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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1922-04-27, Page 2Address communications to Agronomist, 73 Adelaide St, West, Toronto To Get Big Potato Crops. 1ect. The first year we tried to culti- Most of the potato •growers of the vote the field we had all the plowing province, in making pians for the 1;722 crap, are giving special thought to the necessity, greater now, perhaps, than ever before, of producing maxi- azumn acre yields at the lowest possible rest per bushel. A certain output is acquired to pay the tcosts of produc- ing the crop. The profits are in the surplus bushels, and the farmer who grows, say, 2,000 bushels of potatoes on from eight to ten acres of land will ordinarily make considerably greater profits than the man who grows the same crop on from fifteen to twenty acres. The 'potato as it is mown to -day is a highly specialized crap and respande to proper cars and cultural methods letter perhaps than most other field crops. The following suggestions cover, briefly the chief feetors in the produc- tion. of a heavy, hagh-quality crop and are readily applicable to prevailing Ontario conditions: Thorough preparation of the 'land before planting: enables the plant: to develop a large root system, through which it can take from the soil suffi- cient nutrients to produce a desirable: crop. Plenty of organic matterin the soil a failure. We took off what folie insures Bediiff moisture -holding capacity. Use there was and plowed the field hallow, certified seed, possible. Never use about two inches deep, about the first any but the best seecl obtainable. of October. Then again we plowed Pro fouspacing is important. It has just before the ground froze up. Being been fond that rows three feet apart finished a late fall we finished .plowing the with the hills from 15 to 18 inches second day of fibed. apart in the rows, gives yields from The following„ spring, after seeding to do in the spring. This field was plowed about the last of April and worked up as best it tcould he. I say "as best it could be" owing to the density in places of the quack roots. We plowed this field about four inches deep, so as not to bury the roots too deep. TMs being done, we put in about the next •six days with the disc ;hair- row. Having diseed this field four times lengthwise, crosswiseJaen put cornerways both ways, we the spring -tooth harrow to work in some of the lower placeswhere the sod was heaviest. Neither the disc or the spring -tooth would take hold. The latter would turn the sod over in chunks when it did take hold. Having done all we could do, we planted this field to Dorn, drilling it in •one way. Everything ran ,along smoothly until the corn was large enough to cultivate.: The corn came on good, a good stand under the con- ditions. But the quack was also a good stand. We;kept a team and cul- tivator in this fieldevery day that it was possible to do so. Although we managed to work up a mulch for a time, owing to frequent rains, our battle had only begun. The corn was treeta THE CHILDREN'S LOUR (How Johnnie Woodpecker Lost His Voice. The birds were getting ready for a concert: Princess Loje'ly, Queen: of the Fairies, had promised a:pretty redcap to the one that sang the sweetest, and every bird, large and small, was doing. his level beat to win that cap. Even NIr. Blackbird, who already bad a purple cap that reached down to his shoulders, was as anxious as any one else fon the prize, for as : he said to Mr. Owl, it would show upagainst„ his black coat better than the purple one. The !larks were up earlier than usual that morning, practicing and filling the dawn with such delightful music that little Bobby got right up without waiting to be called a second time. Across the grove Lady Dove softly to her mate and preened pretty throat in the first sunbeams that raced over the hill. "I hardly need a new cap, do I?" she asked, and her admiring mate answered, "You. eel-tad/11y do not; with that lovely tan coat of yours, the soft pink and green cap you are wearing now 1!ooles better than red would." Yet. Lady Dove went to the concert and tried her best for the •cap. "I love to sing," +she.explaim ed, "and I want to hear the others sing." 30 per cent. greater than the "3x3" method commonly practiced. Frequent .shallow cultivation during the growing period largely prevents ;June. We had then just begun to wtrn evaporation of the soil moisture end, In Juplaces it still grew. We again di - helps tide the crop over the summer ; reacted our labors to the plow, plowing drought. about two inches deep and harrowing Spraying with fungicide s:ecti- i what we plowed immediately. Thus nide ' solution at intervals keeps thea the soil dad not harden but left a nice vines green and healthy right up to : mellow bed. We had by this last plow- maturity.Adequate fertilization is necessary: : em ing and harrovg torn up the sod to to a produce a profitable crop. The po-a degree which brought us vic- ; tory.The weather at this