davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01
What is a Second
prices PAID Friday

This article is written primarily to
interest those who are intending to
raise certified seed, but should be of
interest to the commercial growers
as well. In year when potatoes go
out at a high price, there is always
more or less talk about planting
seconds. If someone should ask
You what is a second. stop and
think for a minute just what your
answer would be. The writer is of
the opinion that growers do not
agree very well on this point. There
are altogether too many who be-
lieve that a second is anything not
fit to gS in the stock which has been
sold. This altogether wrong because
it includes too wide a range and
takes in culls which are entirely
unfit to plant. To those who are in
tending to grow seed to pass certi-
fication, the advice is, do not at
tempt to use seconds under any con-
sideration because it is not fair to
say that you are planting eight, nine
or ten dollar potatoes.
To the commercial grower who
sells short and insists on planting
seconds. we offer the following
definition of second: A sound
potato of a shape true for the
variety grown from healthy stock
and not less than one and one half
j inches in diameter. Experiment has
shown that over size potatoes will
raise a good crop and also that
small potatoes will raise a good crop
for one year, but it is not good farm
practice to continue to use this type
of seed or the crop resulting from
1t. Increased per acre yields in the
last few years should have taught
all our growers that only the best
seed should be used. If the seconds
used are known to be from healthy
stock, 1t obviates all danger that
any of the smaller potatoes may be
the progeny of Rhizoctonia hills or
that the large potatoes may be from
the so-called Giant Hills.
The potato world at large Is ex-
pecting Maine to slip this year and
take a step backward and all sorts
of things are predicted for use, but
1t seems to be a good time for our
growers to plan carefully and sur
prise some of those who expect to
use seed of uncertain origin and use
the very best, and thereby keep up
the reputation which we have gain
ed. The best of our certified seed
growers are planning to use the very
best seed obtainable and we hope
that the example which they are set
ting will be followed by our COM
merciaI growers. 1t Is realized, of
course, that the commercial or table
stock part of our crop is that which
is most valuable in terms of dollars
and cents, and the methods used in
growing this portion of the crop
should be of the very highest.
If there are those who insist on
using pickouts or seconds OF I'M
known origin, they must not be sur
prised If their crop does not do we'll
especially if we have a poor grow
ing season. The warning has been
issued and even those who are going
to do this sort of thing know better
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01
STRAWBERRY MYSTERY

There is just enough mystery about
the strawberry to make it interest
ing. Whence came the first straw
berry seed none can answer, writes
f. E. Beatty in Nature Magazine.
Why 1t came and why it has been so
widely developed is easier of reply.
The strawberry is one of the most
healthful of fruits, and no doubt Ma
ture gave 1t to us for our health S
sake.
The strawberry is decidedly a PAN
American fruit, growing more largely
in this continent than elsewhere. To-
day the annual cropis valued at about
twenty million dollars. not including
the berries grown in the home garden
for home use.
When the first terrible Winter of
the Pilgrim colony on the shores of
Massachusetts had passed. the little
band found the wild strawberry to
be one OF the riches of the new land
In Summer. These fruits grew in
profusion in meadows and unculti-
waited areas. The Indians used them,
mixing them with meal and making
a strawberry bread.
About 1900, people began trans
planting the wild strawberry into
their dooryards. 1t was not until
about 1850, however, that there grew
up any extensive cultivation of the
strawberries for the market. Then
there was laid the groundwork for
what has grown to be a large horti-
cultural industry.
Developing the wild strawberry in
to the magnificent and delicious
berry of today is like taking an old
rough chunk of ore and developing it
into a beautifully designed piece of
gold. Strawberry plants are pretty
much human. They are male and
female, they eat, drink, assimilate
and digest.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01
DETROIT

