Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1903 — AGRICULTUREAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AGRICULTUREAL

A Weed Puller. Another machine has been invented for the use of the farmer. The picture shows the invention doing its work, and gives an idea of the mechanism by which it is operated. Two fluted rollers are mounted on an adjustable support at the rear of a sulky, with chain gearing to rotate them rapidly as the machine is drawn over the ground. As the flutings on the face of the rollers mesh closely together, it is easy to understand how any weed or grass which once gets between them will be drawn until it is finally lifted out of. the ground, roots all. To insure the killing of higher growths, the machine

has been litted with a series of rotary blades, which feed the tops of the _jweeds-down beneath the -face of the first roller instead of allowing this roller to strike the stems and push the weeds over, without uprooting them. Fo-Calied Corn Wheat. In sections of the West there is being grown a variety of wheat known as Polish wheat, which has comparatively little value except, perhaps, as a food for stock. Public accounts of this wheat have been so garbled that farmers have a wrong impression of it. As this wheat is grown in Ilie Northwest, it produces wonderfully, and the kernels are much larger than those of the recognized varieties of wheat, and when fed to stock it is said to have wonderful fattening results. That it has some merit there is little doubt, for it has given fairly good results In the making of macaroni flour, although not so good ns the results from the true macaroni wheat. It Is doubtful if it is safe to use it_ largely in the fattening of stock, although it is worthy of test in that way. Seedsmen in the North and West can doubtless furnish seeds in small quantities, and the reputation already acquired makes it worth a test. In some sections the variety is known as Emmetand some seedsmen catalogue it under that name Make a Bnc Holder. A frame may be fixed in a few minutes that will bold bags while being filled. Cut n board slxdnches wide and

nail together as shown. Fill a bag and set It Inside, then adjust the hooks the proper height. The hooks (a) are eightpeuny wire nails driven through the bd&rds downward to pre-

rent turning and the ends then bent upward. The front hooks should he a little lower than the back two. A cross brace ou the back will strengthen the frame.—A. Gilmore, in Farm and Home.

Rock Gardens. A rockery is attractive if well made and not out of place. It should be made only in locations where a natural heap of rocks covered with flowers and vines would not seem unexpected or out of tune with surroundings. A sunken rockery is the most attractive, but the hillock shape is less costly. If convenien. build on a shady southeast slope. Dig below frost line .•Mid use the earth removed ns side filling. The stone work should be finished and firmly wedged before filling with earth and gravel. %sood plants, mosses, vines and ferns can be found about any forest ledge, and the nurserymen sell rock plants and alpine plants adapted to such locations.—Exchange. Tnttcr or Goose Fat. The nnst popular substitute for butter in Germany is said to be goose fat. eWight for weight, butter costs less than the fat. but then the latter seems to be far more economical. A pound of excellent butter can be had in Berlin for about 30 cents. Goose fnt. on the other hand, is sold by the litre (1.70 pint) at an average price of 70 to 75 cents. In a recent government publication there appeared a suggestion from the American consul at Berlin to the effect that Germauy offers a good market for this article of food. ' Lnw tta-.-r*. An English farther writes that He knows several farmers who have lately surrendered their rented farms solely from the difficulty of getting laborers; and in that neighborhood a good

house and garden free, and a wage cH about $3.10 a week “can be had for the asking.” American farmers meet a similar difliculty, although offering™'at least double the English wages.—Ex'change. : Fertitiziug for Tomato Crop#. Although the following information is based on the work of a grower of tomatoes for canning factories almost exclusively, it is of value to any one who grows the medium and late sorts for any market. Muriate of potash 500 pounds, nitrate of soda 400 pounds, bone tankage 700 pounds, and acid phosphate 400 pounds, using of this mixture 500 pounds an acre, 300 pounds being used,,, broadcast before harrowing and 200 pounds in the hills. Tihs formula supplies the food needed by the plants in addition to what Is naturally supposeu to be in the fairly fertile soil, and should give as a result a large crop of fine tomatoes of good color. Naturally, the result will depend somewhat on .the varieties used, whichjfftE-oannlng purposes should always be such as will ripen all over and be of a deep red color. It is always safe to select varieties of this description for any market, as they are. attractive to the eye and generally of good quality. The old favorite Paragon probably comes as near to the Ideal variety as any, all things considered.

Two New Sprays. Ihe difficulty of killing plant and tree lice with the usual spray mixtures is well known. Good results are reported Trom the use of a new mixture containing one pound hard soap, one quart castor oil, one-fourth pound carbonate of soda, one gallon water. The soap and acid were hotted in water and mixed with the castor oil while heated; the mixture was then diluted with 10 to 20 per ceut of water for spraying. In fighting tree lice, it is important to apply the liquid used before the leaves begin to curl nnd enclose the insects. For scale insects, a mixture reported satisfactory is prepared as follows: Ten quarts bblling water, one quart carbolic acid, one quart soft soap. The mixture is stirred uutil an emulsion is formed ancj is applied by means of a brush.—American Cultivator. Device for Catchinc: Fowls, W hether or not a fowl will quietly submit to the approach of the implement shown in the drawing any more

tjian it . would~ stand still and allow a man to get within reaching distance, only a practical application can determine. It is possible. however, that the device can he moved more rapidly than a person moves, and thus

deceive the fowl. The Idea is Introduced by a Kentuckian, who state* that It will do its work without injury to the legs, and enable the fowl to stand naturally after its capture, without, however, giving it an opportunity to escape.

Sowing Onions. Sow from four to six pounds per acre. Four pounds per acre is plenty providing the seed is good, the seed bed good, and maggots not numerous. Sow eighteen seeds to the foot, if the seed is good, which in rows about sixteen inches apart, makes about five pounds per acre. Sow with any good garden-seed'sower, first regulating to sow as desired. Farm Note*. The fodder sltredder is doing good work in one respect, and that is in reducing number of shocks of corn that stands in the fields all winter. As the shredder husks the corn, and shreds it at the Battle time, farmers find that it is more comfortable to haul the fodder to the barn than to stand out in the fields aml liusk the coru and then waste the fodder. There Is one crop that must be attended to uow or It will soon be too late—asparagus. It comes earl- in the year, almost as soon as the frost leaves the ground. The bed will be'benefited. If shoots have not apepared, by receiving a covering of straw, salt hay or any refuse material and burnt over, so ns to destroy disease germs that may be left over on the Burface of the ground from last year.

Growing a lot of pumpkins in a field of corn is nn old practice, but it is doubtful If pumpkins so grown are as profitable ns when grown as a separate crop from corn. The pumpkins will prevent the proper cultivation of corn, as working the corn destroys the pumpkin vines, the result being that late weeds get a cbnncp to grow and mature. It is urged in defense of giowtng pumpkins In the corn field that they do not Interfere with cultivation until the corn is “laid by,” but much depends on the land, rainfall and thoroughness of cultivation. Corn should never be “laid by” as long as weeds and grass can have an opportunity to grow, cultivation being given If It Is possible for a horse to pass along the rows.

MACHINE TO TULL THE WEEDS.

BAG HOLDER.