time be - tato demands large quantities of svitro-', gin to get hot -and dry. Being about gen, phosphorous and potassium. On the first week of June after getting most lands lesh have been cropped, the ground loosened from the roots, of high -analysis fertilizer per acre for some years, at least 1,00G pounds' we kept a team and spike -tooth har- should be used, from one-third to one- half of which may be broadcasted be- fore planting, the remainder being applied along the row at time of planting. -. • Better seed and efficient spraying materiels and fertilizers may call for en outlay of same •ad'ditional money, but investigations have shown them to be worth while. was done, we kept the spring -toot a harrow on this ten -acre field about two days a week until about the first of • Long Fight With Quack. There are not at the present time • very many farms in the older 'commun- ities whose once clean and fertile fields are not infested with the dreaded quack grass. Anyone who has tried to work a field infested with quack is aware of the hardiness to which it -is adept. There was a ten -acre field on the writer's farm which was infested with quack, nearing a point which made tilling this particular plat a failure. The fawn for years had been an the fiaatds of tenants and hence the neg- As the sun .peeped into the nest that brimmed over with babyrobins, Father Robin greeted him with .a burst of song that made the rases hold. their breath to listen. "Ha.wall surely win the red cap," they said, as they nodded their pink heads emphatically in the gentle breeze. The bluebirds were having a rehearsal of their own in the tallest oak, twittering and chirping away, their sparkling eoats flashing like bits of blue sky fallen to earth. "There are so many of us, we should be able to earry off the prize; we could take turns wearing it." "Dee -dee," sang Toninty Chickadee, "my song does not have many words, but my voice is clear and sweet, anal I do need something to 'brighten up this dull brown coat; a red :cap will be just the thing, so I shall do cry best." Mr. Oriole said nothing. To be sure his own Dap was black, but it roev in this field every day for about a week. The days were dry and' hot, and with constant stirring and turn- ing urning of the matted roots, we won a well-earned battle. We planted this field to beans June 15. On June 17, two days later, we harrowed this field again, once lengthwise and once cross- wise The next morning the beans be- gan peeping through. We used a two - row beet cultivator, taking two rows at a time. As soon as the rows were visible until the beans were beginning to set runners, we cultivated shallow about twice a week. Not only did we eradicate the quack, of which I dare venture to say, there is not a spear, but we were well repaid for the labor. The beans harvested and threshed yielded three hundred and forty-two bushels, or about thirty-four bushels pea .acre, and were selling at the time. at $7.25 per cwt. wehave seen It is three years s ince a sign of quack in this field. Not only quack, but ,other weeds gave way to the treatment. - Old oil drained from the crank -case of the automobile or tractor is the e very best kind of hen -house spray the eradication of vermin. Egg production must be bred into hens before it can be fed out of them. Hens must be well bred before they will be most profitable, even though they are well cared for. Sheep raisers have discovered that they receive a higher price, on an average, for the docked lambs, so it really pays to give the little fellow a "tailoring." This extra money is easily made, and since the operation offers little danger, every sheep raiser should perform this operation, and that of castzation. Both should be Animal food is regttired for the best done on a mild day between the fourth growth in chicks, as well as for large egg yields. Where bugs and worms are scarce, it is well to feed meat scrap, fish scrap, or any form of milk products. A fowl when cured is more of a menace than a benefit. When it is re - tamed to the flock there is a possi- bility that it may be responsible for offspring inheriting weak constitu- tions, which render the offspring more in the tad bone, about three -quay bens than ordinarily susceptible to disease. of an inch from the body. Apply po - and sixth week of the lamb's life. Lay the lamb on its side, drawing the hind legs up close to the body, to remove testicles, cutting off the lower one-third of the scrotum and pull out the organs with a quick move- nient, using the thumb and forefinger. The docking may be done with a sharp knife, cutting from the under side of the tail up and between joints F�{ if you did have any kind of a voice, which you haven't." "I am not asleep now," defended Mr. Owl. "I shut my eyes because the sun hurts them, but I guess you are right about my voice," end so saying, he flew across the loft to the•haymow and settled himseif for another nap. . Whet t did he need of a red cap to travel about in the night when no one ;could