Various - Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56: No. 1, January 5, 1884.

V >> Various >> Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56: No. 1, January 5, 1884.

Pages:
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This is a simple plan for filing papers of any size, and any farmer can
do it, there being no expense or outlay for material. On glancing up
from the stand on which I am writing, the first objects that attract my
notice are my breach loader, cartridge belt, and game-bag hanging on the
wall; then by the side of the stove hangs the file of THE PRAIRIE
FARMER, within easy reach of my left hand; next it swings the
Country Gentleman, then comes the Forest and Stream, then Colman's Rural
World, then the Drainage Journal; next Harper's Weekly, then Harper's
Bazar. This is my wife's paper and she persists in hanging it among
mine. Then comes Harper's Monthly and the Century, not forgetting the
Sanitary Journal. On the other side of the room we find the Inter Ocean,
Democrat, and several other political papers fairly representing both
sides, also some standard books of valuable information; and last but
not least, the PRAIRIE FARMER Map which you sent for my club.

Now, this may be considered a pretty large outlay for a common farmer to
make, but outside of life insurance, I consider it my best investment.

In this selection I get the cream of all matters of practical importance
to the farmer. From THE PRAIRIE FARMER I get the latest and most
reliable information of the great central ruling markets of the West
Chicago, which has saved me sundry times from three to five cents per
bushel on wheat, sometimes paying the price of the paper twenty times
over in one transaction. From the C.G. I get the Eastern markets, while
Colman gives the St. Louis; and by a close study of the three a farmer
can always make enough to pay for twenty or thirty dollars worth of good
current literature for the use of his family. Then the F. and S. is
always full of delightful reading for the boys, refining their cruel
propensities, and teaching them to be kind to the feathered tribe which
are the farmer's friends. By reading it they soon lay aside their traps,
nets, and snares, with which they capture whole covies of the dear
little Bob-whites, and disdain to touch a feather, only when on the
wing, and then with their light, hammerless breach loader. Such reading
as that ties the farmer's boys to country life, and makes them contented
under the parental roof-tree until they are ready to build up homes of
their own. The Journal tells them all about tile making and drainage, a
very necessary accomplishment when they get their own homestead.

The pictures in H.W. furnish a fountain of amusement for the little
folks, and teach them--with a little help--many things that will be
useful to them in life. As a matter of course the "Bezar" is for mother
and the girls, and [***]
consultations [***]
before the fair, a [***]
daughters, your [***]
good when she insisted [***]
be put on the list.

A boy or a girl with [***]
the Century in their hands, [***]
room, with a bright clear lamp [***]
has no thought of city life, or [***]
In those bright pages the [***]
outer world painted in all its various [***]
so interesting and so fascinating [***]
have no desire to see it in reality; in [***]
they bring the brightest and best thought, [***]
historic, and romantic to our hearth and home; furnishing food for the
youthful minds, leaving no room for evil or discontented thoughts to
enter. Then I say to every farmer who has children, get the magazines
for them, they will save you a mountain of trouble.

Then to balance things have one or two spicy news papers, which picture
in horrid colors the blackest side of human life. This is necessary to
guard the young against the riff-raff of humanity, such as tramps,
sharpers, sewing machine and book agents, the lightning rod man, and a
dozen other sharp swindlers that prey on the farmer and his family for
an existence. The Sanitary Journal treats of health, purity, and
cleanliness, and ought to be read and studied by all. Ah, I had almost
forgotten THE PRAIRIE FARMER Map which hangs by the door. What can I say
about it? that it is a handsome ornament for a living room or library?
yes, but that is not all, it is useful. When it arrived I took it to the
railroad office and compared it with the best map they had, also with a
map made by the U.S. land office. I came away satisfied that it was
reliable; it ought to be in the home of every farmer in this great
country of ours, so that their children can learn and know what a grand
heritage they have got. There is no excuse for being without it, as a
few pounds of butter or dozens of eggs will procure it and a paper that
will gladden the hearts of both old and young.

ALEX ROSS.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO.

LET US BE SOCIABLE.

