The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-06-07
Field Crops.

In the study Of field crops this year
have learned many interesting anc
useful things. We have taken up the
study OF our most important fielC
crops, including wheat, oats, rye, corn
flax and potatoes. Under each of these
we have taken into consideration, the
best variuies of each to grow in oul
locality, time to plant seed, kinds OF
soil best for each, diseases and insects
troubling each and the remedy TO,
them, and in fact any thing which
would influence higher and greater
profits.
We have also studied about our pas
ture and meadow crops, both legumes
and grasses. We have discussed the
benefits of mixtures, the best two
plants to grow together for mixture
how to plant and care of for the pas
ture and meadow and the proper time
for cutting the hay.
Another part of the subject we have
studied is weeds. We have examined
the most common weeds in order to be
able to recognize them and have dis
discussed the damage done by weeds
and the best way to eradicate each
kind of weed.
We have taken into consideration
the value of crop rotation and have
learned some good rotations. j.
One very interesting thing which
we have taken up is about the Mime
sofa Seed Law. Although this is a
very important and helpful law it is
zone with which many people are not
familiar, and therefore I will give the
main objects of it. This law does not
prevent the impure or inferior seed
but it requires that the seeds be lab
aeled. This lets the purchaser know
just what he is buying. In this way
it protects the farmer and also the
honest seeds man. The law provides
for four things.
LIST. The accurate labelling of all
agriculture seed sold in one pound lots
or more.
End. The free testing Of seeds for
any resident Of the state.
3rd. The inspection of the seed in
the markets of this state and the pub
LEGATION of the results.
4th. The enforcement of the law
and penalties for violation of it.
The label which is put on the seed
must contain, the kind of seed, varie-
ty, per cent purity, termination test
the date when the termination test
was taken, where seed was grown and
lif it is corn in what county and the
name of the seeds man. Also if the
seed contains quack grass, pernimai
sow thistle, doder or Canadian thistle,
it must be stated on the label, with the
per cent by weight. In this way by
looking at the label, the purchaser can
tell exactly the variety of the seed he
is buying and the per cent purity, that
is how much foreign material weed
seed, etc., the seed contains. "Where
grown" is important as seed was often
sold for Minnesota grown when it con-
tanned weed seed that never grew IN
Minnesota. He also can tell the yer
cent of termination of the seed he is
buying and also how recently this test
was taken. By requiring the per cent
of some Of our worse weed seed to be
put on the label if the seed contains
them, helps to bring about the selling
of seed free from these weeds. The
seed men will take care to have their
seed free from these weeds rather
than label their seeds containing GER
tain per cent of weed seed. There is
~one exception to this law which en-
-ables the farmer to sell sedd to his
neiphbor without labelling it. However
he must put on it "Not Cleaned Seed"
have just outlined part, of the
many. things which we have taken up
in Field Crops this year. I think l
am well repaid for my work in the
subject by the benefits I have received
from il.
- -Teasel Kennedy.
The High Cost of Living
The high cost of living has been dis
.cussed in multitude Of forms. Prices
have been rising almost steadily for
eighteen years and there are lndlca-
tions that the rise will continue.
At the last national election the in
creased cost of living was leading
issue in each of the major party plat
forms and since we have become in
yolyed in the Great War the question
is still more serious and vital.
In order that the people of our own
country be supplied with foodstuffs at
reasonable prices and also that we
ship some to the countries that are
looking to us for bread, it will be ne
cessary to till every available acre OF
land carefully this season and doubt