Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1903 — GARDEN AND FARM [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GARDEN AND FARM

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

It was considered quite an Improvement when the slanting teeth were placed on the harrow, and the laborers on the Western wheat fields became rebellious when the harvester and binder was Introduced, they exposing that mechapical labor would entirely supercede them. It would be a surprise now to see the scythe used for cutting wheat, and hand rakes are almost unknown for collecting fallen wheat Into bundles. But, although there is some truth in the claim that human labor has been largely displaced, yet our crops of wheat could not be harvested without tfie aid of machinery. So rapid has. been our progress as a nation, and so great are our resources that even with our large and Rapidly increasing population, we are compelled to resort to labor saving machinery in order to prevent loss of some crops. There have been many Improvements in the plow, hut our plows are not yet perfect, and as to the cultivator and harrow, they will soon be things of the past. It Is entirely too much labor to go over a field with the plow, and then follow the operation with several harrowings. The implement that we need is one that should and pulverize the earth at one operation, and we have about reached that point. There are implements that pulverize the soil to any depth desired, which differ from the ordinary plow. If the stirring of the soil to the proper depth can be effected without a plow, especially where it is rendered fine at the same time, it is an advantage gained In time and labor. The plow turns the soli over, the harrow pulverize it and It is then ready for seed. It makes no difference whether the soil is made fine with the plow or a pulverizer so that the seed bed Is in a fine condition. That is the object sought when the several implements are used, and the quickest, easiest and best mode should be adopted. It is useless to attempt to mention the many additions to the improved implements used on the farm. The majority of farmers are familiar with them. It is the admonition given them that they use such. Farming only paiys when the most economical means are employed, in order to acplish the objects sought. Any method of management that does not include improvement Jn the system employed is not perfect and sooner or later the farmer who is slow to adopt the privileges within his power will be left in the rear.—Philadelphia Record.

USE OF THE WEEDER. Year before last we had ample opportunity to observe the results of weeder cultivation. Owing to the wet weather in the early spring months, farmers were late getting their crops in, and as a consequence the drouth came on before they were of a sufficient size to endure it. As soon as the dry weather set in the weeder was started on our place, in some cases after the first cultivation, and in one field the cultivators had not been used at all. The acreage was large, and there was only one weeder on the place, but It w T as kept at work all the time. It covered each field twice a week with greater ease for both team and fan than once a week over the same ground with cultivators would have done. As a result the ground was left clear of weeds and well leveled, which was not the case where cultivators alone were used. Although crab grass sprang up in some parts of the field after the corn and other crops were laid by, the usual crop of noxious weed seeds was considerably lessened. The weeder formed a dust mulch by finely pulverizing the soil on the surface, and this was renewed each time after a shower by running the weeder over the field. This prevented evaporation and enabled the crops to withstand the drouth better. The yield was increased at least twenty-five per cent., and we think we would be safe in claiming the increase near fifty per cent. The appearance of the fields was very much improved, for the weeds were strangled before reaching any considerable size and not a weed was to be seen in the long corn rows. Beans, kaffir corn maize and sorghum were all subjected to weeder cultivation with the best of results. The rapidity with which cultivation with the weeder can be accomplished is an argument in its favor. While the fields must be gone over frequently, at least twice as often as with the cultivator, the weeder takes three rows at a time, and if the ground is fairly level a great deal of work can be turned off in a day. Two good strong horses are sufficient to use in weeding and will endure the work as well as cultivating in the old way. The use of the weeder in the past season of 1902 has fully con-, firmed the experiment of the previous' year.—C.-B. Barrett, in The Epitomist.

THE fcARE OF VIOLETS.

This is the season when cuttings from the old violet plants should be placed In pots for the continuation of th«£r yearly growth. The slips should be inserted in a sand box six inches apart or placed in separate pots. Two inch pots are the best size to begin with. When the roots begin to show the plants should be taken from these pots and placed in those of three inch size. While growing at this stage violets should be given plenty of ventilation and shade. For the latter sprinkling of naphtha or white lead, or protection by means of slats is suggested to keep off too much sun.