see'it? Hp intended to waken wp in -plenty ' of time for the concert, but it was held in the fern dell on the other side of the grove and he missed it entirely. Little Jenny Wren came in late, slcippiug restlessly about on her seat, which was the first 'branch of the chestnut tree that Bushybail lived in. "I am so uneasy about my babies, may I try my part first and go:, home early?" she asked politely, and Prin cess Lovely agreed to let her sing first. So, Jenny opened the` concert with a lullabye song that made each -bird think of his own babies. "It was a sweet little song," praised Princess Lovely, "but. you seemed so net•vowa•; you cut off your .words and kept moving about so, that you made me nervous too." "1 ean't help it, I matched his shining wings perfectly am always this way when I aan away and contrasted so well with his bright orange coat that Mrs. Oriole told him he had better leave goad enough alone;, so he spent the morning sipping apple - blossom honey and singing to himself, just for the pure joy ofhearing him- self.. In the barn doorway Mr, Owl shook, the sleep out of his eyes and blinked. "Who?" he inquired. "Not you, answered: a saucy blue jay who was passing at that moment, "you- couldn't from my babies," said: Jennie, and away she flew, more interested in her little loved ones than she was in se- •cur in:g the red eap. . Lady Dove •came• next, for she,. you know, sings best early in the day. With a soft cooing voice that made lien mate love her more than ever, she ing the song he heard so often from Tier pretty: throat—a sony of a tiny home rocked in the tallest poplar tree. Tommy Ohickadee sang as leng as stay awake long enough to sing, even he had any breath left, and Mr. Black How to Have Running Water Great interest is being shown in electric 'light and power plants and water systems, for the' farm home. It is, no doubt, good business to buy a complete system and have it instal- led by an experienced man when one has the money to do so, and in some cases it might be • good Rosiness to borrow the tnoney. But to those who can not or will not invest the amonnt moneynecessary to put In a com- plete plete system, but can afford some- thing of the kind, we wish to recom- mend the kitchen sink with running water. Many, farmers have windmills, or gas engines, and elevated tanks to, supply water at the barn, but 'have never thought of piping the water into the house. It is a -comparatively easy matter for them to lay a pipe to the house and, run water into a kitchen sink. It is surprising how much this one convenien•ee will lighten the house work, In planning to run water into the house it is well to see that the water has a good pressure at the faucet, or much time will -be wasted in waiting for it to run. The flow of water will depend on the height, but n.ot • the size of the elevated tank, and also upon the size of the pipe from the tank to the faucet. If the tank is twenty er twenty-five feet above the floor of the grouse, and not fur from it, one-half inch pipe may give a satisfactory flow, but three- querter inch pipe is recommended, e tank is low some distance from the house. Under Parents as Educators Hand Occupation With an Envelope BY JENNY B. MERRILL, PH.D. the envelope out, so that it appears tc It will i•nterest mothers.to know how much can be done with an envelope and pair of scissors in the way of pro- viding diversion:, occupation and even instruction. for children. These hints apply to different ages. The first eight may be used with many ehildr�9 of five or six years of age, the rest with children from 'six to ten.' been done there is usually trouble with freezing only where the pipe enters theembottom of the tank. A method re- corfimended for preventing freezing at that point is to connect a piece of two and one-half inch pipe, about twelve inches long, to the.bottom of the tank, and extending up into the tank, and then connect „the .supply pipe, which extends into the ground, to the upper end of the big pipe. This gives an adding to the effect by flashing the air space between the two pipes for sunbeams with, their glistening wings, tank forgetting that this was a contest of u : into the g ten or twelve inches p • f feathers, How and makes the outlet' less.likely to voices and one o freeze up. Mi. Robin sang! Never bad Mother A concrete tank built to hold water. from the ground up makes a very good reservoir if properly constructed. The supply pipe may enter from the bot- tom to eliminate danger of freezing. Such tanks should have a good foun- dation; that is, it should start from eighteen to twenty-four inches below the ground level, and should be well reinforced. The water,from some wells seems to destroy poor concrete. It is therefore well to use nothing but gourd notes filled the air and were carried concrete for this kind of work, such as one part cement, to two parts of sand, on the west breeze over to'the barn and four parts of gravel or crushed 'where Mr. Owl snoozed away, and atone. .r penetrated his