The Mankato free press., 1923-07-13

orcnafd, and there Is great diversity
IN the drying Apparatus, the aeces
sorry equipment, and the details oi
drying methods employed, with I
consequent absence Of definite
Standardization of the product. This
would be expected In view OF e,.,
fact that 262,289 farms reported the
production of dried fruits in the
census OF 1919. The primary need OF
the industry Is for such a standard
ization of equipment and applica-
tion of labor saving devices to the
handling Of the material as will en-
Of product at lower costs. Various
types Of artificially heated evapora-
tors found by test of actual use to be
best suited to specific purposes are
described in detail In Department
Bulletin 1141, just issued by the
United States Department Of Agrl-
culture on Evaporation OF Fruits.
The bulletin includes a description
Of model installations OF labor sa, :
ing machinery, as well as a some
what full discussion OF improved
methods OF handling the various
fruits in preparation for drying as
we'll as during the drying process.
The drying installations are the
most modern in character, but are
of such moderate size and cost as
to be suited to the means and needs
of a particular case. In many com
munities in which growing of fruit Is
not a primary industry the aggre
gate quantity of unmarketable fruit
may be such as to make advisable
the construction OF a community
drying plant to which every grower
in the vicinity may bring his sur
plus to be worked up. A number of
considerations, which should be
kept clearly in mind when the pro-
ject Of community or cooperative
evaporator is under discussion, are
mentioned. Those interested in the
subject Of evaporation of fruits
may secure copy as long as Ia.
supply lasts by addressing the Unit
ed States Department Of Agricul.
ture, Washington. D. C.
Further development of its
foreign statistical work to make
available to American farmers
more complete information on
current world agricultural con-
dttions Is to be made by the
United States department of
agriculture. Cesare Longobardi.
chief Of the Bureau of Stats
tics, International Institute Of
Agriculture at Rome. has been
detailed by the institute to as
sist the Department of Agri-
culture in the new work. Mr..
Longobardi is now in Washing
ton where he will cooperate with
the department for the next
he 1t.
GUS return Of Joe c. Barrett.
market statistician for the de-
partment, from Rome, where he
made complete survey of
statistical methods of all foreign
countries in reporting crop data
to the international Institute of
Agriculture also makes immedi-
ately available to the Depart
ment of Agriculture a fund or
data that will be of value in
developing the foreign news
service.
MAKES STUDY OF cANARiEs
To meet the needs of persons in
terested in canaries, Farmers Bull
letin 1927, Canaries, Their Care
and Management, by Alexander
Wetmore. assistant biologist, was
recently issued by the United States
of agriculture. One of
the functions of the Biological sur
vey of this department is to inspect
of birds from foreign
countries. Within the last years;
according to Its records, the trade
in canaries from Germany has near
ly resumed its prewar volume. In
1922, more than 10000 canaries
were imported from Europe and
from the Orient Canaries seem to
thrive in any climate where they are
not exposed to too severe weather
conditions. The European species
probably came originally from the
Canary Islands, but there has been
much interbreeding with the serin
finch, a native of Europe, which in
most respects can not be diStin-
guished from the wild canary. About
IA distinct strains are known at
present, with many varieties. The
common canary Is reared primarily
for its song. From it probably came
the roller, or song canary, great
favorite in Europe. In rearing song
canar1es the aim is to produce males
with clear, soft, pleasing songs, with
long rolls or trills. When fiedged
the young birds are put in rooms
with males noted for their so:S song,
where they will develop their own
vocal powers by imitation. Ordinarily
the room where the song canaries
are being trained Is darkened, and
sometimes the cages are screened
with cloth to lessen a tendency to
Objectionable loudness of song. 1t is
common to teach these birds some
simple melody or air through con-
slant repetition. In choosing cages
for canaries the primary considera-
tion should be the comfort Of the
birds. A square cage Is better than
a round one as one of this shape af-
fords more room for exercise. The
placing Of the perches so as to facil-
itate exercise also is important.
Cages must be kept scrupulously
clean and free from vermln and
should not be exposed 20 a direct
draft Of cold air as canaries taks
cold easily. The bulletin gives ad-
vice on feeding canaries properly;
on providing facilities for baths and
on the care of the birds during the
molting and breeding periods, to-
gether with directions for keeping
them vermin free and other partic-
ulars of interest to those who have
canaries as pets. It Is available upon
to the United States De-
partment Of Agriculture, Washing
ton, D. c.