Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1879 — FARM NOTES. [ARTICLE]

FARM NOTES.

Wheat is king. Keep sweet potatoes dry and in a uniform temperature above freezing. The tobacco crop of the Connecticut valley is reported greater than in any year since 1864. It is said that very fine coal ashes mixed with linseed oil make a.very fair cheap paint. Mb. Meehan remarks that if the seed of cabbage be sown as soon as ripe, or at that time of year when it naturally ripens, instead of plants, making solid heads, they will bolt and run to seed. The American Miller says: “There is no such thing as the shifting of the wheat belt, only in so far as the 6xhaustion of the soil renders such a shifting a necessity. Any acre of land will raise wheat forever if its capabilities are not taxed too much.” W. A. Abmstbono says: “I have used a fence of three wires as a line fence between two pastures, cattle ahd horses running on each side, with great satisfaction and with the least possible amount of trouble and repairs. The barbed wire has solved the question of fence for the West.”

A fabmeb in Bangor, Me., noticing that wheat was being picked from the heads of standing grain, and finding flocks of yellow birds flying about, shot some of them. On opening their crops, he found only three grains of wheat, and, by actual count, 350 weevils It is better that farmers know whether they kill friends or foes. It is mentioned as a result of the agricultural depression in England that 830 aores of freehold land were recently sold in Berkshire for $33,500. The rent of the farm was formerly $2,750, out of which $1,250 had to be paid in tithes and land tax. For the last three years the rent has been only $1,250, leaving the landlord only $350 over tithes and tax. A Potato Contest.— The New England Farmer tells of a potato contest instigated by the members of the Franklin Farmers’ Club of Massachusetts. The contest was confined to one square rod of ground, and the competitor who should win was entitled to the product of all the other competing rods. Competitors were required to plant from the same lot of seed, the Early Bose being selected as the sort to be planted. Of the eleven competitors, Mr. A. W. Cheever, the agricultural editor of the good journal from which we make these notes, produced the largest yield. The land on which he grew the trial lot had been under cultivation several years, chiefly under forage crops. Soil, a heavy loam, quite moist early in the season. It was plowed but once this year, a light coating of stable mannre being turned in about seven inches deep. Bows were marked out about eighteen inches apart. Before planting, about 800 pounds of guano and 400 pounds of sulphate of potash per acre, were spread broadcast over the furrows. The seed was exposed several days to a strong . light to start the sprouts into a short, healthy growth. When ready to plant, single eyes were cut from the potatoes, selecting only those which were well started and of good strong appearance. Most of the eyes were cut from the stem end or middle of the potato, where a good bit of the potato could be taken out with each eye. Then they were laid in a basket, with plaster dusted over them, to cover the cut surface and give protection to the sprouts while being handled. The pieces were dropped singly, about fourteen inches apart. The sets were covered not oyer an inch deep. When the shoots broke through, the plot was dusted over with guano at the rate of 200 pounds per acre, and raked into the soil with a garden rake, killing at the same time all the small weeds which had started. As the potatoes were so near the surface, and so thickly planted, it was found impracticable to hill them in the ordinary way, so the I ground was mulched with chopped I straw Kr a protection, not only against | weeds, but to keep the new potatoes I from being sunburnt as they showed themselves above the surface. The mulch also, in a measure, secured a cool, moist soil during the hot, dry weather of midsummer. The straw was put on some three inches deep, but soon settled to one inch, and was then covered with a second coat of mulch which remained undisturbed till digging time. To keep the bugs in check, a sprinkling of dry plaster was used three or four times, with just enough of Bans green to shade the plaster, giving it a slight greenish tinge. A very few # weeds were pulled by hand during the season of growth, but it was the aim to travel over the patch just as little as possible, as the plants covered nearly the whole surface. The yield per rod was 183 pounds, equal to a yield of 488 bushels per acre. The most important lesson which Mr. Cheever learned by the experiment is that potatoes must have room to grow under ground, or the yield will be diminished and the quality impaired. He would never plant so near the surface again, and with an equally favorable season should expect to do better another year.