dreams. running water from the well to "You did splendidly," said Princess In g , Lovely,"you did the best of them all. the tank, it is just as well to pump the y water in and let it out through the But what was wrong with' you to - one pipe in the bottom of the tank, day?" she asked, turning to Mr. and this usually saves some pipe. A Blackbird. "It must have been those checktvalve should be used at the well to . prevent the water from leaking back. All pipes running horizontally should be paid .deep enough under - 1. Cut out the stamp neatly, from the corner of an envelope, also cut out the post -mark. Explain why there is a post -mark. There may more than one. 2. Keep stamps after cutting out, using them to make,+pretty borders and other designs. Mingle stamps of different colors. 3. Draw on the inside of the en- velope the train that carries letters to us, or the rural delivery wagon, or the automobile. 4. Cut off one or more clean corners of the envelope in the shape of a triangle. Each triangle may be used as a book -mark by slipping it on the corner of a leaf. Decorate these tri- angles with simple designs. Older chil- dren may paint a flower and younger children may -mount a pretty little pic- ture on each triangle. 5. Cut an envelope into pieces using the creases as guides. Gut several and form designs with the pieces.: Each piece may be colored with tray- ' ons, paint, or. colored pencils. 6. Fold the envelope so as to form a basket or any other object you choose. 7. Draw a door and windows on a rang envelope. Press the corners of be a hoose. The. doers and- windows•• may also be cut so as to open and shot, Color the house, • 8. Play postman. Make a mail bag. to swing over the shoulder. Make a letter box in which to mail lettere. A child may deliver letters to, the dif- ferent members of the family. 'He should be made to appreciate this duty es letters are often very important- There is an ethical lesson here on ren sponsibility. . 9. Learn to open a closed envelope neatly -with a paper cutter without injuring the contents, This can some- times be done by rolling a pencil care - „fully under the flap. 10. Open out the whole envelope and notice its shape, then try to make one of the same size; first measure the paper to be used, place the en- velope on the paper, trace it and then fold carefully. 11. Praptice, if old enough, address- ing an envelope to a father, a mother, to an aunt, a cousin, or a friend. Also mount a stamp in the upper -right-hand corner leaving a white margin around the stamp. Expla_n the importance of using the correct corner. 12. Write the name of the man whose face is engraved on the stamp. 13. Write the names of the colors of these stamps under the name. Even quite young children are at- tracted by the coming of the postman, and love to play postman. A little girl of three once said, "This Is my letter." Then, pretending to read the address, she said, "It says 'Miss Mea" bird strutted out in the open place ter and they puckered up my throat that served as a stage and did his so that I can hardly talk, let' alone best; but, somehow, his voice sounded sing; Johnnie Woodpecker told me he choked` and strange even to himself. ate them to improve his voice, and I The lark sang of early morning sun- ate some of them too, but they spoiled rise, when the sleep elves are chased my voice,"he ended in a sob, tucking by the sunbeams until they hide under his head under his (black wing, as if the pebbles at the edge of the bubbling ashamed of himself for being such a brook; the bluebirds sang in chorus, fa uee. Princess Lovely looked at Johnnie severely. "Why did you tell him that?" she asked in so stern a voice that every bird trembled and the pink roses nodded harder than ever. "He has a pretty hood already," Johnnie Rabin heard him do so well, even when he sang to_ her while she warmed the defended himself, "and I have none three little blue eggs. "He will sore& but this dull brown, and I knew that win the red cap," nodded the pink with him out of the contest I had no roses. "Won't it look lovely with his one else to fear," and Johnnie hung red breast?" • his head.. Johnnie Woodpecker came last and For a long time no one moved;°the every one settled himself to hear some cap in Princess Lovely's hand gleamed real singing, for Johnnies voice was in the sunlight, the bright red feathers considered to be one of the best in the folding over each other like petals of fern dell- And they were not disap- a chrysanthemum. pointed this morning, for his sweet "I will keep my word•, tee red cap goes to the one who sang best," said Princess Lovely, as she slipped it over Johnnie's head, "but, es a punishment for deceiving your, best friend, I Shall take away your' voice forever; never again will you sing as you have song today.", And now, as Johnnie flaps his lazl+, way across the sunpaekes to the tree where his dinner waits, all he can say is a raspy "Ola'ckity Clack!" cherries," replied Mr. Bla:ekbird with a crestfallen look. "They were so