davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25

depth. between four and FIVE inches
Very shallow planting causes the
yield to be cut down from sunburn
and loss of moisture. Very deep
planting saps the energy of the plant
in getting up. and cuts down the yield
accordingly. The proper distance be-
tween hills is about fourteen inches,
in rows three and one-half feet apart.
When so planted about eleven bushels
of seed per acre is needed. which the
plots at the University Farm have
shown to give good results.
8. Use Seed Tubers With a Per-
Torrance Record, ard Which Have
Had Proper Storage. Selection of seed
in the field-taking notice of the thrift,
resistance to disease and productive
quality of the individual hills -un-
doubtedly best. But it is impractic-
able to the majority of growers. These
will do well to select when digging
from the better parts of their fields,
taking only the most typical and uni
in a cool, dimly lighted place, in
such a manner that the air may circu-
late freely about each tuber For
best results the temperature should
be maintained at about 35 to 40 de-
grees F. Seed potatoes should not
sprout until time to plant, for plant
energy is prematurely expended in the
operation.
4. Treat the Seed Tubers for
"Scab" and Cut Properly. Treatment
may be given either before or after
cutting. One pound Of 40 per cent
formalin should be used to thirty gal
Ions of water and the tubers should be
soaked two hours. Cut only short
time before planting. and do not place
in infected bins or sacks, or plant in
infected soil.
The number of eyes on seed piece
is of less importance than the size of
the piece. The seed piece should al
ways be large enough to start the
young plant off with abundant vigor.
About one to two ounces is proper.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25
The Unprofitable Acre.
BY O. M. Olson, Minnesota Col
Iege of Agriculture.
!. = i. 4 j. j. j. !. !. j. + i: i. !. :. i. <

Farming is a business, and as such
is deserving of the best bust
ness management that it is pos
sible for it's owner to give to
it. The size of the farm is possible
factor of farm profit, but it is more
factor that concerns particularly the
executive ability of the manager, rath-
Farm land is good investment
when the increase in valuation and
the net returns pay reasonable in
terest on the investment. But fire.
quently farmers have increased the
size of their farms solely with the
idea of adding to their net income by
so doing If, however, their manage
ment of the previous acreage was
such that there was little or no profit,
there can be no reasonable expecta-
ton that the increased acreage will
return a greater percentage of net
profit.
Successful farming is not measured
by the extent of the work performed,
but may be said to consist in main
tanning we'll balanced lines of work on
the farm, and making every line OF
work and every acre bring desirable
return. 1t is granted that. in the man.
agement of large concerns, the main
tenance of certain departments is nee
essary, even though they are operated
at loss, and in a slight measure this
may be true of farming; but even
good farming cannot long survive a
majority of Improbable acres. In the
farming of today there is no greater
leak than the Improbable acre. Like
the Improbable COW in the dairy herd
it is a "boarder"-a continuous source
Of loss and big factor in increasing
the cost Of production on the farm as
q whole. 1t is possibly piece of land
oyerrun with quack grass or Canada
thistle. Perhaps it is piece Of land
that il somewhat stony. Or. more
likely. it IL a portion Of the
farm that needs drainage. In
any event the farmer should
not yield to encouragement, but
should seek way to make it pay a
profit il possible. 1t has a demoraliz-
ing effect on the farmer, and is an
eyesore to the observer. Before an
other season has passed away let's
get busy and wipe it out.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25
u TIL Z!!!| ILL.,
E *
FATTENiNG CRATE.

the trough. All droppings pass through
the floor, and are easily removed, thus
promoting cleanliness. Repeated dust
ings with insect powder, at the begin
ming and later, are resorted to for the
destruction Of vermin; for fowls will
not fatten il annoyed by lice or mites.
The loose pen method involves the
use of small yard or pen,' say 6x12
feet, for each twenty-five or fifty birds.
with small coop or shelter for roost-
ing; the whole being easily movable
from place to place as successive sites
become foul. This method affords
more scope for the healthful activities
of such lively fowls as the Leghorns.
According to Mr.. Brown, some form
of animal protein, such as beef scraps
or skim milk, is needed to get the best
results in fattening. Where scraps
are used, he moistens with water.
The following rations will give salts
factory results:
1. Equal parts by weight of finely
ground corn, oats and shorts, mixed
with sour skim milk.
2. Equal parts by weight Of finely
ground barley, oats and shorts, mixed
with sour milk.
3. Finely ground oats. mixed with
sour skim milk.
1. Equal parts of finely ground
oats, corn and low grade -four. Where
one is using beef scraps, Is per cent
is the best proportion.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25
STORING SEED POTATOES
Separate Trays With Wire Netting
Bottoms an Ideal Method.

