoes, the harrow (if not too heavy
so as to disturb the kernels or the
amount,) will do a great amount Of
good in keeping the surface loose and
the weeds down. The time to kill weeds
is while they are first starting and this
can be done more economically with a
harrow than in any other manner.
1t is very important that the sur
face soil be kept loose; both to con-
serve moisture and also keep it in
good mechanical condition. Where the
soil is allowed to crust the land Is
bound to be lumpy as soon as the culti-
walton is set going later. BY harrow
ing, the surface will be kept loose and
fine and one can do very much better
work with the cultivator later on.
On the other hand, if the harrow
digs too deeply and disturbs the seed
it not only moves 1t in the row but
delays the seed in its work Of ger
mination. After the seed has once
sent out its little rootlets 1t is all
important that these little feeders
be not disturbed To disturb them
means setback that can not be rem
edied by any amount of good care
later.
In narrowing. be not only careful
that the harrow is not too heavy, but
harrow only when the soil is in
proper condition for working To
harrow when the harrow will load
up is work more than lost. On the
other hand one should begin to har-
| raw as soon after a rain as possible
and still do good work, as the ground
will soon get hard on top after a
heavy rain. This should be cut and
broken up before If gets too dry,
but not when the ground will not
crumble under the harrow.
| Do not harrow corn after it begins
to break ground; on the contrary, one
can harrow potatoes until they are
two or three inches high, with profit
if done carefully and the harrow kept
clean. Harrow the potatoes in the af-
ternoon while they are dry and after
they have become warmed by the sun
They are not so brittle as in the fore
noon before they have had time to
warm up by the heat of the sun.
Planting Corn Too Deep.
| Very few farmers will differ in opin-
ion as to the advisability of planting
the corn not too deep, and still four out
Of five plant7very much deeper than is
/ for the best interest of the crop. Why
is this done?
One reason is that the cornfield is
often neglected until the surface gets
thoroughly crusted and dry and then
one feels that he must plant a little
deeper in order to get the seed into
moist soil so it will sprout. Another
reason is that the surface of the ground
has not been made so smooth as il
should have been, and that much Of II
is covered too deep in order to cover
other kernels that happened to strike
lower ground and consequently would
not get covered unless the planter was
run deep. Corn is a sun plant and must
not take root too deep in the ground II
it is to do dts best.
Keep the corn ground loose on tor
so it will not bake and dry out unit
the time comes for thorough working
up of the soil before planting. After
you have the soil most thoroughly
worked, before planting so over i
lastly with a clod crusher or levelel
that will thoroughly level the ground
bringing the high places into the Low
ones. This qeveler should be of such ;
nature that it will carry a little soil
IT 1T Is not heavy enough to do this
better make another one that will,