Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1901 — AGRICULTURE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AGRICULTURE

Pruning the Orchard in Summer. Besides the thinning out and shortening of fresh growth in summer, such as has been referred to several times in these columns, it would often be work well done to thin out branches which •re too close together, branches which should have been cut out in winter, but which were neglected. It is often a good deal easier to see when to cut ip summer than it is in winter, as the requirements of the tree can be better understood. But few fruit growers keep their trees open enough. The trees are so dense that the branches cannot perfect themselves and neither flowers nor fruit can be looked for. When branches are but small one is apt to forget the future and permit too man; of them to form. It is well to keep in mind that a lot of inside branches to which the sun never gets will not bear fruit. They are useless and should come out, that the sun may reach what are left. In summer time it is easy to see at once when enough :hm been thinned out. Besides this advantage, there is another, viz., the scars quickly heal when cut while the sap is active. Besides the thinning out and ahapening of the tree, summer pruning o t cherries, plums, pears and like fruits ham the effect of making them fruit bearing in a short time. A young shoot •of a cherry cnt back within a few eyes •of Its base, will form fruit buds on the -spur left. A pear shoot shortened in •one-half will often form a fruit bud at the point where cut off. Very often a tree which has not fruited will be made to do so for the first time by these means. There is always much pleasure In having a tree of good outline, and for this and the reason already given, pay attention to the pruning—St. Louis •Globe-Democrat A Double Stave Silo. These silos are 12 feet in diameter by pO feet high and are set 6 feet apart ■nd inclosed as shown. The doors of the silos face each other in the inclosed aßuy. They are filled from the windows shown in the gables. They are

built of 2 by 6 Norway bill stuff dressed on a bevel to fit al2 foot radius. It 80 pieces of 2 by G, 12 feet long, and 80 2 by 6, 18 feet long, a total of 2,400 feet of Norway bill stuff, to build one of these silos. It also takes about 100 pounds of No. 9 steel wire, which will make about 50 hoops, put on in groups; shingled roof; the silos painted three coats on outside and a coat of raw linseed oil on the inside.—Ohio Farmer. LiminK Foil. If we thought we had soil that needed more lime in it to sweeten it, we would prefer the phosphate of lime either as an acid phosphate or 4n the very fine ground phosphatic rock, or basic slag, such as are usually called floats. In any strong soil, rich in humus or decaying vegetable matter, or where a green crop had been plowed under, we think either of these would dissolve quickly, while the cost is not much greater than that of sulphate of lime or common Is ml plaster. Then we should get the benefit of the phosphoric acid as well as of the lime. But to get the full advantage of the lime we would put the flaw in cabbages, cauliflowers, turnips, wheat or other small grains, or in grass. Lime is of little advantage for earn, and on potatoes it is said to Increase the scab and decrease the value of the crops if not the quantity. With a strip of litmus paper it Is easy to ascertain if the soil needs lime, as the paper pot in wet soil will turn red If there la too much acid, but if It Is still blue 4he soil 1b sweet or has lime enough. Wood ashes also contain lime, mixed with potash, in some soils this is the beat form to apply lime, as potash is often needed, but it Is not easy here to boy good wood ashes.—American Cultl-Kaay-Hunninsc Ptows. We are not sure but that a plow maid be better if it had one handle InOtaad of two. The plow jpffiich requires a to exert both hands to use It la tiresome to both man and the team, ■ven in atony ground we <bave guided she plow with one hand not put got aa much strength on It asVe did on she reins that guided the pair of horses ffuU were not used to working together.

But to do this one must know how to attach the team to have the line of draft just right. We remember seeing a farmer using a new plow, which he condemned as being the meanest that he ever saw. Yet a little change in the hitch from plow clevis to whlffletree, and a little adjustment of the harness, proved it to be a good plow, while the horses were doing better work and not expending one-half as much strength. Yet he had probably plowed more acres in his time than we have square rods, and with his old plow could have turned as good a furrow as any man in town —American Cultivator. Harvest ng Kaffir-Corn. In the recent quarterly report of the Kansas Department of Agriculture is a most excellent article on Kaffir corn, prepared by J. G. Haney of the State Agricultural College, upon request ol Secretary Coburn. Concerning the har vesting of the crop he says: Kaffir com remains green until frost and the seed does not shatter; so, if grain Is the only consideration, there is no great hurry to harvest; it can stand until after frost and the stalk is dry. But generally the fodder is a consideration, as well as the grain, and then the problem is to cut when the best results from both may be obtained. The longer the fodder stands the harder and less palatable it becomes, while if cut too early the best yield of grain is not secured. After the grain is hardened so that it is difficult to mash between the thumb and finger, and there is little moisture apparently in the seed, there will be very little shrinkage in the grain. This would perhaps be called “just past the hard dough stage.” If cut earlier the fodder will be better feed, but there will be considerable shrinkage in the grain. One thing that has kept this crop from being more generally raised is the problem of harvesting. There are a number of methods and they all have their merits. If the fodder is desired for feed it is perhaps best to cut stalk and all and leave in the shock until dry. The best machine for accomplishing this is the corn binder, which leaves it in bundles of convenient size for handling, and the fodder is held together. The common method, however, is to cut with a mower, and the crop should be left to cure well before raking. Ordinarily it is put into large shocks or small ricks containing from a ton to three tons each. This is done wit& a hay gatherer, “buck rake,” or “go-devil,” and saves a great deal of handling. It keeps in excellent condition when treated this way and can be hauled when needed. It is ready to harvest in about 105 days after planting, and this should be before frost, as freezing while green is detrimental; besides, the hay will not cure as well in cool weather, and it is essential that it be as perfectly cured as possible.

Make Pastures for Renters, I notice that farms which are rented are not kept in as good condition as farms which are cultivated by owners, says a correspondent of The Prairie Farmer. What is the cause of the rundown condition of these rented farms? In the first place, there is very little provision made for keeping stock. **There Is usually one small pasture fenced off for a few cows and the horses necessary for work on the farm. The sheds that should shelter the cows in the winter are conspicuous by their absence, and the horse barns are generally very poor. But the most serious omission Is a hog pasture, which every farm should have. A good hog pasture would enable the tenant to raise hogs at a profit, which cannot be done in a dry lot. He could feed his corn crop in the fall to a nice bunch of thrifty hogs and realize more for It than if he had sold it off the farm and at the same time return to the soil In the form of manure what the soil would be robbed of If the grain had been sold. Every landowner should make provision for keeping stock enough on his farm or farms to consume all the grain that is raised on them.

Notes from the Pijrsery. Salt and ashes aid digestion in swine. A clean feeding place for swine is a prime necessity. Lice rarely Infest hogs that have plenty of sulphur. Rusty old straw Is one of the worst materials for bedding swine. Cholera in the herd travels swiftly from one animal to another. The healthy hog’s stomach Is as regular as clockwork in demanding food. When feeding for fattening always watch for signs of Indigestion. Obey the first sign by reducing rations. Cholera will be prevented If sulphur be mixed with the salt and ashes. Tho sulphur may be mixed with slop also. When a pig refuses to eat and thumps and has his hair turned the wrong way, trot him out and give him a dose of ax. Make the dose a big one. Remember that slutting and cramming and jamming food Into a pig to fatten it In a short time Is a wholly abnormal, unnatural performance. Wo must expect It to wreck some of the forced animals.—Rural W T orld. Experiments made some time ago at the Michigan Agricultural College showed that the bees were altogether the earliest insects out; that at the tlmo the average fruit tree is In bloom It !• too early in the spring for other Insects to be of any value for fralt pollination

DOUBLE SILO.