The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-06-02

Now and then the sparrow hawk
grows so bold that he will invade the
house lot In search of small birds that
frequent the shrubs and hedges. In
case he does he should be given a
warm reception. for. while this hawk
destroys many mice and the small AMI
mails, he also preys extensively upon
several varieties OF much more useful
birds.
The penetrating power Of growing
root Is realized when one has seen
Quack grass root grown entirely
through good sized potato or the root
Of a mature oak down fifteen feet and
penetrating seeming impenetrable bed
rock or hardpan. And the marvel In
the latter instance Is that the roots
keep theif bark intact and apparently
uninjured by the pressure sustained.
The North Dakota experiment sta
ton has recently issued bulletin No.
"a, which, contains a summary Of the
which have been In operation for the
past three or four years. During the
interval 1906-9 IL was found posi-
BILE to increase the yield Of wheat on
these farms from 14.4 to 26.5 bushels
per acre by using good seed, giving
proper tillage and adopting a sensible
system of crop rotation.
With the coming of the warm wealth
er a more careful and frequent In
spection of the poultry and poultry
quarters should be made to head Off
the lice and mite pests should they
appear. Whitewashing the house. nests
and outside coops used for the hens
and their chicks, fumigation of the
poultry house with -four of sulphur
scattered over a pan of live Goals and
the spraying OF the roosts, nest boxes
and, IL necessary, the interior OF the
house with kerosene or solution con-
tanning crude petroleum are three
ways In which these poultry enemies
may be kept In check.
Much Of the fruit grown In eastern
and central state orchards would be
better colored and fetch higher price
than 1t does II the central branches of
bearing trees were cut out. giving
open tops, so that the sun would have
an opportunity to give the fruit the
red color which is so popular with all
buyers. 1t Is In this matter Of color
chiefly that the western fruit, ripened
by the genial caress OF many days Of
sunshine. excels that produced farther
east, where clear, bright days are the
exception, perhaps. and not the rule.
This cutting out the tops Of fruit. par
ticularly apple and peach trees, may
deform the trees for a season, but 1t
will In the end mean fruit borne lower
down, better colored and more easily
sprayed and harvested.
In a large sense is 1t true that 1.-THE
good Tor mediocre) Is an enemy OF the
best" but in few instances Is 1t truer
than Of just fair fruit on an open mar
ket in competition at greatly reduced
price with that which Is first class.
In many apple markets this spring Is
this proving the case, inferior-in fact.
cull-stuff being lately dumped on the
market and selling at so low price
as to seriously affect the sales of really
high grade fruit. This situation Is
primarily the fault of buyers and CON-
mission men, who thought bull mar
ket last fall would continue and en-
able them to sell at handsome profit
really worthless stuff bought for
song. This situation will work hard
ship in the end chiefly for the growers.
who will not only have to stand spon-
sor for their own but the middleman's
sins as well.
A couple Of years ago young man
whose home was In New York made a
wager with a leading journalist Of the
state that he could save 5000 year
for a period Of two years over and
above expenses and at ordinary day
wages. At the end of the period, dur
Ing which he served eleven employers
and at no Job received more than $46
per month, he had In the bank $40.
1t goes without saying that the young
fellow didn't booze or 60 a-gaddlng
nights. He attended to business and
saved every cent possible. The incl
dent simply goes to show that the
young man Of today can get ahead at
manual labor IL he will. even II his
progress along this line may be bit
slow. Too many young fellows shin
along from hand to mouth from year
to year and. instead OF having money
in the bank, are STEPPED In debt to
many of their associates.
Following the recent widespread In
terest In irrigation as a means Of re-
claiming lands previously barren for
lack of rainfall. attention, is now be-
ing directed to the principle as a safe
guard for some crops In states usually
humid, but now and then subject to