Mr.. and Mrs. James Hon
Mrs. Nellie Hoxie, of Clinton
Friday and Saturday, at tts
of G. F. Hoxie. They retui
their home in Clinton, n
from Sarasota, Florida, whsu
passed the winter. They ua
trip in eight days, in their
baker touring car, and had D
of luck without even a fat
the journey.
Mrs. Eva Lindo, and daughti
have been visiting for several
in the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
Nutter, left town last SaturtI
her home in Oakland. Fla.
H. W. Prince, went Tues
Boston to attend the Westin:
Convention, held there Wednl
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Andrs
Fairfield, who have been
several days in the home .
Andrews sister, Mrs. W. h
returned to their home Tuesda
George Sanborn, is employ
the section at Newport, and
to his work, each day.
Mrs. Cora Roberts, Of Pittst
visiting in the home of her dal
Mrs. Grin BARLEY. this week
Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Warm
Pittsfield, were calling on ns
town Thursday afternoon. /.
Arthur Bean, wife and @
of Pittsfield, also Miss Ach2
and friend. Miss Helen Leng
Orono. passed the day suns
the home of Mrs. Lois Bean
The young son of Merle Aos
had one of his feet badly
last week necessitating a 2
opera ton, is reported as doing
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01
GOOD GARDEN IN CLAY SOIL

seasons working as air is let into
it and vegetable matter incorporated
1t is an excellent idea to spade in
manure or vegeta BILE compost in the
fall in bringing clay into shape fol-
gardening.
Clay soil Is a little colder than
other soils and should not be worked
until later in the spring than the
average garden soil. 1t is very
necessary to see that it is well dried
out before spading it for If spaded
when wet and sticky Jumps that
will give good limitations of brick
bats are likely to result. One of the
commonest methods of tightening a
clay soil is to dig sand into it. The
pulverized limestone is a much more
efficient method as it not only gives
better filth to the soil but is per.
forming a valuable function as g
fertilizer at the same time, liberat-
ing plant food.
Clay soil will grow first-class vege.
tables and there need be no hesita-
ton about trying it out. One sea
sons trial will show how well it car
produce.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01
: News from the :
|Granges|
Pomona Grange Dates
Please send in dates, also motif

Please send IN dates, also notify US
If dates are not correct.
May Knox, Warren.
May West Penobscot.
May mo. Penobscot, Union League
Grange, Kingman.
May 4-Washington.
May 4-Waldo. Mystic Grange. Bel
mont.
May 4-Oxford.
May 5-Androscoggin, Danville juno
ton.
May 5-East Somerset.
May 6-Cumberland & Oxford, So.
Bridgton Grange. Bridgton.
May 6-Piscataquis.
May 6-Green Mountain, Schoodic
Grange. Franklin.
May Hancock Highland Grange,
No. Penobscot.
May 3-Cumberland.
May 11-West Washington.
May 11-Somerset. Sandy River
Grange, Mercer.
May 11-Cumberland, Androscoggin,
7 Union.
May 12-Llncoln, Garrison Hill
Grange. Newcastle.
May 12-No. Waldo.
May 12-Kennebec, North Augusta.
May 12--New Century, Swift River
Grange. Mexico.
May 13-York. Cornish.
May 14-Excelsior, Mystic Valley
Grange, East DiXf1eld.
May 15-No. Penobscot Agency
Grange West Enfield.
May 20-East Piscataquis.
May 20-No. Franklin.
May 22-No. Penobscot PIT. Passa-
dumkeag Grange. Passadumkeag.
May 22-Penobscot.
May 22-Limerock Valley.
May 25-Somerset, Canaan.
May 25-East Kennebec, Windsor.
May 26-Sagadahoc, Dromore Grange,
Phippsburg.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01
On the Farms Of Central Maine
News Notes of Interest to Agricuturst Hortculturst
Dairyman and Poultry Raiser
ONIONS, YOU NC and OLD

for onions. 1t is a fool-proof fer
tilizer for one thing, and anybody
can be trusted to apply 1t without
harm. They also take kindly to an
occasional light dressing of nitrate
of soda but this must be applied
carefully and sparingly. not allowing
it to touch the plants.
Onions should not be planted In the
same location two years in succession
as the onion maggot is likely to be-
come troublesome. The old fashion
ed test Of seed. pouring it into a
bucket of water and skimming off
the floaters as worthless, is sound
one. Onions of the fiat type. such
as the Red Wethersfield, do better
in the poorer soils than the big
globe types.
Onion seed may be sown with other
early vegetables as it is longer in
terminating than radishes and by the
time it makes Its appearance 1t will
be reasonably safe from the weather
For the earliest young onions a few
hills of the hardy variety, known as
the muliplier or potato onion, should
be planted. They endure winter
freezing and start into growth with
the opening of spring.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01
NITROGEN NEEDS OF APPLES

