The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-11-06
DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGRlCULTURlSIS

was never known to be on poultry !.
Several investigators have found it on
English sparrows in this country and
| have seen it on sparrows at Ithaca,
N. Y, and ST. Paul. We are max
ing studies in our laboratories at
University Farm of the life history
and methods of controlling this pest
and will be glad to receive any re-
ports and material bearing upon its
presence"
Some Late Blight on Potatoes Re-
ported Growers finding. peculiar
dark discolorations of the skin on
potatoes are invited to send samples
to the plant pathologists at Univer-
sity Farm for study and identified
ton. Complaints of late blight on
potatoes have been received at the
university station from Isanti, Aitkin,
and Pine counties, says R. G. Rose,
plant disease specialist with the agri-
cultural extension service of the uni
versity. Mr.. Rose advises that DO
tatoes affected with this blight will
not keep in storage but should be
sold at once.
Three New Bulletins to be Had
for Asking-"The Cost of Produc-
ing Apples in Minnesota" is the title
of a new bulletin prepared by w. G.
Brierley and w. ]. Koppen of the
division of horticulture and G. A.
Pond of the division of farm manage
ment, and issued by the agricul-
tural experiment station of the Uni
versity of Minnesota. Forty-four
pages are devoted to a study from
1916 to 1920 inclusive of "a orchards
on 487 acres. A second bulletin is
sued by the experiment station was
written by, E. F. Ferrin and M. A.
McCarty of the division of animal
husbandry and is entitled "Feed Re-
quirements and Cost of Gains of
Spring and Fall Pigs" When costs
are equivalent or nearly so, the auth
ors conclude that the fall farrow pig
has a greater chance of returning
profit to its owner than has the spring
narrowed pig.
The agricultural extension divis-
ion of the university has issued Spec
ial Bulletin No. 81, "Sheep Raising
in Minnesota" by P. A. Anderson
of the division of animal husbandry.
Mr.. Anderson gives lot of timely
advice on selecting and handling
small farm flocks and also in fatten-
ing and marketing sheep and lambs
"While Minnesota now produces 1
per cent of all the sheep in the United
States, it might produce to advant-
age or 5 per cent" he says.
These bulletins are free and a post
card request, if mailed to the Divis-
ion of Publications. University
Farm, St. Paul, will bring them to
your door in hurry.
Velvets Expensive; How to Rem.
ovate 'Em-"Most old velvets which
are to be used in renovating hats
should be mirrored, which is the mil
liners term of ironing velvet" says
Carlotta M. Brown instructor in
millinery, home economics division,
University of Minnesota. Miss
Brown explains the process in the fol
lowing:
"Steam the velvet, then turn on
wrong side on the ironing board.
Run the iron very lightly over the
velvet, beginning at the left of the
strip and taking long, light strokes,
being exceedingly careful never to
allow the outer edge to touch the
velvet. If this is done there will be
no streaking of the goods in the fin
ished work. After the iron has been
sent across the full width of the
board, return to the starting point
and go across again, always overlap
ping the first strip trifle to avoid the
same possibility of streaking. Now
turn the velvet to the right side and
repeat the process and unless velvet
has been abused in the wearing it will
come back to life many times under
this treatment. Be very sure the
nap of the velvet runs with the stroke
of the iron-not against it.
plush may be steamed in the
same manner, although because of its
heavy nap it never must be ironed !.
These are simple methods for the
saving Of both goods and dollars"
Stat. Potato Show and Potato
Schools-Potatoes will share honors
with apples at the annual meeting
and show of the Minnesota State Hor-
ticultural Society in the St. Paul aud
itorium November Ii to Fl. Cash
premiums of more than $500 will be
divided among the open class for peck
lots, county exhibits, boys and girls
club class, and noncompetitive class
for samples of certified seed. A. G.
Tolaas Of the State Department of
Agriculture and r. c. Rose of the ex-
tension service are promoting the
potato show.
Schools to develop quality in the
potato growing industry will be held
in Ottertail, Becker, Clay, Todd, Polk,
Norman, and Isanti counties this fall
by Mr.. Rose and E. C. johnson, also
of the extension service. These
schools opened October % in the
first named county and will run
through November and the first week
in December. Mr.. Rose giving in
struction in methods of production
and disease control, and Mr.. John
son in marketing, grading and stor-
ing.
-
Hot Bath for Spud Grows in Favor
The hot formaldehyde method for
treating seed potatoes against scab
and other diseases was used by more
than four times as many Minnesota
farmers in 1924 as in 1928. Records
kept by r. c.. Rose, a plant disease
specialist of the university, show that