Seed potatoes should be stored in
= dark, cool, airy place. Some grow
ers have tried the plan of selecting
the best typical tubers in the fall.
These are stored in six-inch trays with
wire netting bottoms. These trays are
about 2x21a feet, and have one-inch
cleat across each end at the top. This
allows them to be racked upon one an
other in the cellar or store room The
spaces occasioned by the cleats allow
the air to get in between the trays
when the netting bottoms let it pass
no and around each tuber.
J Such an arrangement gives ideal
storing conditions, according to those
using the Ian. Each tuber Is kept
from heating or becoming moist from
sweating" and sprouting therefrom.
It largely solves the problem of sprout-
ing. Seed potatoes should never be
allowed to sprout before planting, as
il saps the energy and vitality Of the
kuber and gives a weaker plant in the
Laid as . result-K. A. Kirkpatrick,
Minnesota University Farm.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25

lat short By insects; and. II the In
cresxs IN yield viii pay 4 pro6t an the
opers ton. spraying should always be
done. Tia mixture used IL bordeaux
4-4-5s. and Paris green at the rate Of
one pound to eighty gallons OF mix
ture. Use 4 sprayer with high, steady
pressure, $50 to 200 pounds; and do
not have spray drip from the leaves.
z. Ward OF Disease. Among the
common diseases are scab, the treat
ment for which has already been Civ.
en-. early blight. late blight. and rot
Early blight injection comes largely
through the work Of the hea beetle.
The Bordeaux spray will usually keep
1t away. Late blight II rare In Min
nssota and is controlled practically
entirely with Bordeaux. not CONNER
cfalIy advisable in Minnesota. RIOTS"
are Of several kinds. Fusarium rot
should be specifically guarded against
By selection Of tubers and rotation.
The introduction Of good potatoes
from other states ought to be careful
~ safesuarded Serious diseases.
O.. 6. wart disease, might be intro
duced.
8. One Of the Nest Potent Factors
In the Low Yield Of Potatoes 10 Bad
Weather. The suggestions given above
point way to overcome the effects
that many an unobserving person at.
tributes to bad weather"
9. Harvest Carefully and Grade
Closely. The tubers should be ma
ture when dug, and the digger should
be skillfully operated. Bruises and
mutilations allow rot spores to enter
and cut down the market value of the
product. 1t is much better to grade
out all unsound and Gull tubers and
use them for feeding purposes on the
farm. Such an operation always helps
command the market for the producer.
10. Form a Club and Grow Only
Two or Three Standard Sorts. The
best potato growing districts in the
state are finding this suggestion feas-
ible and profitable. Only few stand
ard sorts are quoted on the markets.
Farmers in a community can usually
fit limited number of these varieties
to their respective soil conditions.
When carlord lots of such potatoes
are to be found in any locality deal
ers are anxious to send their buyers
into that region, to bid literally for
all the product at harvesting time.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25
Fatteniag Poultf;;.
BY =. r. Earns, ExtenSo1 Oi-
vision, 8isnsyotz A3rieuL
trral College.