A happy new year to all of the readers of THE PRAIRIE FARMER, and may
your labors of 1884 be crowned with success. Mr. Granger, what are you
doing these long winter evenings? Can't you find time to write a few
lines to the readers of THE PRAIRIE FARMER? You can send a little report
from your county, at least. Come, let us be a little more sociable and
talk more to each other through the columns of our paper. We can learn
something by reading each other's views on different subjects. In my
next I shall try and tell some of the careless fellows how to run a farm
to make it pay. If I fail to give a little light on the subject perhaps
some one else will try it. We are having what you might call winter,
now. Snow is about six inches deep, but the weather is not very cold.
The thermometer has not been below zero but once. Nearly all of the corn
is gathered; only about one-third of the crop is sound enough to keep
until next summer. Farmers are feeding their soft corn to hogs and
cattle. In that way the soft corn will pay pretty well after all, for
fat stock brings a good price. Stock cattle are wintering well, for feed
in the fields is good, and most farmers have got plenty of good hay. The
weather was so nice the first part of this month that the farmers did a
large amount of plowing. Potatoes are plenty and cheap; worth from 30 to
40 cents. Apples are scarce, and good ones bring a big price. Butter is
worth from 25 to 30 cents.

S.O.A.
KNOX CO., ILL.

SEED CORN AGAIN.

There has been much complaint of soft corn in this section on account of
planting foreign seed last spring, but it is all solid since the late
cold spell.

Those who planted seed of their own raising and got a stand have fair
corn, while much of that which was raised from Kansas and Nebraska seed
was caught by the frost when in the milk. Now we will be in just the
same "fix" about seed next spring that we were last. This county has
lost thousands of dollars this year in the corn crop alone, all of which
might have been avoided by going through the fields before freezing
weather and selecting seed and properly drying it before it froze.

And now right here I want to say that the great secret of good farming
is simply being punctual in attending to the small matters, and I
"guess" Fanny Field would say the same about poultry.

Z.L. THOMPSON.
IROQUOIS CO., ILL.

* * * * *

REMEMBER _that $2.00 pays for_ THE PRAIRIE FARMER _from this
date to January 1, 1885; For $2.00 you get it for one year and a
copy of_ THE PRAIRIE FARMER COUNTY MAP OF THE UNITED STATES,
FREE! _This is the most liberal offer ever made by any first-class
weekly agricultural paper in this country._

* * * * *

FIELD AND FURROW.

Says the Iowa Register: One hundred bushels of corn will shrink to
ninety in the crib, and to an extent more than that, depending on the
openness of the crib and the honesty of the neighbors.

The agricultural editor of the New York Times says that no doubt many
farmers who are intending to underdrain their farms would save money by
employing an expert at the first to lay out the whole system and make a
good beginning, and so avoid any possible mistake, which might cost ten
dollars for every one paid for skilled advice.

The New York Times says that lime seems to be a preventive of rot in
potatoes in the cellar. Some potatoes that were rotting and were picked
out of a heap of forty or fifty bushels were put into a corner and well
dusted with air-slaked lime. They stopped rotting at once, and the
decayed parts are now dried up. There is no disagreeable smell about
them.

Cincinnati Gazette: It is remarked that when young hogs are fed mainly
on corn they stop growing at an early age and begin to grow fat; but
that green food makes them thriftier and larger than dry grain. In fact,
it is better to prevent all domestic animals from becoming very fat
until they have attained a fair natural size, particularly breeding
animals.

A member of the Elmira Farmers' Club recently expressed the opinion that
bad results would always be found with wheat sown on land into which the
green growth of any crop had just been turned, although it was believed
that buckwheat was the worst green manure. All green growth incorporated
with the soil near the time of seeding will in all cases be found
prejudicial to wheat.

It is announced that Robert Clarke, of Cincinnati will have ready, in
February, an extensive work on sorghum, containing the results of the
latest experiments and experience of the most successful growers, as to
the best varieties and their culture, and also the details of the latest
and best machinery used in the economical manufacture of sirups and
sugars therefrom. The work is by Prof. Peter Collier, whose name is a
guarantee of the value of the book. It will be very fully illustrated.

A Michigan man writes the Michigan Farmer: I have noticed tarred twine
and willows recommended for binding corn stalks. I think I can propose a
better substitute than either for those who are using a twine binder:
save the strings from straw stacks this winter. They are less trouble
than grass and never slip. Tie a knot in the end of the twine with your
knee on the bundle, then slip the other end through in the form of a
bow, take off your knee and the spring of the bundle will draw the knot
tight. Pull the bow and use again.

"Human labor," says Dr. Zellner, of Ashville, Ala., "is the most costly
factor that enters into the production of cotton, and every consistent
means should be adopted to dispense with it." And then the doctor, who
has the reputation of having raised some of the finest samples ever
grown in the South, describes how, by planting at proper distances, in
checks five by three apart, one-half of the after labor of cultivating
may be saved. About the same amount of plow work is said to be
necessary, but not more than one-fourth as much work with the hoe as is
required by cotton in drills.