bit- Verminproof nests can be made of tiered alum to Ghee c e ing• y • ground to prevent freezing; and where shredded cedar bark. The bark as na- pincers are best, designed especially especiall if th t 1. or located � �� gstringy,easily someto use • house a valve should hydrant, or • V "through which t in freezing weatherbe ktirally tough and twist- for this work. These are heated to a the pipe is brought up to a h Id be AL ed, and: has a pungent odor. Tt is dull red, and the tail seared off, a_ conditions it will pay into the , l be put claimed that the odor of cedar is just board with a hale in it, which one -inch pipe. in, wvhtcl gy as destructive to lice and mites as the tail is passed, being lased, Sometimes the elevated tank is tit used to cult the water off from the'. p it is to moths, and every housewife serves to keep the pincers from burn in tate attic of at one -storey house. This tank, and which permits the water to r knows that a cedar chest keeps' moths ing the body, ed 1 b uses its food to does not give as much pressure as is leak out of the exposed pipe th rough re attt.aetivehaving gink sometimes results by lasing count of sente a far more bysettin down..--__42,–.....—_,there is very little danger of its freez- water or wash -water is disposed of, eaitq can be avoided g each=day the number of nests gathered Every dead ear of corn means 900 ing. Only a small tank of two to however, it is better to run it into an figures that day,and f the adding these in an attic, an account of the weight, a wet epot in the yard. The t wast - ikgures at the end o montld be'placed over a partition pipe should be one and one -ha waste- missing stapes. Test seed. four barrels capacity should be put underground drain so it will e the total numbereggs,gathered whisper at m our lute -rat foils wont so t will if inches for the month. Then: subtract the num- of y 11 be well supported. The lank in diameter and should Have a trap•in ler of dozens sold fralit the number of dozens gathered, and this will give an accurate record of number used. White diarrhea has cost us the loss of a great many chicks, One day. my wife palled my attention to the afflict- ed chicks, and I remarked jokingly:: "011, well, rub a little vaseline on harm if not any frit will do no , eir tails, a me-. ,►lss all the Clil y nextday a The �d. 00 were scratching and feeding ae through,, nothing ever was the matter. Their little tails were clean and fiufty. Since Then we apply the vaeeline as soon as syiir;;rtonis• of the disease appear, and in most cases out application is ;saif'- iflCioiit, Th t t am from whatever is put into it• a cos •ra • •• lite flesh while the lacked lamb pre- desirable, but. is fat better than not the valve: kitchen s In keeping egg records, . confusion m , article for runniit+ water. It has an ad- The waste water from the number of eggs eaten. This: diffl- market, vantage over -the outdoor tank, in that may be handled in any way that dish - The man who is in right relations with his neighbor is a booster for the borne community. Vested shall be the fruit of thy n tale and of Ca cr ase ground, the in thy , th4 young of thy flock.—tett. 2f1, 4. Problems will be solved only after rte have discovered the real facts about thein, so'out big problem iso the finding d dependable data on other problems. is sometimes putt in the basil loft and it just below the sink. The trap eon- covered with hay to prevent freezing. When the tank is located in the house olc barn, it should have an overflow pipe large eiie1gh to keep the tank from running over. The ort - common supply tank is the in pp y galvanized iron tank or wooden tawor.. This Arrangement gives trouble ,on secoitatt of freezing, This trouble may be o'wercame largely by pouting a wooden bon around the enilrply pipe and stuffing It with straw, till griper, or so'itl+e stadh Material, After this hat gists of an S-shaped bend in the pipe which holds a little water and prevents obnoxious odors coming from the waste pipe. The waste water shonild bee,carried twenty or thirty feet from the house in a tight -jointed pipe, It may then +ae emptied into opeii-jointed drain»tire and used for subirrigating a gaMen, Where only the water from a kitchen sink is emptied into the underground a,ile, 100 or 200 feted four -inch title will be enough:; the la m er arriOntnt will be needed in tight soil. Lt GREASE The ground mica in Imperial Mica Axle Oreaae • smooths tho spindle by falling the minute crevices in tho steel. Over this the grease works easily, eliminatingfriction, heat and wear. gases the strain on orses and harness. It gneiss twice as far and.lasts tWlce as long as :other greases. IMPERIAL 1Filis the pores and protects the Libra a leather from the action of chest, tweet, moisture and heat. Keeps harness strong,. flexible mid ttew-looking. Doubles its life and gives it a icl, 'blackk finish that lasts. On sale everywlutro in sixes from a pint to A barrel. IIVIPERIAL OIL ilharrnto ` Canadian Company ..aanaata,n %:+pita! Canadian Worlstnen