The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-05-11

Puoheat'on h>st rs guaranty
*+++**+++++*++I
THE POPLAR LANE
Down the lane where poplars are,
Pillars of a shadowy hall;
Yearning skyward fair and far
Stately, swaying, whispering wall.
At the farther end. they seem
Almost-neTer quite-to meet.
Through that portal, shall my dream
Enter TO fulfillment sweet?
Down the path where poplars stand.
Sentinelling silently
Fancy's footway to land.
Where the fruit of dreams must be
Let me wander down that road
Poplar girt, with you, my friend;
While your smile and hand clasp
goad
Me to brave whatever end.
Down the lane those poplafs guard
adventure timidly;
Lest the world Beyond be marred
With a grim reality
All at variance with my dream
That has guided me so far,
With it's friendly search light beam.
Down the lane where popuiars are.
Farm Life.
AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK, GOOD
The general agricultural outlook
now is probably the best it has been
in three years, say men who are in
a position to know. The domestic
market for farm products is reported
to have improved measurably as a
result Of increased proeS Gritty in ur-
ban communities, but that the pros
pective foreign demand for Ameri!
can farm products is not as good
this year as it was year ago.
When labor is fully employed and
wages high" the department says,
farm products find reader sale
and better prices. This is what has
helped to sustain the price OF hogs
this spring. likewise lambs, cattIe,
dairy products, eggs, and certain
vegetables" The outlook for next
fall and winter is considered to de-
pend upon continuation Of the pre-
sent industrial boom in cities. La
Dor is being drawn from the urban
centers but there is as yet little ey-
idence Of serious farm labor handi-
cap the department says. The pinch
IL CApCClSu " SolhC oI AiehA 'SoS NAA1
.nould the movement continue.
Spring planting geerally is reported
from two to three weeks behind, but
the reported trend is toward increas-
ed production of cotton, sheep and
possibly corn, and decreased produc-
ton of wheat, hogs and potatoes.
Prices of leading crops show con-
tinued upward trend, but the general
level of livestock prices is reported
as stationary or tending TO move
slightly downward. Prices OF com :
modities that farmers buy also show
a continued upward trend so that the
relative purchasing power OF a unit
of farm products remains unchanged,
the department points out.
The man who wishes to keep
hens on a city lot in the back
yard, says the United States de
partment of agriculture, should
purchase pullets in the fall or
buy day old chicks or Matching
eggs in the spring. Well matur-
ed 'pullets are the only kind TO
buy, as they will begin to lay
before cold weather sets in. The
maturity of bullets is indicated
by the red color of the comb and
by the size of the birds. Day
old chicks are now a regular
market commodity in all parts
of the country and are shipped
long distances. 1t is much hard
er to raise small chickens in the
small space of back yard than
out in the country where there
is plenty Of grass range.
A report to the United States
department of agriculture from
the county agent in Madison
County, Idaho, tells Of holding
pedigree schools" in his coun-
ty for the purpose of familiariz-
ing farmers with some Of the
principal families of pure bred
live stock as a means of further
ing their interest in the local
better sires campaign.
Farmers in Missouri replaced
739 scrub bulls with pure breds
In a twelve month period, &C
cording to report sent out from
that state.
FARMERS SHOULD TEST THEIR