Prof. J.W. Sanborn: "Deep tillage in times of drought of surface-rooted
crops, like corn, is an erroneous practice, founded on erroneous views.
'Plowing out corn' not only involves too deep tillage in drought but
adds to the mischief by severing the roots of corn, needed at such
times. Our double-shovel plows work too deeply. Our true policy, in
drought, for corn is frequent and shallow tillage. For this we now have
after the corn gets beyond the smoothing harrow, no suitable implement
on our markets, with a possible exception."

Correspondent New York Tribune: Of the use of oatmeal for cows mention
is not often made in this country; but when spoken of it is always with
praise. That it is better than corn meal there can be no doubt; it is
richer in both albuminoids and fat; and the usefulness of these two
nutriments, and especially the former, for making milk is shown not
only by the results of numerous careful experiments, but by the
acknowledged usefulness of oil-cake meal. Where this meal is used freely
there would be less use for oatmeal; but under some circumstances it
might be advantageously substituted for the bran in the favorite mixture
for cows of Indian meal and bran.

The following paragraph appears in an English cotemporary: The
introduction of a new industry connected with farming into Ireland will
be hailed by everybody, and therefore we rejoice to learn that a company
has been formed with the design of purchasing or renting nearly a
million and a quarter acres of land in Ireland, and devoting them to
beet culture, from which the sugar will be extracted in a manufactory
erected on the land. The promoters of the new company expect that from
the 120,000 acres which they propose cultivating they will produce
400,000 tons of sugar in the year. Immense quantities of sugar extracted
from the beet-root are manufactured on the continent and imported into
these countries, and there is no reason whatever why Ireland should not
have her finger in the sugar pie.

In a paper before the Oxford (Ohio) Farmers' Club, on the subject "The
Morality of the System of Grain Gambling," Mr. Wetmore said: There is a
difference between speculation and investment. Putting money into an
established industry is an investment. Putting it into a doubtful or
untried business, with the hope of gaining much or risk of losing all,
is speculation. The latter is infatuating as it increases the risk and
yet turns to profit. Investments pay no high per cents. Speculations may
pay much or lose all. Hence it is unsafe; and the farmer who makes his
gains only by a yearly turn of his crops, should not try speculation,
but may judiciously invest his surplus year by year in things of real
value, as land or chattels. Invest the last dollar, but speculate only
with loose change. No man can safely invest in a business with which he
is not familiar.

A lawful wire fence in Georgia is described by legislative enactment as
composed of not less than six horizontal strands of barbed wire tightly
stretched from post to post. The first wire no more than four and a half
nor less than three and a half inches from the ground; the second wire
not more than nine and a half nor less than eight and a half inches from
the ground; the third wire not more than fifteen and a half nor less
than fourteen and a half inches from the ground; the fourth wire not
more than twenty-two and a half nor less than twenty-one and a half
inches from the ground; the fifth wire not more than thirty-two nor less
than thirty-one inches from the ground; the sixth wire not over
fifty-five nor less than fifty-three inches from the ground. Posts to be
not over ten feet apart, and every alternate post to be securely set in
the ground. Provided, a plank not less than ten inches wide shall be
used instead of two strands of wire at bottom of fence, it is also
required that a railing shall be placed at equal distance between the
two top wires, which shall answer the same purpose as a wire, and to
extend from post to post in like manner.

Correspondent Country Gentleman: I notice that your journal recently
gave currency to the "saltpetre method" of extracting stumps, and W.H.
White also recommends it in your columns. His method is to bore a hole
in the stump in the fall of the year, fill in the hole with saltpetre,
plug up till the following summer, then fill the hole with kerosene and
fire the stump. It is alleged that the saltpetre and kerosene will so
saturate the stump that it will be entirely consumed, roots and all.
This recipe has been floating around the press for years. It is usually
credited to the Scientific American, but that paper has several times
denied its paternity. The uselessness of the process can easily be
learned by trial. There are few more inflammable substances than pitch
and turpentine. The roots of pine stumps are saturated with these, but
it is impossible to burn them out. The addition of saltpetre would not
help much. Yet there are seasons when the soil and air are so dry that
hard wood stumps may be burned out without either saltpetre or kerosene.
We had such a year in 1881, when corn and clover standing uncut in the
field were burned. In some instances the curbing was burned out of wells
during terrible forest fires that raged in Michigan. If tried in such a
season the recipe would undoubtedly be successful. In any ordinary
season it is "no good."

* * * * *

No matter how wretched a man may be, he is still a member of our common
species, and if he possesses any of the common specie his acquaintance
is worth having.

* * * * *

[Illustration]

FARM MACHINERY, Etc.

GREAT SAVING FOR FARMERS.

THE
Lightning
Hay Knife!