Mature apple trees in sod, treated
with heterogeneous fertilizer at the
Maine Experiment Station in 1928
and 1924, showed marked increases
in growth and in yield over unferti-
liked trees.
The results described in Maine
Bulletin No. 322 are in accord with
findings elsewhere.
A. thirty five-year old orchard of
Ben Davis in a rundown condition
was used. 1t had not been cultivated
since 1917 and had received no fer
tilizer since 1918. In the spring of
1928. three weeks before blossom
time, certain blocks of trees were
given six pounds Of nitrate of soda
per tree, certain others twelve
pounds, and still other blocks were
untreated. Treatments were repeated
in 1924.
The effects soon began to show.
Both the set and the size of the
apples were increased. The results
In 1924 were even more striking,
both in the appearance OF the trees
and in the yield Of fruit. For the
two years the untreated trees
averaged annually about OF barrel
per tree. The trees which received
six pounds of nitrate each averaged
1855 barrels.
Twelve pounds of nitrate per tree
did. not appear to give any greater
yield than the lighter application,
averaging about Is barrels per tree.
but in 1924 it produced a greater
twig growth. The average growth
of twigs the second year was: For
check plots, about one inch; for
trees receiving six pounds of nitrate,
four and a half inches; for trees re-
ceiving twelve pounds of nitrate, six
and a half inches.
Nitrate helps maintain the proper
proportion of nitrogen and carbohyd-
rates necessary for vigorous twig
growth, explains DR.. Karl Sax, author
Of the bulletin. A terminal growth
of six to nine inches on mature trees
is about right for maximum produc-
ton. If a tree under cultivation
is making less, apply nitrate; II
more. discontinue the nitrate; and II
this is not sufficient check, leave the
orchard sod a year or two.
About a quarter Of a pound or
nitrate per tree scattered under the
branches at least foot from the
trunk is sufficient for newly set
tree" advises Doctor Sax. This
quantity can be gradually increased
until at the age of eight or ten years
several pounds of nitrate may be
applied. When tree reaches full
production, from five to ten pounds
usually will be found sufficient
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01
Bleeding POuItr

Bleeding through the mouf
most effective method Of b
market poultry. One cut "a
made is all that is Iiecessaa.
the bird suspended by its fss|
with it's breast toward the IN
knife is inserted so that tAs|
of the blade is just back Of "a
and to the lefts 1t is then I
down and drawn forward ant
the base of the skull to the /
AS soon as a free flow d
starts, the bird should be h
debraining. In doing this. as
in picking the bird by u
method, it is important Il;
pressure be exerted on the j.
throat which will interfere vi
bleeding.
Other factors of imports
securing good bleeding are !
the bird for twenty-four
previous to killing, clean cua
the jugular vein, protection
cut blood vessel from the
air, an inverted position Of 4
while it is bleeding, and d
voluntary commissions whieA
after the bird is killed.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01
COSTS TO PRODUCE HOGS
VARIED BY MANAGEMENT

Wide variations in the cost of
producing pork are shown in sur
vey made by the Department Of
Agriculture of farms in Henry Coun-
ty, Iowa, and Warren County, ILL.,,
said to be typical of corn-hog farms
throughout the Corn Belt.
The gross cost of producing 100
pounds of marketable pork on A
farms in one year ranged from s3.07
to $13.55, with an average of $5.49.
Production costs on SO farms in an
other year ranged from s4.S6 to
$10.02, with an average of $6.32. The
figures are for the years 1921 and
1922.
The text of the statement on the
survey continues:
The variation indicates the in
fluences Of care and management in
the hog lot. The farms were within
a short distance of each other; it
was possible to follow very similar
methods within the region. and yet
some farms shipped hogs to market
costing more than twice what they
cost other farms.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01

