Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1915-03-24

" OF rain. AS Tor growing more than
one crop. you've got to do THAT II. yon
want to make any money. Besides.
Land needs something on It all the time
to keep down the weeds and keep
humus in the ground. When / get my
corn and cotton gathered I want to
hire you again to plow this land and
SOW 1t with some kind of cover crop
for the winter
"All right agreed Bill. "l'll do It,
And since you mentioned 1t guess iii
SOW my field in something wheat or
rye | could use it for pasture, too.
couldn't IT,
Certainly replied Sam 1T would
not hurt to pasture 1t even IL you
we're going to let it stand But speak
ing Of land producing stuff. why, man,
this place hasn't done half what it can
be made to do. Here's something 4
clipped from farm paper. It'll give
you an idea what land produces when
it's handled right" Sam took from his
pocket a little slip Of paper and read
There are few who know the pos
slbilities of the soil when well MANFRED
and watered. One acre has produced
PIG bushels OF corn, and three bales OF
cotton have rewarded another man
On Long island 400 bushels of Irish.
potatoes is not an excessively large
crop, and at Greeley. Colo. 400 bushels.
is not an uncommon yield. In the Sac
ramento valley, California. Mr.. Cleek
has for the past thirty years made a
good living and saved an average OF
$500 per year from one acre. On the
island of Jersey rents are as high as
5000 and $500 per acre, and near the
city Of Paris they are higher, still.
Near San Diego, Cal, there is a colony
Of 'littIelanders' who believe that one
acre is enough. and ma ny of them are
making good with their small farms
With good soils. plenty Of manure and
all the water needed the possibilities
Of the soif are enormous, and one crop
follows another in rapid succession
What do you think OF 5000 and $500
an acre for rent?" Sam asked when he
had finished reading They've got to
raise something on that land. haven't
they?''
Il should say they ha ver' exclaimed
Bill.
That afternoon at o'clock Bill,
Googe came by for Sam. and the two
put off down the creek to fish for the
perch and cat that were to be found
in the blue pools OF the little stream.
Bill had intended to take his shotgun
along. but found that he was out OF
powder and so had to leave off that
part of the sport.
They hadn't gone far when an old
quail with her brood OF young ones.
just old enough to fly. rose out Of the
grass in front of them with loud
whir of wings and sal led off into
nearby thicket.
'They's goin' to be some good hunt
in here this fall and winter Bill.
Googe remarked.
You're farmer. aren't you, Bill?'
Sam asked
''Of course, a kind Of one. But what
you askin' that for?" Bill inquired. sur
prised at the question
Well farmer ought not to kill
farmers friends. ought he"
''Sure. he oughtn't." &c prge replied
We'll. you just take it from me that
those quails and nearly all the other
birds that live around here are good
friends Of ours We ought not to kill
them. and we ought not to allow 9th.
ers to come on our places to kill them
why, I didn't think quail was any
good to us except to eat. said Bill.
$50 far as any one knows" Sam eX-
planned, they're the only bird that de-
stroys the potato beetle. They eat all
they can find, and they do us a good
turn every time they gobble one. More
than that, every single quail eats thou
sands upon thousands of boil Weevils.
Some people used to argu e that a quail
didn't eat anything except grain But
We know better now. They eat in
sects' Of all kinds, as well as weed
seed"
If that's SO they ought not to be
killed. said Bill
"Of course not said Sam. I'VE
don't have any idea how much good
they do u.s. It ought to be against the
+ law to kill quail at any time As it
is, they say insects destroy one-tenth
Of all we produce. If we were to kill
all the birds there'd be such a plague
Of insects that they'd kill everything
all the trees and vegetation of all
kinds
Farther on Bill saw woodpecker
hammering Justify on dead tree. He
stopped and pointed With his finger.
bet could knock i'm Off with rifle
from here be said
Don't ever do it." cautioned Sam.
Hes another friend"
What" exclaimed Bin. "A wood
pecker kills Trees
No. he doesn't" said Sam. HE saves
trees. A woodpecker never bores a hole
In tree for fun He's after worms or
making himself home, and he makes
his home In dead trees When be
bores into green tree he's after a
worm every time. and be always gets
him The hole the bird makes will