(WEYMOUTH'S PATENT.)

[Illustration]

Awarded "FIRST ORDER OF Merit" at Melbourne Exhibition, 1880.

Was awarded the FIRST PREMIUM at the International Exhibition in
Philadelphia, 1876, and accepted by the Judges as SUPERIOR TO ANY OTHER
KNIFE IN USE.

It is the BEST KNIFE in the _world_ to cut _fine feed_ from bale, to
cut down _mow_ or _stack_, to cut _corn-stalks_ for feed, to cut _peat_,
or for ditching in marshes, and has no equal for cutting ensilage from
the silo. TRY IT.

IT WILL PAY YOU.

Manufactured only by
HIRAM HOLT & CO., East Wilton, Me., U.S.A.

_For sale by Hardware Merchants and the trade generally_

* * * * *

SEDGWICK STEEL WIRE FENCE

[Illustration]

IT is the only general-purpose Wire Fence in use, being a STRONG NET
WORK WITHOUT BARBS. It will turn dogs, pigs, sheep and poultry, as well
as the most vicious stock, without injury to either fence or stock. It
is just the fence for farms, gardens stock ranges, and railroads, and
very neat for lawns, parks, school lots and cemeteries. Covered with
rustproof paint (or galvanized) it will last a life time. It is
SUPERIOR TO BOARDS or BARBED WIRE in every respect. We ask for it a
fair trial, knowing it will wear itself into favor. The SEDGWICK
GATES, made of wrought iron pipe and steel wire, DEFY ALL COMPETITION
in neatness, strength, and durability. We also make the best and
cheapest ALL IRON AUTOMATIC OR SELF-OPENING GATE, also CHEAPEST AND
NEATEST ALL IRON FENCE. BEST WIRE STRETCHER AND POST AUGER. For
prices and particulars ask hardware dealers, or address, mentioning
paper, SEDGWICK BROS. Manf'rs. Richmond. Ind.

* * * * *

[Illustration]

CHICAGO SCALE CO.

2 TON WAGON SCALE, $40. 3 TON, $50.
4 Ton $60, Beam Box Included.

240 lb. FARMER'S SCALE, $5.

The "Little Detective," 1/4 oz. to 25 lb. $3.

300 OTHER SIZES. Reduced PRICE LIST FREE.

FORGES, TOOLS, &c.

BEST FORGE MADE FOR LIGHT WORK, $10,

40 lb. Anvil and Kit of Tools. $10.

Farmers save time and money doing odd jobs.

Blowers, Anvils, Vices & Other Articles

AT LOWEST PRICES, WHOLESALE & RETAIL.

* * * * *

FIVE-TON WAGON SCALES $60

[Illustration]

All Iron and Steel, Double Brass Tare Beam. Jones _he_ pays the freight.
All sizes equally low, for free book, address

JONES OF BINGHAMTON,
Binghamton, N.Y.

* * * * *

[Illustration]

THE PROFIT FARM BOILER

is simple, perfect, and cheap; the BEST FEED COOKER; the only dumping
boiler; empties its kettle in a minute. OVER 5,000 IN USE; Cook your
corn and potatoes, and save one-half the cost of pork. Send for circular.
D.R. SPERRY & CO., Batavia, Illinois.

* * * * *

FARM IMPLEMENTS, Etc.

THE CHICAGO DOUBLE HAY AND STRAW PRESS

[Illustration]

Guaranteed to load more Hay or Straw in a box car than any other, and
bale at a less cost per ton. Send for circular and price list.
Manufactured by the Chicago Hay Press Co., Nos. 3354 to 3358 State St.,
Chicago. Take cable car to factory. Mention this paper.

* * * * *

Sawing Made Easy

Monarch Lightning Sawing Machine!

Sent on 30 Days test Trial.

A Great Saving of Labor & Money.

[Illustration]

A boy 16 years old can saw logs FAST and EASY. MILES MURRAY, Portage,
Mich. writes, "Am much pleased with the MONARCH LIGHTNING SAWING
MACHINE. I sawed off a 30-inch log in 2 minutes." For sawing logs into
suitable lengths for family stove-wood, and all sorts of log-cutting, it
is peerless and unrivaled. Illustrated Catalogue, FREE. AGENTS WANTED.
Mention this paper. Address MONARCH MANUFACTURING CO., 163 N. Randolph
St., Chicago, Ill.

* * * * *

BEST MARKET PEAR.

[Illustration: KIEFFER]

99,999 PEACH TREES All _best varieties_ of new and old Strawberries,
Currants, Grapes, Raspberries, etc.