The soil for the proper nourishment of the flowers should be of loam mixed with one-sixth of manure and A. dash of pure bone meal. The plants are watered only when moderately dry. When the leaves of the violet plant show the least sign of decay they should be clipped off and burned. Leaf spot, a disease to which violet plants are very susceptible, can be kept down in many cases by promptly picking off? and burning the infected parts. This Is one of the most dseaded diseases from which the plants suffer. Too much watering of indoor kept plants or exposure to storms and heavy dew outside is responsible for much of the prevalence of leaf spot. During the spring and summer months the violet plant Is assailed by an enemy in the form of the red spider. To rout the pest the best treatment is forcible syringing with water at the roots and lower surface. This treatment should be administered in. the early part of the day, so that the plants may be pretty well dried in the sunny air before evening sets in. The clearer the day the better for this operation, as it should be remembered that too much dampness is hurtful to thb violet plants. A little care will have to be taken, therefore, in the treatment, excellent for the annihilation of the spider enemy, but rather a trial to the endurance of the plant itself. —Philadelphia Public Ledger.

GRAPE DISEASES. Dr. Bessy presented before the Nebraska Horticultural Society a paper on the diseases of grape vines. An abstract is appended: In response to a request made late in the year, a preliminary investigation was undertaken, resulting In a short paper setting forth tha main faets as now known. The principal diseases of the grape were briefly described, and it was found that some of these are present in the State! At the close of the paper the following conclusions were reached: \ 1— That the trouble with the grape crop of 1902 was due to a combination of causes. 2 That some vines were in an enfeebled condition on account of the heavy crop and severe drouth of 1901. 3. —That in some cases there was poor fertilization of flowers, on account of the rains. 4 That the wet weather of 1901 favored the development of some of the more common diseases of the-fberries, among which are anthracnose, black rot, and perhaps brown rot. 5 That a part of the trouble was due to a disease not yet described, and which is probably of bacterial origin. The berries become saft and flabby, hanging by pulled-out skin at the base. This needs to he carefully investigated. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture is recommended just before the buds open, just after the fruits have set, and ten days later still.—National Fruit Grower. TRY RAPE THIS SEASON. Rape is not a hard crop to grow; indeed, it will success well on any soil that will raise corn or potatoes. Rape is grown mainly as a pasture for sheep and hogs and is valuable for this purpose, although care rfeust be used to put the animals on to the rape for only a short time at first—an hour a day will be often enough the first week, increasing to two hours thereafter. If the rape is to be cut and fed in this way to swine, sheep or poultry (and it should always be fed to poultry in this manner rather than to permit them to pasture It), sow the seed in rows just far enough apart so that cultivation can be carried on easily. In cutting, do not cut too close, for if cut too close there will likely be a second crop. It is not a good plan to feed rape to cows, if. one does not want tainted milk, for the rape belongs to the turnip family and will impart a strong odor and taste to the milk. —Indianapolis News.

SELECTION IN FOWLS. If we desire to have winter layers of the best quality, says the Country Gentleman, we must select as the mothers of such pullets, hens that have proved themselves prolific layers, both as pullets and as hens. We advise the use of hens for such purpose because the most vigorous chickens will come frbm well matured hens possessing constitutional vigor. Know the very best laying pullets of your flock, and band them for future use. Of these, all that do well as hens and continue to lay well should be set apart to produce the pullets of the coming season. Of all these hens the very best should be selected to produce the early cockerels which we should raise for breeders another year. This care In selecting is based upon the egg yield alone and their producing pullets that will be prolific layers.

THE DAIRY COW. The dairy cow is a very sensitive creature, and always shows at the milk pail when she has been abused or ill treated. Her treatment should be-huch that will always inspire confidence, on her part in the one who cares for and feeds her. The feeding and milking should always be done regularly, at the same hour each day, and if possible always by the same person. Where records have been kept It has been found that variation In these points produced variation In the amount of milk secreted and the per cent of butter fat Golden eagles are Increasing in the Scottish Highlands through the efforts of the land owners for their protection.