The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-04-26
4 RTICLES OF INTEREST TO FARMERS.
Instructor Sank Centre High schoo


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(This article is intended for both City
man and farmer.)
At the head of of all science and arts,
at the head of civilization and pro-
gress, stands-not militarism, the
science that kills, not commerce, the
art that accumulates wealth, but agri-
culture, the mother of all industries,
and the maintainer of human life.
Garfield.
Farm Gardens Pay Handsome Profits
The garden every year is becoming
a more important part of the up to
date farm. The reason for this is that
more and more farmers are seeing in
it a source of big profit. A half acre
garden for example can give net
profit of about $45.
The farm garden, says R. S. Mack
intosh of the Agricultural extension
division, University Farm, St. Paul,
should yield enough vegetables to sup
ply the table during the growing sea-
son and for canning for winter use. A
circular letter recently prepared by
Mr.. Macintosh, gives the amounts Of
seed required, tells how to plant, and
adds other information of value. Those
interested may obtain copy of this
circular by addressing the agricultural
extention division, University Farm
st. Paul.
High Prices Create Interest in Beans.
With common field beans, like the
navy, bringing $3.50 to $3.50 bushel,
interest in the bean has greatly in
creased. Even under average condi-
tons, however, with such beans bring
ing $3.50 a bushel, they can be pro-
.duced at fair profit, says A. C. Ar
ny, of the Minnesota Experiment Sta
tion.
Field beans can be produced to best
advantage on sandy loans.
Clover sod has been found an excellent
place on which to grow field beans.
Since this is also a desired place for
corn and potatoes, in a rotation, beans
can be substituted for corn or potatoes
without changing the plan of crossing.
Seed should be only the best OBJ
tainable, 18 to 20 pounds of seed is
enough for each acre. Fall blowing
is best for bean growing but if spring
plowed ground is used it should be
plowed early as possible in April to
allow the ground beneath to become
firm before the beans are planted.
Fall plowed ground should be disced
and once early in April. The soil
should be mellow to a depth of three
or four inches.
Planting should be delayed until
danger of frost is past. In Minnesota
it is advisable to wait until after the
corn has been planted. From May 20
to June 10 is the time to plant. With
.misture conditions favorable the seed
should no the planted deeper than 1a
or inches. The biggest yields at the
University Farm have been obtained
where the beans were drilled in rows
"a inches apart, - bean to each two
three or four inches.
Enough cultivation to keep the crop
free from weeds and the soil mellow
should be given. Beans should not be
cultivated when the leaves are wet
with heavy due or rain, if leaf diseases
are to be avoided.
One hundred hives of bees are worth
as much as, or even more, than an 80
acre farm, says Francis lager, chief
of the division of bee culture, Univer-
sity Farm, St. Paul.
For capital invested and labor re-
.uuired bees are far the greatest roney
makers one can keep on the farm. One
hundred pounds is a fair average pro-
duction under good management of
the bee yard. At this rate 100 hives
would produce 10000 pounds of honey
in one year. This at 10 cents a pound
would give a return of 81, 900 for one
year.
None of this $1,000 has to be used
for feed for all their food and honey
comes from the flowers of the road
sides, woods and meadows. Further,
little or no rent is required for the
land, for the bee hives can be placed
along roadsides and in meadows where
the bees have food at their very doors
If a yard is needed for the bees, a
quarter of an acre is more than
enough for 100 hives. This should cost
about $1.50 as rent.
The only large expense is for equip
ment such as hives and supers and
this equipment will last lifetime. 1t
can be supplied for $500. This means
yearly charge of only SIS. The bees
can be obtained free by catching
swarms in summer. Then by the use
of pure bred Italian queens, obtained
at the University Farm for so cents
each, these swarms can multiply into
a pure bred apiary.
The total annual cost for the bees
for one year then is less than $50, ex-
elusive of labor. The actual labor re-
uuired is worth 1884 at the rate OF
$500 per year, for only one-third of the