Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1896 — FARM AND GARDEN NOTES [ARTICLE]

FARM AND GARDEN NOTES

ITEMS OF TIMELY INTEREST TQ THE FARMERS. Clover for the Dairy—A Wet Soil—The Butter Drier—Commercial Melon Crowing Under Irrigation. PRUNING QUINCE TREES. Part of the lack of success in growing the quince is owing to the lack of pruning which this tree receives. Very often its pruning is entirely neglected. The tree is much more certain to be productive if trained to a single stem and its weaker shoots are cut out every spring where they grow too close together. A well-pruned quince tree, with its mass of pink and white blossoms, is a beautiful sight in spring, and when covered with golden fruit in fall is still more beautiful.—American Cultivator. STARTING CHRYSANTHEMUMS. Select the strongest soil to be found on the premises, rich in old loam, and make it richer by adding well-rotted cow manure, the strength of which has not been wasted by ex insure. It might be possible to make the soil too rich; many things are possible which are not probable. At any rate, follow the rule for sweetening currant pies: “Put in all your conscience will allow, then shut your eyes and add another handful.” Thoroughly mix and make mellow. When the soil is warm, and on a damp day, if possible, take the plants, which if secured from a florist are probably thrifty single shoots, and set some three inches below surface and sixteen Inches apart, spreading out the fibrous roots and pressing firmly in place. Water and shade for a few days, and they will begin a rampant growth refreshing to see, while you gaze aghast at your roses, which have quietly departed, or mourn the absolute repose of your bedded plants.—New England Homestead. CLOVER FOR THE DAIRY. Clover should be grown by all dairymen, and fed either as a soiling crop, pasture, hay, or silage, it reduces by so much the cost of purchased proteins in the form of bran, oil meal, etc. One of the great features of the clover plant is its power of gathering nitrogen from unseen sources, and not only supplying its own needs, but leaving behind a great per centage of nitrogen in the soil to benefit the succeeding crop. Clover is of great manorial value to the dairy farmers, for aside from its great feeding power fully 80 per cent, of its original nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potasli are left in the excrement of the animal. If watertight gutters and absorbents are employed, this will be saved to go back upon the soil; there to be added to a large per centage of the same elements found in the roots and mulch left in and on the ground after the clover is removed as hay. All sorts of legumes are being tried as a substitute for clover, but in each and every case they prove to be only helps to bridge over an accident or a drouth, or afford a quick soiling crop. As the dairyman looks for a better and cheaper food for his stock he cannot neglect clover, but in every way should grow more of it both in acreage and amount per acre.—Colman’s Rural World.

ALFALFA FOR HOGS. It will sustain life and produce some growth in shoats. It will not make them fat, but it will keep them in condition to make good use of a little extra feed. One acre of good alfalfa, with a dividing fence in the middle, so that as soon as one part is eaten down the pigs may be changed to the other, will support twenty pigs from the middle of May till the first of October, or a little later, providing the land is properly irrigated and the work is done systematically. Counting upon alfalfa to furnish the sustenance ration. the addition of grain will produce good, heavy porkers, which will return a good profit, providing the price in November is four cents or upward. Alfalfa is also of great value in wintering brood sows. If the leaves which drop off in the mows, and which are unfit for horse feed, be saved and mixed with bran or slops, they will be eaten greedily with good results, making a valuable saving of other feeds.—American Agriculturist. A WET SOIL. A wet soil is one that contains more water than a merely moist or humid soil. Appearance will practically determine the amount of water any soil contains. A soil subcharged with water is readily discernible from one void of water. So also will thfe intervening degrees be known by observation and experience. Increasing shades of darkness accompany the changes from dry to saturated. A dry soil has a dry appearance and a wet soil has a wet appearance. The soil’s conduct under physical force is also a guide. The pressure of the foot scarcely disturbs the surface particles of a dry soil. The same pressure slightly displaces vertically downward the surface particles of a merely n.oist soil. With a wet soil there is a displacement laterally of both surface and sub-particles. There is a spewing up about the foot, and the soil itself mires. Usually a wet soil is tenacious and always heavy. The effect of plowing soil wet w decidedly injurious. ' Early rains will diminish the injury. Without these the soil will become hard, lifeless and void of moisture. Good soils habitually broken and tilled will lose their vitality and become unproductive. Soils broken merely moist and afterwards thoroughly tilled even gain in moisture, and crops thereon thrive during continued drouths. If soils be broken and tilled wet and drouth follow, crops thereon will perish for want of moisture to set free fertility. Besides the soil will suffer a permanent physical injury.—Progressive Farmer.