Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1890 — AGRICULTURAL TOPICS. [ARTICLE]

AGRICULTURAL TOPICS.

A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR OUR RURAL READERS. Some Information of Value to the Farmer, 8 t«H'k -Hreedt-r, Bee-Keeper, Housewife ami Kitchen-Maid. THE FARM. Hk* ' lug llearer Grain. For twwor three years past grain has been naturally cheap. The effect has been to encourage its more extensive use, and wherever It has been fed judiciously, farmers have profited by it. Now the test of good farming is coming into the question whether with dearer grain the old-time liberality in feeding will be maintained. All dairy produce must feel the effect of dearer grain in higher prices. So also will all kinds of meats. It was the observation of John Johnston, in a long experience with winter sheep feeding, that he never lost money when grain was high-priced. At such times few were feeding, and by the time his sheep were fattened they brought enough better prices to pay the extra cost of grain and a good profit besides. But to do this Mr. Johnston always selected his sheep carefully, and gave them all the benefit of his great skill in feeding.

Keeping: Farm Accounts. Mr. J. Bennett writes to the Indiana Farmer that every person engaged in agricultural pursuits should by all means keep a regular book in which is noted down every transaction. A book is of just as much importance to the farmer as It is to the merchant, or to the man In any other class of business, for that matter. Unless we know exactly what money we have, paid out or taken in we are running on a very uncertain, haphazard kind of plan’ Mr. Bennett says he knows of a rather distressing case in point. There was a settlement of heirs a few years ago. All seemed to be settled satisfactorily. Lately, for some cause, one of the heirs is accused of owning a note of §IOO, and it was hinted that he made away with the note, though he is sure the note was paid fifteen or more years ago, and can prove it by one witness. Still, how consoling it would be if the accused could present a neat account book, with a plain and complete statement of facts. He would feel compensated for the time spent in putting down accounts for a score of years. Fanners, continues Mr. Bennett, should by all means keep a strict account of every farm transaction. To this the editor of the Farmer adds his full indorsement of Mr. Bennett’s position. It is an easy thing, he says, to jot down items ofjexpense, agreements, appointments, etc., in a pocket memorandum, and any one who has kept such a book from year to year will testify to. the fact that it pays many times over for the little time and trouble. At a leisure moment when there is nothing else to do the pocket memorandum notes may be transferred to a larger and better book for preservation through all time to coine.

Firming Hie Soil lor Wheat. A correspondent of the Indiana Farmer says most wheat growers must have noticed that where the land has been somewhat trodden after seeding they have the best yield. Let the observant farmer notice where the horses turned at the corners and where by any other means the ground gets a little more trodden than in the center of the field and there surely will be found the heavest yield and the finest wheat. One of the most successful Indiana wheat growers noticing this fact turned all his cattle into his field so soon as his land r was seeded. Of course he made choice of a dry time—lt would not have done to turn his stock on with the land soft and muddy. The animals trampling around in search of oasture pressed the ground so firm and to such good effect that the crops were double of what he had previously been able to raise. He kept this up for fifteen years, retiring worth 8100,000. A heavy roller docs good service In compacting the seed bed, but experience gives the palm to the tramping of animals. However apart from the service performed by animals we must do our part with the plow and harrow in preparing the seed bed. We must not deceive ourselves by thinking the seed bed is perfect when only the surface is smooth. There must have been deep work and thorough pulverization. After this compacting the surface Is in order, bringing the soil particles into close contact, allowing the plant roots freedom to raise the necessary moisture for their support from below by capillary action. Each particle of the soil must be distinct, although solidly compacted on the surface. But. all that compacting must be performed in a dry time or not at all. Trampling clay land when wet would convert the surface into a cement, which would not be putting it into an overly good condition for the growth of wheat.