20 tons per acre. oncA Y.
alfalfa can get part ~ q,
from the air but II nesds
plant food for its earlv
Alfalfa needs mora ~. W. !
than do most crops: il =
also to correct soil aciditr y. ae1
the plant nor the bacteris :
with 1t do well under acix
ditions. A soil test =.
should be made and q Inn i'm
ton sufficient to neutraH,s
dition. From one to fbrs.
ground limestone or its sa,,,.
land lime are often reoi,ss.s
lime should be applied n A..
and narrowed In.
Use only bright, clean -.
high terminating seed. ~
variety Is recommended
Cossack, Baltic and Canad,.s
gate may be equally sIitss
are no better however, II
use enough seed especssn.
growing the crop for tha AZ.
10 pounds per acre should =
for most areas though IL
may be better under certa,.
lions. Timothy Is a eood J.
accompany alfalfa. II tbs 81
thin the timothy thickens ~
versa so that they 10 hans 4 /
It Is probably true that n. !
assists in keeping down vsss.
fourth as much seed BY ~
recommended or from ION, Il
pounds per acre; this maxi, !.
acre application 20 pounds 4.
"Innoculation is nothing MI
a simple easy and inexpenss'
to introduce into soils the -,
liZer and manufacturing N
which develop nodules or ~
on the roots and make Il.
strong, healthy and vigorou,
innoculation can be obtasn.,
from the U. S. D. A. or rran I
able seed houses at reasonsI.|
"Sow the alfalfa with 8 r.
bushel of oats or possibiy 4
The grain should be cut 4,
heading rather than allowed n
for seed. With early ripeui.,|
it may not always be necsssl
cut early if there is no da,s]
lodging out in any case tie \
soil water is considerable ~
affect the growth Of the \
Seeding should take place VI,
ground is properly fitted but 4
climate not later than JUN
Rolling is desirable.
Where soil conditions ar
able and the lime content .;
it is an excellent practice to \
two to four pounds of inns
alfalfa seed with the clcys
timothy mixture. In a ri.
short time much Of the q
comes innoculated so that Il b
to secure future alfalfa crops
quality of the hay is also INN.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01

Clay soil often deters a home
owner from starting a vegetable gar
den because of a belief that clay
isn't good soil for vegetables. not
withstanding the fact that this same
soils supports a heavy growth of
weeds. A clay soil can give a. very
good garden. The main difficulty
is getting a start at it, for it is not
the easiest soil to work. The origin
al spading will be the big job. Bet
ter still, have it plowed, if possible.
Clay soil needs the constant addi-
ton of vegetable matter spaded into
it to improve it's quality and make it
break apart more readily. Stable
manure should be found for this
kind of soil, if possible. 1t will pay
to manure it heavily at the start,
not so much for fertility as to get
start on breaking it up.
Working pulverized limestone into
a clay soil Is another step that will,
in a few seasons, bring a surprising
result in the way of making it tilla-
BILE. Once the clay is broken up and
put under cultivation it will be found
to be improving in texture with each
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01
ONE OF BIG ADVANTAGES
OF DWARF APPLE TREES

One of the advantages of the
dwarf tree is that 1t bears at al,
early age. For example, the Alex
ander apple will bear the second
year after planting, when grown as
dwarf. while 1t requires from six
to ten years to come into bearing
when grown as standard. The
fruit from the dwarf trees is con-
sidered to be of better quality. The
dwarf trees are shorter lived than
the standard and they require more
care. Ordinarily they are not to be
recommended except on city lots and
where it is expected to grow fruit
for only few" years. The cost OF
the trees and the extra care and
management required would make 1,
improbable to grow this kind OF
trees in a commercial orchard
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01
Cattle Grubs Cause
S5O,0OO,0O0 Loss
To Farmers Yearly

Grubs that use young cattle as
their host and on developing bore
holes in the hides and emerge as
flies that irritate the cattle and
cause disastrous stampedes in the
herd. cause loss estimated at $780,
100000 to 100000, 900 annually to
stock raisers in this country, it was
asserted April 10Th at conference
of officials of the Department of
Agriculture and Department OF
Commerce with representatives OF
the hide and tanning interests.
The conference was called to con-
slider means for proving the quality
of leather by damage due to grubs
and disease, faulty skinning and
curing, careless branding and care
less handling of hides in shipment.
1t was opened by Secretary of Agri-
culture Jardine. Secretary of Com
merce Hoover also spoke.
The damage caused by grubs was
revealed by DR.. F. C. Bishop, of the
Bureau of Entomology. Department
of Agriculture. He said the bureau
has a plan to use $4,000 to $4,000
head of cattle to test out the prac-
ticability of methods of control thus
far developed and to demonstrate
the economic advantage of reducing
the number of grubs.
Fifty per cent of the 100000
hides taken off every year. he de-
clared, are thrown into grade two on
account of damage by grubs. Not
only is the common cattle grub
present throughout the country, he
said. but the northern or European
cattle grub is spreading into new
areas.
George W. Pope of the Bureau Of
Animal Industry. told of the re-
lation of animal diseases In the
United States to quality of hides.
TT is apparently an established
fact" he said. that follicular mango,
owing to involvement of the deep
structures of the skin, results in
serious damage to leather. This
condition Is not easily detected IN
the living animal or the fresh hide.
Some authorities hold that this form
Of mango may be delayed by dip
ping the cattle regularly but is to be
considered as practically incurable."
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01

