The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-10-08

week.
he state of Minnesota will have to
pay per cen: interest this year for
the temporary loans made from the
banks to carry the revenue fund of the
state treasury over the deficit which
comes between now and the time the
railroad gross earnings taxes are paid
in about March /. Last year and
for several years back the state has
borrowed money at 4 per cent.
The fund is already oyerdrawn and
during the next few days will have
to meet warrants for $S93,OOO issued
to a number of schools as special state
aid. State Treasurer G.. c.. Dinehart
has therefore written to a number of
banks asking bids on this loan, and
all of them have quoted 5 per cent.
All of them give about the same
reason for the advanced rate: that
money is scarcer than last year, that
the crops are larger and therefore more
Is needed to move them, that the rate
quoted here is lower than in the east
and is the lowest made to any one
for the best possible security.
Incidentally the state will have to
borrow more money this year than last
because at this time in 1908 there was
approximately $35O,OoO in the revenue
fund. There is money in the other
state funds and they can be overdrawn
up to 100000. But in addition to this
Mr.. Dinehart fears that the state NAV
have to borrow as much as $l,50O,OOO,
though he hopes the loan will not run
much over Sl,OOOOOO.
The money in the permanent school
fund, aggregating $l,l593OS, was APP
portioned among the schools of the
state yesterday on a basis of So for
each pupil attending forty days last
year. A total of 3S6,43O pupils share
in the distribution. Last year 3Sl,674
pupils were on the list and the per
capita apportionment was $40
Corn smut stimulates the plant on
which is grows into enlarged growths
which enhance the development of the
smut. The large Shiny, dark colored
outgrowths so often found on corn
are the result of this stimulating
effect. Corn smut is not carried by
the seed in any appreciate degree,
but is carried from one year to the
next in the soil. A soil containing
lots of vegetable matter or a manure
pile are excellent places for the breed
ing of the smut spores.
To lessen the attack of smut on
corn, there is no better way than to
carefully watch the field and gather
the large smut masses as thew ap-
pear. If a stalk is badly infested. it
should be entirely cut out. A dill
gent effort for one season will greatly
reduce the amount of smut for the
next year. If the work is followed
up during the succeeding seasons, the
corn smut will need but little attem.
ton after two or three years.
When smut masses and plants in
tested with smut are gathered be
sure to carry them off the field and
burn or bury them. Do not throw
them on the ground or on the manure
pile, for some of the spores may ripen
and infect the next crop.
Applying manure to pastures or
grass land one or two years before
the field is planted to corn will have
marked effect in reducing the
amount of smut, also proper rota-
tion of crops that will bring corn on
the same field no oftener than once in
three years will be helpful.-C. P. Bull.
L. T. Silkey was in from Madison
aka fodau