The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-03-18

OIL MANUFACTURERS as wen us duuieei-
ators of food products. AS a conse-
quence a stop has been put to the
making of pure linseed oil" from any
thing but flaxseed, with the very nat
ural result that pure linseed oil has
gone up to rs cents per gallon, while
haxseed has advanced in price from
95 cents bushel In 1907 to $1.1S In
1908, with the chances good that 1t
will be higher the coming season.
The Kansas experiment station has
been conducting some Interesting
corn breeding experiments. Among
these was one In which all of the kerr
nels of ears of two types were planted
In separate rows. 1t was found at
huskipg time that seed from the poorer
ear, which was selected at random.
yielded at the rate of 72.7 bushels per
acre, while that from the better ear
produced at the rate Of 99.5 bushels
per acre. There should be a sugges-
ton here for every corn grower who
may have been careless in the selec-
ton of his seed ears. The test re-
ferred to is very simple and easy, and
any farmer can make a similar test In
separate rows In his own field
A reader of these notes living in
Erie county, N Y, writes asking for
q repetition of the directions given
some weeks ago for removing stumps
by the use of acids Since there may
be some other readers who have for
gotten the details we will restate them
In brief. Bore hole two inches In
diameter and to depth Of about two
feet In the center of the stump and
into this pour a pint Of mixture of
concentrated nitric and sulphuric
acids. Plug up the hole with plug
previously coated with parafiln. which
will prevent the acid Attacking 1t. The
farmer who tried this method says 1t
will eat up the stump, roots and all.
within thirty days. If this time was
required for pine stumps a somewhat
longer period would be needed for the
hardwood stumps.
Smut Is an enemy Of the oat crop
that In many sections exacts a toll
running all the way from to 10 per
cent Of the value Of the crop. Unlike
the damage from rust. this smut loss
can be absolutely prevented wherever
the farmer will take the pains to treat
his seed oats with formalln solution.
which Is both inexpensive and easily
made. The seed may be treated by
spreading 1t in layer few inches
deep on the barn or granary floor, ap-
plying the solution with common
garden sprinkler and shoveling the
grain over until all of 1t is thoroughly
moistened, or the seed may be very
effectively treated by machines which
have been designed for the purpose,
costing $40 or $40. which handle
large amount of grain day and could
be purchased Jointly by three or four
neighbors In this connection 1t ia
well to remember that, while one may
not have suffered serious loss from
smut, he is liable to this injury at any
time with thrashing machines han
ding so much seed that is badly in
tested with the disease. A solution of
proper strength Is made by diluting
one pint Of 40 per cent formalin in
thirty gallons of water.
A reader of these notes living on an
irrigated ranch or farm In the Boise
valley. Idaho. having read a recent ar
ticle In these columns under the head
ing Of '"Three Propositions" which ap-
peared few weeks ago. writes. CIV
ing somewhat In detail the conditions
under which farming is carried on In
that section. With 800 days of sun
shine and no zero weather. they are
able to carry on practically all kinds
of farming that are followed In the
Mississippi valley. Alfalfa Is the
chief crop, the raising of which,
our correspondent says. Is more like
manufacturing than farming, with
sunshine always available and water
ut ones command. Five tons Of hay
per acre is the usual yield. the crop
fetching $3.50 per ton In the stack and
being fed mostly to sheep. Wheat on
AlIdlIa sou prOuuCeS ITOlu uIty W SiA-
ty bushels per acre and oats seventy
to ninety bushels under the same con-
ditions. Both cereals sell at $1.50 per
hundredwelEht Fruit growers In the
section raise apples. peaches. pears.
apricots. dew and black berries, as
we'll as all kinds Of vegetables. Land
with fair improvements capable of
producing the above crops. is worth
500 per acre. while orchards are val
ued Mt from $500 per acre up. Our
friend closes his interesting letter
with the further pertinent and orig
lnal observation that the school and
church facilities are as good as In
Iowa (his former home). and the
country isn't wooley." Should any
reader wish to learn more OF this
Boise country we would be glad to
furnish the address Of our correspond
emit
Soldom doea the same marty fipur9