Young onions are one Of the first
demands of the garden and old ones
to put in the cellar one of the last.
The breath Of the Persians mention
ed in ancient histories was the
fragrance of the onion for the Per-
SLAMS brought the onion with them
when they started their western in
vasion and we still have the Persian
breath.
The first breath Of Persia Games
from the young onion and everybody
that wants early young onions ought
to be planting seeds and sets right
now-sets for the earliest Of all crops
and then the tender, slender seedlings
for later consumption. Onions want
a rich sandy loan with large
amount of hunus for ideal produce
ton. They want frequent shallow
cultivation and, given ordinary good
soil. they will proceed to produce.
Big onions, the so-called Bermuda
type, can be raised only by starting
the seed early and transplanting the
plants into their beds when the
weather permits. There is still time
to get start on some fairly big
"Bermudas" for the cellar this fall.
Wood ashes are an ideal fertilizer
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01
Spray or Dust

whether to spray or dust is a
problem troublesome to many of the
growers who contemplate the pur-
chase of new equipment" says A.
K. Gardner. Crops Specialist, in his
new bulletin Fruit Spraying and
busting in Maine" Copies of this
bulletin which is now ready for dis
tribution will be sent free to any
address upon application to the Col
lege of Agriculture, Orono.
Unfortunately neither method is
wholly satisfactory under all condi-
tons and the choice must depend
upon local circumstances" continued
Mr.. Gardner. Experimental results
have indicated slight superiority of
spray over dust in the control of
scab on many varieties; on the
other hand, busting with sulphur at
least has resulted in less leaf burn
ing and leaf dropping than has spray
ing with lime sulphur. OF course
dust costs more than spray mater
ials yet the actual cost of busting
a block of trees is approximately the
same as spraying the block a given
number of times; the less time re-
quired to dust offsets the greater
cost of material.
Later applications when the foil
age is heavy and fruit is forming
favor busting so that for a complete
seasons schedule there is probably
little difference in cost in spraying
five or six times and busting six or
seven times. The availability of a
convenient water supply, location of
the orchard, distance between trees.
east in reaching trees, size of trees,
variety, availability of materials and
equipment and possibly other factors
should determine the selection of the
method to follow. Possibly as new
facts are produced it will be found
that leaf burning and leaf dropping
affect the future productivity of the
trees; in this case the present spray
materials will have to be substituted
by others which will not cause such
damage else busting will have to be
more universally practiced. 1t is
possible of course that the above
damage will not seriously affect later
yields, or that seasonal conditions
favorable to leaf burning and leaf
dropping will not occur with suffi-
cient frequency to give concern. After
all the point Is not wholly which
method to practice but rather is TO
follow one or the other faithfully.
regularly and with a conviction of
its worth"
This bulletin also contains sched-
ules for spraying or busting apples,
cherries, -)luns, pears, peaches,
Strawberries, raspberries and black
berries.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01
Club Member Given
Birthday Cake

Good Cheer Club sent "
cake to Mrs. Lois Bean, 3
member of the club. who celsa'
her S1st birthday anniversSs
Wednesday. April II. The dee icy
of the cake, was very presseI
candles being held in place y
rose holders. Mrs. Olive Cla u
of Palmyra made the cake, W.
much appreciated by Mrs ]
; who. in a few well chose,
expressed her gratitude -
thoughtfulness of her frienos
G. F. Hoxie, is having =
tack of the grippe, this We,
Guy Rollins had his store n
this week. Mendell Nuttsh
Clark and Carl Booth ola INV