The Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56, No. 2, January 12, 1884 | Page 7

sixty per cent.
The American Cultivator says that if barley has not germinated the fact
of its having been slightly stained by wet is no actual detriment
whatsoever; the grain is not really injured and ought to bring to the
farmer just as much as the bright samples of equal plumpness.
Dr. E. Lewis Sturtevant, reporting in Bulletin LXXII. of the State
Experiment Station his hybridizing tests during the past season with
135 different kinds of corn, incidentally mentions that "the red ears
have a constancy of color which is truly remarkable; where sweet corn
appears upon red pop and red dent ears the sweet corn partakes of the
red color."
An esteemed exchange suggests, if farmers would go to the barn on a
wet day and spend their time in making an eaves-trough for the barn or
stable, and thereby carry away the drip which would otherwise fall on
the manure pile, causing a waste of the elements of plant food
contained therein, they will make more money that day than they could
any fine day in the field.
American Cultivator: In winter, while the ground is covered with snow

and the soil is frozen deeply, it is sometimes curious to note the effect
of openings leading down to deep underdrains. The snow will be
melted away by the warm air coming up from the unfrozen earth. Even
in an uncovered drain three feet deep, a little straw or loose earth will
generally protect the bottom from severe freezing.
Cincinnati Gazette: There are so many excellencies about the cow pea,
and it is good for so many uses, that we advise our Ohio, Indiana, and
Kentucky farmers to be sure and cultivate it this year. Next spring,
when all danger of frost is over, sow, plant, or drill more or less of
these valuable peas, and, in the language of the elder Weller, "you'll be
glad on it arterwards," and so will your live stock.
New England Homestead: Nearly level culture, hand-hoeing and
slightly hilling but once, and keeping the cultivator running, was
recommended at the Waterbury meeting as the best culture for potatoes.
It was said that the second hilling induced a second growth of roots
higher up on the plant which produced small tubers. If this is not done
the additional growth will make large potatoes.
Cincinnati Gazette: During sundry recent visits to Tennessee, we
noticed that a considerable share of the immigrants arriving were from
Michigan. They are mostly of the second generation from the settlers
from the East in that State--men in the prime of life, who are seeking
cheap lands in a genial climate, where the pastoral, dairy, and
fruit-raising pursuits to which they are accustomed may be pursued
with perfect success. Michigan farmers are usually intelligent, practical
workers, who understand their profession and like it. They, and such as
they, appreciate the advantages they will enter upon in their new homes
at the South.
New England Farmer: Prof. Goessmann, as Director of the State
Experiment Station, has been analyzing a sample of rye hay, sent to the
Station by Secretary Russell of the State Board of Agriculture. The
sample was not cut till in full bloom, but Prof. Goessmann finds it
compares well in nutritive value with a medium good quality of
meadow hay. This agrees with our own estimate of well cured rye hay,
judged by its effect in practical feeding to stock. Animals usually have

to learn to eat it heartily, as they do many other kinds of coarse fodder
which are inferior to the best hay. Rye should be cut before it comes in
full bloom, to obtain the greatest feeding value from the fodder. It is
then liked better, and a larger per cent will be digested.
Republican, Manhattan, Kan.: In traveling through a considerable
portion of the country this week, we noticed that the wheat looked
exceedingly promising. The contrast between the green fields and the
dry grass and naked trees was cheering to behold. Cattle are in good
condition; most of the farmers are provided with sheds or shelter of
some sort to protect the animals, but we saw some small bunches of
young cattle standing in unprotected enclosures shivering from the
north wind; it is cruel to take them through the winter without so much
as a wind break to turn off the scorching blasts. Surely every farmer
can afford to build a wind break, at least a pile of brush and old hay,
around the stock yards. The cost would be more than made up in the
saving of feed.
They are growing some pretty heavy crops of wheat in New Hampshire.
The Lebanon Free Press reports that Harlan Flint, of Hanover, raised
this year eighty bushels of wheat on five acres of ground, and Uel
Spencer,