The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-01-22

DEPARTMENT. FOR THE AGRlCULTURlSTS

the year. This would leave profit
above feed cost Of SGT so.
This would be about twice what an
average Minnesota cow produces in
butterfat in a year.
Figuring the same way, this
present average Minnesota cow pro-
duces $50 worth of butterfat per
year. Estimating her feed cost at as
little as $50 leaves a net profit of
only $40 per year.
Every cow in the herd should be
required to show profit.
The, only way to tell what each
COW has done for herself for the year
is to fix up pair of spring scales
and a milk sheet and put down the
weight of her milk each milking.
Weighing milk leads to culling the
boarders, more, alfalfa, sweet clover,
soy beans, better bulls, better dairy
men, etc.
Moderate Expansion In Flax Area
Urged-Estimating that the country's
linseed oil manufacturers will need
100000 bushels of flax seed in
1925, members of a conference, held
recently at University Farm at the
call of the National Flax Development
Committee, agreed there should be
some but not too much expansion in
flax production this year.
Increase in the yield per acre was
held to be more desirable than an
increase in the actual acreage. This
could be brought about, members of
the conference said by the early
sowing of wilt resistant seed an well
prepared soil. 1t was also recon-
mended that central and southern
Minnesota flax growers sow three
fourths of a bushel of seed to the
acre rather than one-half bushel ex-
periments having shown that the
thicker seeding will give an addition
al bushel yield per acre.
2 The conference was attended by
agricultural college station men from
Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin
and Iowa and by flax experts repre-
senting the manufacturing interests.
C. T. Nolan of New York, chairman
of the Flax Development Committee
presided.
Despite a record breaking crop of
flax seed in 1924, the U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture says that import
requirements will be around $780,
900 bushels provided the consumption
equals the average for the last two
years. The 1924 production is placed
at 30,O00,000 bushels. After 5000
900 bushels have been deducted for
seed, 100000 bushels are available
for crushing purposes.
o.
Bulbs and Tubers Need Attention
Now-This is the time of year to look
over the bulbs and tubers stored for
the winter, says Louis Sando, assist
ant florist in the division of horticul-
ture at University Farm, Dahlia tub
ers often keep in good condition till
the end of December, but after the
turn of the year," as it is termed,
they frequently lose their plumpness
and show signs of decay. All decayed
parts should be cut off and the bulbs
changed to new storage in clean sand
or dry ashes.
"Gladiolus corms should also be at
tended to now," says Mr.. Sando. "The
corms may be cleared of the bulblets
and stored separately if this has not
already been done. Look out for any
brown spots on the bulbs for they
may be manifestations of diseases
from which this fine Towering plant
suffered so much last season. Do not
plant gladiolus in the same plot of
ground used last year
"Look over your cannas now; see
that none is shriveling. Cover more
cadefully if there are any signs of
whitening. Do not divide canas or
dahlias yet. Do not rush winter flow