y y
By sending poultry to market before
the birds are fully fattened-as Is
habitually done by probably the ma
jority Of poultry raisers in Minnesota
the farmer robs himself Of large
proportion Of the profit 'whfrh might
have been hiss bat which, through his
Indifference or neglect. now goes to
the middlaman.
As set forth BY N. E. Chapman and
others on numerous occasions, the
common practice is to sell chickens
alive to dealers, who ship them by
express or in special cars to the Twin
Cities or Eastern markets. Many Of
the birds are so poor that they must
be sent to feeding stations, near those
markets. to be fattenod before they
can be sold at a profit Thousands of
them, when put into the feeding coops,
weight only IL to f-sS pounds each.
Intelligent consumers know that there
is too much waste, wren these birds
are dressed and cooked, to make it
profitable to buy them. Hence the
necessity of fattening before they are
put upon the retail market.
That those dealers who run "fatten-
ing stations" in connection with their
business reap larg., profit is made
clear by the fact that, by compare
lively slight expenditure for feed, the
weight OF the birds is in three weeks
increased by from one and one-half to
two pounds each; tie cost being not
over cents per pound. AS Mr.. Chap
man says: If the 100000 chickens
marketed in MINI es,ta each year
should have two pounds each added to
their weight before marketing, it would
increase their value by $1,S0.000." The
gain in three weeks. as above set forth.
Is substantially verified by several
carefully conducted experiments at the
Crookston station.
For roasters, or birds already weigh
ing over three ard one-half pounds.
Mr.. C. e. Brown. the poultry expert at
Crookston, prefers the crate method"
Of fattening: for cokerels of the light
er breeds, like the Leghorn, he prefers
the loose pen method" These meth
DDS are fully described in Minnesota
Experiment Station Bulletin No. 119;
in Minnesota Extension Bulletin No.
81, and in Minnesota Farmers Instf-
tute Annual No. "a. The accompany
ing cut shows tie simple construction
of the fattening coop and feeding
trough; with top, ends and sides OF
Stats or lath, while the bottom can be
either of Stats or of one-inch mesh
wire netting. All Stats save those in
front are nailed on horizontally;
those in front being perpendicular in
order that the fowls may put their
heads through, to reach the feed in
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25
Low Headed Trees.
BY c. r. Barns, Extension Oh
vision, Minnesota Univsr.
Sitv Farm.
{. (. !. !. !. !. !. i + 1. i. :. = 4.


The advantages of low headed and
low branched trees in an orchard, oyer,
high headed and high branching ones,
are so numerous and so easily secured
il the proper steps are taken when
first establishing the orchard. as to be
worthy the consideration OF every or
chardist. Among these advantages
are: /. Ease in performing all the
operations of pruning, thinning, spray
ing, Or otherwise dealing with insect
pests and gathering the fruit. ,. The
economy and superior quality Of labor
performed when standing ON the
ground or on short ladder. as COM
pared with that performed while
steadying ones self on high ladder.
3. Comparative ease in giving winter
protection to varieties not wholly
hardy. 4. Smaller liability to dam
age from high winds. 3. A very much
reduced liability to sun scald, on ac-
count of the shading of the short
trunk by the branches.
A writer in the Farmers Review
says that Peaches, in one of our best
peach growing sections. are headed
practically at the ground: while
apples are headed from twelve to
eighteen inches above" With proper
pruning, the growth of fruit bearing
wood may be 50 controlled that most
of the branches are kept within reach
Of picker standing on the ground.
The main objection to low heading
seems to be that it prevents the cult
walton of the ground close to the
trunks of the trees. The desire has
been to have the lowest branches
high enough to allow the driving of
horse close to the trees But the
gain from this is small; since the cul-
tivation OF most OF the space between
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25
Ten Potato Pointers.
BY K. A. Kirkpatrick, Extsn-
sion Division, Minnesota Uni:
versity Farm.

r Il 4. + = Il + + + + + + i + + +
I. Secure q Perfect Seed Bed. The
IDEAL location for potatoes would be
q clover or pasture plot that vas deep
ly piowed the previous fall. D;.r,.is
the winter light top dressing OF
stable manure should be applied. ID
be thoroughly worked in by cross
discing as soon as the ground 10 work
able in the spring niscins an drag
narrowing should be given at proper
intervals. before planting time. to
warm up the ground and Kill weeds.
2. Secure Accuracy and Uniformity
Of Distance in Planting. All hills and
rows should be accurately gagged in
line and uniformly spaced TOR such
conditions give ease of cultivation.
One hill missing out of every ten
from the potatoes being gonged out by
q cultivator or never having been
dropped, may cut down the possible
yield ten to twenty bushels per acre.
All seed pieces should lie at the same
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25

