The Somerset reporter., 1909-07-15

Mldew on the gooseberry and cur
rant bushes may be remedied by
sprinkling flower of sulphur on the
leaves when the dew is on in the even
Ing or early morning.
One of the attractions that are listed
for a Pennsylvania fair circuit this
season is trotting race between
horses and a four-year-old Durham
bull which is broken to sulky and is
expected to make a mile In about 2:30
This should be a winning card
Even In the bovine world 1t pays to
amount to something. At the Mis-
souri, Agricultural college few weeks
ago a Jersey COW fell into ditch aud
was so injured that she had to be
killed. The fact was heralded all
over the country Her name WAS
Pedro's Estela. and her butter record
was 725 pounds per year
A curious thing noted In connection
with the black walnut tree Is that
when near apple trees 1t seems to be,
in effect. poison to them-at least
they usually die out-where If it Is
some other kind of forest tree the only
effect seems to be a stunting of growth
due to lack of sunshine. air, moisture
and plant food Just what the cause
of the noxiousness of the walnut tree
Is due to we have never seen stated.
The value of many pure blooded
chickens Is often greatly lessened as a
result of the trip they make from
raiser to buyer and especially of the
care given in the week or two after
arrival. Much could be done to pre-
vent this slump In condition II the
purchaser would ascertain from the
shipper just what ration had been fed
prior to shipment, with suggestion or
two as to the care of the birds until
adjusted TO their new environment.
Poultry raisers, whether In town or
on the farm, might often save them
selves heavy losses through disease II
they would establish sort Of quaran-
tine quarters where individuals that
begin to look dumpy for one cause or
another could be isolated and given
special care and treatment. Not only
would this be better for the sick fowls.
but 1t would prevent their befouling
the feeding places. drinking fountains
and slepeing quarters Many dis
eases OF poultry as of other animals
are highly contagious, and handling
sick fowls In the above manner would
be a simple yet valuable preventive.
At North Yakima, Wash, where the
business of growing and packing ap-
pies Is done as scientifically as any
where else in the world, the plan has
recently been adopted of having
school Of instruction for apple packers
The school is held for six weeks, there
being two sessions each week. At the
end Of the course of instruction exam
nations are held, covering both the
theory and practice Of apple packing,
and those making a satisfactory show
ing are given certificates Of proficien-
cy. The move would seem to be
very commendable one, that will great
ly facilitate the work of packing when
the rush is on.
In sections where the winters are
such that a cover crop should be
grown In the orchard during the latter
part of the summer to catch the snow
and give protection during the winter
months cultivation should cease about
the middle of July and cover crop
grown which will do best in ones To-
cality. Buck wheat and oats will an
swer tNe purpose nicely II conditions
are not right for cowpeas or soy beans.
In all these cases the growth Of the
cover crop tends to check late growth
In the orchard trees by absorbing sur.
plus moisture, keeps the soil from bak-
ing In the August sun and smothers
a host of weeds, while the soil Is left
In a fine, mellow condition for putting
In clover or other crop the following
spring.
Landowners In several sections hav.
ing thin and washed patches Of land
are wondering IL the common wild
sweet clover does not offer something
which may be grown advantageously
on such land The ability Of this
legume to shift for itself, as seen In
its occupation Of unpromising spots
along railroad rights of way and other
inhospitab4e places, coupled with the
fact that It is entirely hardy and 9
soil enricber. like other clovers, seems
a strong point In its favor. 1t Is true
that us a pasture stock have to "1earn'
to eat It, when they seem to do well ON
1t. The hay 1t makes Is not OF high
grade-sonewhat woody-yet Is nu'
tritious. 1t is at least worth a trial
on soils which will grow little or moth
ing.
At the bottom of this question Of the
Importance Of the policy of forest
preservation is involved the problem
Of whether the lumber business OF
itself and mining, which has little
concern for that doing on top Of the
ground. are really more important
sources OF national wealth than agri.
culture. Especially does this point
arise In arid or semiarid sections
where the flow of water In irrigating
canals depends very largely upon the
preservation of the forests upon hill