Semi-weekly herald., 1914-04-02

ly planted. Many of our fields out
side Of the leading potato districts
have only half the number of plants
that would be found in a Scotch or
German field"
American farmers also have more
pests to contend with than do those
abroad. The late blight is common
to both continents but the Colorado
potato beetle and the potato flea
beetle do not occur in Europe. The
advantages of spraying with Bor-
deaux mixture to control the late
blight have been demonstrated an
nually for ten years by the New
York agricultural experiment station
at Geneva, yet last year millions of
bushels Of New York potatoes decay
ed because the farmers failed to
spray or did not spray thoroughly
The problem Of supplying dis
ease free seed has been met and SOL
we'd in Germany and the recommend
alton is made that the same thing is
done in this country through the CO.
operation of potato growers associa-
tions and the department Of agricul-
ture, rather than by legal enactment.
In previous years Of scarcity the
United States has imported potatoes
from Europe in large quantities.
eight million bushels In 1908 and IS
million in 1911. With them came
diseases hitherto unknown In Amer
ica, like the blackleg and scurf and
p0xossy sesD sn afa n1oi sa safeessd esdfss Wait e dis
ease led the secretary Of Agriculture
to prohibit the importation Of pota-
toes from most of the large growing
districts abroad. Hereafter experts
say, enough potatoes must be pro-
duced to supply all our needs, as most
sources of foreign imports have been
closed by quarantine, and unless pro-
duction is increased and maintained
serious condition may arise.
The Old Oaken Bucket has been
relegated to the ash heap by the de-
partment Of agriculture which, on in
vestigation. has found that its moss
covered sides are full Of microbes
and the iron hoops are anything but
sanitary. OF All shallow farm wells
examined in Indiana the waters Of
209 were very bad, 43 were doubtful,
and only 159 received clean bills Of
health. In Minnesota 70 wells were
examined and 50 were found to be
polluted. Deep wells are not exempt
from suspicion, for out of TT Of
such, the waters Of As were found to
be bad and 16 were doubtful. Even
in the bubbling spring, the last
stronghold of the rural pest, the In
sidious germ has been found germin-
ating and such sources Of supply
should be carefully watched.
twenty-five Of the polluted wells
in Minnesota were bad only because
Of poor surface protection and could
easily have been made safe,' says a
bulletin of the department which out
lines simple sanitary system for the
farm home. practically all of the
surface supplies were polluted. Dur
ing these investigations % of the
farms examined showed a record Of
typhoid fever. Surface water sup
plies should not be used for house.
hold purposes or for washing milk
cans. They should not even be used
for laundry purposes unless no other
supply is available. Rain water from
the roof is often polluted by dust,
decayed leaves and other foreign
matter. The underground cistern
should be Of water-tight construction
to prevent pollution from the neigh
boring soil. There should also bs
suitable provision for straining or
filtering the water previous to its
entrance to the cistern." When the
farmer figures on his water supply
the amount needed is a vital item,
and to help him on this point the
department has prepared table ON
water consumption. Each member Of
the family needs from Is to 40 gal
Ions per day, probably depending on
their individual tastes in bathing
through the bulletin II silent on this
point. Each horse requires IL gal
Ions per day, COW needs 10 sallens,
hog 2h and sheep 2 gallons. For
the family of six = 200 gallon sup
ply should be sufficient Il the watsr
is used for the house only. On 4
farm where water u supplied b =
family Of SIX persons, 10 horssa. a
cows. Is hogs and Is shssp ~ dAily
storage supply should b ct ieast ~
in addition to whatever surely ~
farmer deems necessary for IN peo@