Cut the long way of the tuber, usually,
so as to get some of the seed eyes"
on each piece, if possible A medium
sized typical tuber, cut into four or
six pieces, will usually give about the
proper size.
S. Give Timely and Proper cuItiva-
ton. Give blind cultivation" il pos
sible, and harrow just before the
sprouts are up far enough to be dis
turbed by the dragging. Then give
shallow, level cultivation throughout
the growing season, to conserve all
the moisture possible and keep it near
the surface.
6. Keep Off Insects. Spraying is
usually resorted to. Both negative
and beneficial results have been OBJ
tanned in the experimental plots at
the Farm. But No plant saA produce
ct its best when its foliage has been
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25
CARE OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS
Plants From Which Blooms Have Been
Cut May Be Carried Over Winter.

Potted chrysanthemums from which
the blooms have been cut may be car
ried over winter in the cellar and used
to start new plants from next year.
Cut off the old stalks about four
inches above the soil. Set the pot
away in a cool cellar, and keep the
soil slightly moist. Young sprouts
will appear as offshoots about the root.
In the spring these may be cut away
and set in rows in the garden to de-
velop into bushy plants. In the latter
part of summer they may be lifted
and potted for fall blooming.
To get the very large blooms all
lateral buds are pinched out and the
plant trained to one, two or three
branches. To get well balanced
specimen plant, the tips Of growing
shoots are pinched in early summer
until the proper branching is obtained;
then the lateral buds are pinched in
order. to limit the number Of buds de-
veloping blos3oms.-K.A A. Kirkpatrick,
Minnesota University Farm.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25
OBJECT LESSON TO FARMERS
Method Used by Potato Growers in
Maine.

The potato growers Of Aroosteok
county. Me-, have not only 20 de-
veloped the industry that the yield
per acre is larger than in any other
part of the United Statss-often
reaching from six to ten times a. many
bushels as are harvested from the
average Minnesota acre-but they are
giving the country some valuable OBJ
ject lessons in the care Of the crop
after it is gathered, and in the care
of their machinery. AS says the Colo
RADIO News Notes:
There is no machinery standing
out doors on farms in AroostCok coun-
ty, Me. Potato houses are built so that
the basement stands in a slight rise or
knoll and is surmounted by neatly
framed and painted wooden building.
which has an inclined driveway lead
ing to it and is used as machine
shed. During potato harvest the ma
chinery is removed and the potato
wagons drive in ON the upper foc.,
through which the potatoes are poured
into the tall bins beneath. The base
ments have cement floors and ar
equipped with good stove and CHM
ney."
Barring the possibility that the
Aroostook potato fields draw some
benefit from the proximity Of, the
ocean they would seem to have no ad
vantage over those of Northern Min
nesota; and our farmers might derive
considerable profit from study of
the methods by which our neishbors
In Maine secure such remarkable
erops.-C. r, Barns. Minnesota Univer.
sity Farm. -
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25

the rows is still practicable with
proper tools, even if the horse himself
cannot get close to the trunks.
Says the writer referred to: In a
low headed, we'll trained and pruned
tree We have all the essentials for a
profitable one, other things being right.
We have a tree that is easily man.
aged in regard to pruning, spraying,
thinning and packing. Good labor for
doing these things is always at a
premium, and it goes without saying
that the amount of time it takes for
such an orchard is less than for
high headed one. In the second place
it is well known fact that low head
ed trees are far less subject to sun
scald than high headed ones"
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25
Loss Of Value in Manure.

Manure left in piles about the barn
from 40 to 60 per cent Of it's fertiliz-
ing value. The elements of value are
lost by passing off. as gases when the
manure decomposes, and by water
failing on the manure, teaching out the
portions made soluble by decomposi-
ton, and carrying these elements
away where they will be of no value
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25
THE WHEAT CROP.
0y A. p. Wilson, Superintendent
Extension Division, Mime
sata Agricultural College

