The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-04-22


and place Of retreat for their man.
insect enemies.
The service which birds render H.
man as insect destroyers can har1..
be measured. For this practical ser'
ice alone, if there were not othr
grounds, some pains may well be tl..:-
en- to see that nesting places are pro
vided or left for them about the prem
ises.
| 1t would be better for folks sto-l
achs as well a. their pOcketbooks If
they should reduce their meat ration
and substitute therefor as breakfast
ration some Of the excellent cereals
which are to be had at reasonable
prices. One of the results of this
change in diet would be much great
er relish for the meat rations Of thu
other meals of the day.
In France on roads which are rs
good as engineering skill can make
them a single horse will haul $500
pounds at a load as against 1,4OO
pounds per horse over the level dirt
roads In this country and 1000 pounds
over billy dirt roads. There would
seem to be abundant evidence in these
figures that it pays a country or com.
mun1ty to have firm and level high
ways.
Publishers Of magazines and the
reading public would view In better
spirit an increase In pound postage
rates the brunt of which would fall
on the individual subscribers) If con-
gressmen and other folks engaged in
the public service were not enjoying q
ranking privilege which makes it pos
sible for them to transport free of
charge anything from private CORE
spondence to poodle dogs, fireless cook
ers, pianos and automobiles.
There is probably no type Of farm
ing or ranching that Is more remu-
nerative or accompanied with less
risk one year with another than the
growing OF alfalfa. Especially Is this
true in and near sections whose area
is largely devoted to some other pur-
pose-as, for instance, fruit raising, for
uniformly high prices can be secured
for the hay owing to the limited sup
ply raised. Here is a fine opportunity
for many an energetic fellow who
likes farming but doesn't like to put
up with the e&acting care which the
raising Of fruit entails.
Until lately pea vines, the byproduct
of pea canneries, were q waste prod
uct, the handling of which involved Il
good deal Of expense. AS a result Of
experiments which have been conduct
ed by the federal department Of agri-
culture Ii has been found that these
same vines can be made into a hay
that is considered better than clover
hay and is q satisfactory feed for cat
tie, horses and sheep, while they may
be converted into q silage which
makes an excellent ration for dairy
cows. The vines may be cured best
by spreading them on sod land, giving
a forage crop which is worth from SIS
to S. per ton.
The jac! rabbit nicely illustrates the
protective 0loration with which ma
ture has provided certain animals as
q partial means of protecting them
from their natural enemies through a
change in the color of the coat with
the change of season to harmonic
with the general tone colOring Of their
surroundings. In countries Of snow
fall the jacks summer coat Is of
brownish dun color which corresponds
very closely to the color Of the grass
and brush and leaves. In winter his
coat changes to pure white with the
exception Of the black tip Of his tail,
though in sections where there is no
snow the winter coat is not materially
different from that of the summer.
Fer planting in northwestern states
the Norway poplar gives promise Of
being a most valuable tree. 1t Is a
quick grower, making a diameter Of
from six to ten inches i'm eight or nine
years; is hardy. does well under a
great rariety of. conditions. possesses
n smooth and straight grain and can
be used for variety of outdoor and
indoor purposes and for butter work
ers. berry boxes. wagon and buggy
boxes. The tree may be propagated
by soaking the cuttings in water for {
week before planting They should
be planted large end down about five
inches deep and in rows by feet
apart in mellow soil and cultivated
during the first two or three years,
after which the trees will shade the
ground ard take care of themselves.
In view of the present scarcity OF
corn Of sufficient vitality to justify it.
use a. seed. the farmers In the north
ern part Of the corn belt, which was
visited by the severe freeze Of last
October, are up against very real
proposition If they cannot secure
seed which viii give them at least two
thirds Of stand they would better
put in small grain in place Of the corn.
They will be tempted to use seed
grown farther south because # Will
terminate, tut this - almost a. seri-
GUS mistake as using poor seed, for
in all probability corn from such seed
would not mature in time to escape
%E.