The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1927-08-04
Agricultural Notes

D1VerS1IlCdClOn anu crop TOI6-
ton lead to well-organized and
profitable farming.
All roots which faint milk
should be fed Immediately after
milking. This applies especially to
turnips and similar roots.
Cows in good condition and pro-
ducing less than one pound of but
terfat daily will usually not re-
quire grain if the pasture is good.
In marketing fruits and vegeta-
bles no one factor is more import
ant than careful grading. If con-
stantly adhered to it builds good
will and creates confidence.
No greater waste occurs in log
ging than that caused by leaving
high stumps. These usually con-
tain the clearest and highest
priced material. The timber saved
by cutting low stumps often large
ly pays for the logging operation.
Mineral food for hens is best
supplied in the form of oyster or
clam shells, or limestone, which
supply the calcium for eggshell
formation. Bone meal may also be
used to advantage, especially to
supply the phosphates, and is
usually mixed in with the mash
ration.
The acid present in a good grade
of silage is not believed to injure
the stomachs of cattle. On the
other hand, it is thought benefit
to the digestive system. 1t helps
to keep down undesirable fermen-
tations in the silage and aids in
the digestion of the feed. This
acid is largely, tactic acid, such
as is found in sour milk.
A total of 1892 miles of sur
faced roads was constructed by
State highway departments during
1926, according to information
compiled by the Bureau of Public
Roads of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture. Of this
mileage 1864 miles was laid
over former earth roads and 5,
1928 miles represented a rebuild
ing of old surfaces.
In many cases, the damage to
timber and the killing of young
trees from allowing stock to Craze
in farm woodlands more than off
sets the value derived from the
forage. Two dollars per acre per
year is probably a liberal estimate
of the value of the forage in aver
age farm woodlands, while thrifty
fully stocked stands of timber will
often grow at a rate of $50 or
more board feet adding a value of
from $3.50 to $3.75 per acre per
year.
A monthly census of waterfowl
at selected points through the
United States is being planned by
the Biological Survey of the Unit
ed States Department of Agricul-
ture. The purpose of the census is
to obtain through volunteer Co
operators more definite inform
alton regarding the numbers, dis
tribution, and migration of water
fowl throughout this country, Can
ada, and Mexico. 1t will be an aid
in administering Federal regula-
tions for the protection of birds
that migrate between the United
States and Canada.
The Department of Agriculture
says rats are probably decreasing
in numbers in the United States.
Present-day sanitary requirements
and modern building are having
their effect. But in spite of all
that has been done, the rat is still
man-kind's greatest enemy in the
animal world. The Department has
just issued a new bulletin on Rat
Control. It's Farmers Bulletin No.
1887. 1t points out that you
should rat-proof all new buildings.
Close all openings through which
rats can gain entrance. Remove all
shelter for rats. Promptly dispose
of all garbage, trash, and other
waste on which rats can feed. Kill
the rats!
Some day we may be able to get
crop insurance, just as we now
S1h SCC ll1C lSul dllCC. IldG tilt
opinion of Sir John Russell, Di-
rector of the Rothamsted Expert
ment Station in England, the old
est agricultural experiment sta
ton in the world. His station has
been carrying on fertilizer expert
ments continuously on the same
land for 83 years. When such ex-
periments are carried far enough,
he said in al recent talk at the
United States Department of Ag-
riculture, it may be possible for
an insurance company or a fertil-
izer concern to safely guarantee
or insure farmers that if they use
certain soil treatments they will
get certain yields.
Minnesota and Minnesota farm
ers are given considerable favor
able publicity in a special article
by Harrison Hatton of ST. Paul,