= + + + r /. + + = + + = {. (. + = =
Much has been said regarding the
fnadvisabi'ity OF growing large acre
ages Of wheat. The fact remains. how
ever, that wheat kas been. and con-
tinues to he. the most important prod
'uct OF ,Afnnesotase farms. 1t has been
the crop that has practically built up
Minnesota, as IL furnished such IN In
come to farmers % enabled them to
develop Minnesota farms before the
days VIXEN live stock products brought
q price sufficient to make thefr pro
duction profitable
A study Of Minnesota Experfmen&
Station Bulletin No lit. which shows
the cost Of producing wheat in differ
emit parts Of Minnesota, IL interesting;
and it shows some places where We
believe Improvement can be made and
larger profits secured in wheat grow
ing. The average cost per acre Of
growing wheat on the statistical route
at Marshall, in Lyon county, for five
years, was 50 .39 per acre, including 50
for rent or land. In looking over the
such as seed, preparation of the soil.
seeding, harvesting, shocking, thresh-
ing, etc., one is impressed with this
fact: The cost of the seed and prepare
ton OF the soil amounts to about $2.35
per acre, or about one-fourth Of the
total cost of producing the crop. The
two items. seed and soil preparation,
afford, in our judgment, the two points
where Improvement can most easily
be made.
The average cost of seed on these
farms, including the cleaning and all.
amounted to $1.04 per acre. Had each
one of these farms run. all of the wheat
produced on their farms through q
good grain grader, and taken from the
whole amount TO or 20 per cent Of the
heaviest. rlumpest seed, thus getting
clean and we'll developed seed adapt
ed to their locality, each would have
had the very best kind Of seed to SOW,
at an additional cost Of not to exceed
10 cents per acre. There is little doubt
but thst this added 10 cents per acre
would have returned good many
! times that amount in increased yields.
due to the better seed.
The $1.3l spent for blowing and har-
rowing the land-of which $114 is for
blowing, leaving only II cents for har-
rowing-leaves no doubt in the mind
of anyone familiar with farming opera
tiOns, that the soil could not in all
cases have been thoroughly prepared.
Had an additional 70 cents worth of
labor been added to the preparation of
each acre of this soil, which would
have meant thorough double discing
of every acre. there is little doubt but
that this additional investment would
have proved exceedingly profitable.
While growing wheat, or any grain
crop, continuously on the same land Is
not to be recommended, there is lit
tie question but that, by thoroughly
preparing the soil, by good systems Of
rotations, by occasional manuring, by
thorough blowing and discing. and by
the use of good seed-such az any
farmer may have by carefully grading
the seed produced on his farm, and
using only the best-the production Of
the wheat crop and all grain crops
may be made profitable part Of q
we'll organized farm business.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25

Hauling manure direct from
the barn to the field; that is.
where possible. pitching direct
ly from the stall to the spread
er or wagon, then spreading in
the field as hauled at the rate
wanted. is the most economical
method of handling manure.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25

Shelter should be provided
for all of the animals SO that
they will be comfortable during
winter weather Leaving out
of consideration the welfare of
the animals, 1t is not economi-
cal to feed animals when ex-
posed to cold and damp
weather. Feeding cannot COM
pensate for inadequate shelter.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25

Roots fed to horses to the extent of
not more than ten pounds q day will
take the place Of . portion of the
Grain ration.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25

The Farmer Feeds Them All.
sThe farmers trade is one of worth,
He's partner with the sky and earth,
He's partner with the sun and rain.
And no man loses for his gain.
Men may rise and men may fall.
The farmer, he must feed them ALL"
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-25

Every farmer should work
out and adopt permanent sys-
tenn of agriculture under which
he can increase and maintain
the fertility of his land, enjoy
go living, rise in social
value and WELD a good influ-
ence in his community.
The Ordway new era., 1912-07-26
METHODIST CHURCH.

10 a. m, Sunday school, J. A. Sale,
superintendent.
II a. M, sermon by the pastor.
3p. M, Junior league, Alto Fry,
leader.
3p. M, preaching at Olney Springs
on the first and third Sunday OF each
month and at King Center on the Sec
ond and fourth Sunday. Preaching at
Olnry Springs on the End 4th Sunday
evenings.
(No evening service this week.
Sp. m, sermon and song.
Prayer meeting every Wednesday
evening at 7:45.
YOU are welcome to any and all Of
these services.
Ofiicial Board meeting on Monday
evening, the Goth.
7:3O p. m. Thursday. choir practice.
CLYDE Fl. INMAN. Pastor.