EARLY CLUSTER

New Blackberry, early, hardy, good. Single hill yielded 13 quarts at
one picking. Send for FREE Catalogue.

J.S. COLLINS, Moorestown, N.J.

* * * * *

CHAMPION BALING PRESSES.

[Illustration]

A Ton per Hour. Run by two men and one team. Loads 10 to 15 tons in car.

Send for descriptive circular with prices, to GEHRT & CO., 216, 218
and 220 Maine St., Quincy, Ill.

* * * * *

"THE BEST IS THE CHEAPEST."

ENGINES
SAW MILLS, THRESHERS,
HORSE POWERS,

(For all sections and purposes.) Write for FREE Pamphlet and Prices to
The Aultman & Taylor Co., Mansfield, Ohio.

* * * * *

NOW READY FOR DISTRIBUTION.

VOLUMES ONE AND TWO
OF THE
NATIONAL REGISTER NORMAN HORSES

The most reliable, concise, and exhaustive history of the horse in
general, and by far the most complete and authentic one of the Norman
horse in particular, ever published in the United States.

PRICES:

Volume I.........................................$ 2.00

Volume II........................................ 1.50

When the two volumes are sent in one package to one address, $3.00.
Sent, postpaid, on receipt of price.

Address your orders to

PRAIRIE FARMER PUBLISHING CO., Chicago

* * * * *

THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR.

CONTAINING Practical Observations on the Causes Nature and Treatment of
Diseases and Lameness in Horses, by GEO. H. DADD, M.D. Will be
sent upon receipt of price, $1.50; or free to any sender of three
subscribers to this paper, at $2 each, by

PRAIRIE FARMER PUBLISHING CO., Chicago.

* * * * *

MISCELLANEOUS.

DIAMONDS FREE!

We desire to make the circulation of our paper 250,000 during the next
six months. To accomplish which we will give absolutely free a genuine
FIRST WATER Diamond Ring, and the Home Companion for one year, for
only $2.00. Our reasons for making this unprecedented offer are as
follows;

A newspaper with 200,000 subscribers can get 1c. per line per 1,000 of
circulation for its advertising space, or $5,000 per issue MORE than
it costs to produce and mail the paper. With but 10,000 or 20,000
subscribers, its advertising revenues do not pay expenses. Only the
papers with mammoth circulations make fortunes for their owners,
DERIVED FROM ADVERTISING SPACE. For these and other reasons, we regard
100,000 subscribers as being of more financial benefit to a paper than
the paper is to the subscribers. With 100,000 or 200,000 bona-fide
subscribers, we make $100,000 to $200,000 a year clear profit from
advertising, above cost of publishing. Without a large circulation, we
would lose money. Therefore, to secure a very large circulation, and
thus receive high rates and large profits from advertising space, this
ONLY EQUITABLE plan of conducting business is adopted.

THE FIRST QUESTION TO BE ANSWERED IS,--is the diamond pure--a genuine
stone?

OUR ANSWER IS YES.

The stone is GUARANTEED to be no Alaska Diamond, Rhine Pebble, or other
imitation, but a

WARRANTED GENUINE AND PURE DIAMOND.

If it is not found so by the most careful and searching tests, we will
refund the money, enter the subscriber's name on our list, and have the
paper mailed to him free during its existence. To the publisher of this
paper has been sent a guarantee from the manufacturing Jeweler, from
whom we obtain these rings, that they are just as represented, so that
readers may rely upon the promises being fulfilled to the letter.

The second question is, IS THE PAPER A DESIRABLE FAMILY JOURNAL? YES.
It contains contributions from the first writers of the times: fiction,
choice facts, intellectual food of the most interesting, instructive and
refined character. It is one of the

LEADING PAPERS OF THE PROGRESSIVE WEST.

We are determined to make it the most desirable and reliable paper in
the United States; will spare no effort or money to achieve that object.
Sample Copies sent free on application. Remit by draft, express, or new
postal note, to

THE HOME COMPANION.
N.W. Cor. Fourth and Race Streets, Cincinnati, O.

Don't fail to name the paper in which you see this advertisement.

* * * * *

REMEMBER _that $2.00 pays for_ THE PRAIRIE FARMER _from this date to
January 1, 1884; $2.00 pays for it from this date to January 1, 1885.
For $2.00 you get it for one year and a copy of_ THE PRAIRIE FARMER
COUNTY MAP OF THE UNITED STATES, FREE! _This is the most liberal offer
ever made by any first-class weekly agricultural paper in this country._

* * * * *

LIVE STOCK DEPARTMENT.

[Illustration]

Stockmen. Write for Your Paper.

MR. GRINNELL'S LETTER.

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