The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1911-04-04
Established June 10. 1883.
FARM NOTES,
(By Verde Peterson, Science Teacher, Chenille
State Normal SCHOOL,


consequently stable manure is good
for potatoes. One objection &c
manure is that 1t encourages the
growth of scab on potatoes, yet this
objection can be removed by treat
ing the seed potatoes for scab be-
fore planting.
To pick the large potatoes from
the pile now is n bad way to select
seed but is probably better than
planting just any kind. 1t has
been demonstrated Mt several ex-
pertinent stations that better crop
of potatoes can be grown from large
pieces of potatoes than small ones.
The number of eyes in the piece
whenever they are as many rs two
seems to have but little effect upon
the yield. Potatoes should not be
cut several days before they are
planted because some of the plant
food will be lost by exposure of the
flesh Of the potatoes. Potato blight
has become lad disease in many
parts of West Virginia. The early
willing and dieing down of the tops
is an indication of blight. The rem
edy for blight is bordeaux mixture.
This should be applied before vines
get very large and the blight gets a
good start
~;
1t is not too late to do some prun-
ing, any time before the leaves are
out is good time to pruIe and
later than that is better than never
BE sure to burn all the dead limbs
cut from trees. These old limbs
are full of disease and a good way
to keep them from spreading is to
burn the brush. Apple canker es-
pecially is spread from old limbs.
~
In planting young fruit trees do
not fail to prune them back well.
A one year old switch tree should
be cut back to stub from Is inches
to two feet high. 1t is usually safe
to cut at least half the old top from
any young tree which is to be plant
cd. Do not be afraid to use your
knife. You Will have more growth
and more hearty wood in your trees
at the end of the first year if you
cut them back well thar if You leave
the old wood on. About all the
pruning the roots need is to cut off
the broken ones.
~
If farmers would grow some kind
of spring pasture for their hogs and
feed less corn the hogs would grow
better and would produce meat at a
lower cost. Some pasture and half
the corn needed to grow hogs in
pens will bring bel ter results than
so much corn. Clover makes an ex-
cellent pasture for hogs but it can
not be grown for pasture the same
season it is bown very well Rape
and Canada field peas make about
tie best carly spring pasture for
hogs.
Rape may be sown any time from
the first of April to the first Of July.
From four to six pounds of seed are
sown to tho acre and it may be sown
either in drills about two feet apart
or sown broad cas-. If the season
is good rape soon comes on and
makes a good pasture for either
sheep or hogs.
Canada field peas should not be
sown later than May first in this
latitude. At least a bushol of seed
to the acre should be sown These
peas being suited to colder climate
do not make good growth here
during the summer months but if
sown in the carly sprins they make
an excellent growth and since they
arc legume make excellent food
and are a benefit TO the soil.
West Virginia farmers lose entire
ly too much money ON account Of
smut in oats. Statistics indicate
that not less than ten per cent OF thc
average crop is lost by smut Most
Of this loss could be prevented by q
little work and caro- The proven
ton is TO soak the seed In y solution
Of formalin Directions for the
work can be had from the Yves
Virginia Experiment Station or from
the Department Of Agriculture
Washington ID. G
Want e. Barr arc eho,Uiprs fin,