effect upon animals descended from the well kept herds and flocks of the country there can be no question as to the fact that all intelligent and honest breeders are on the royal road to permanent success, not only for themselves but for the live stock industry as a whole.

Washing Butter.--There is considerable difference of opinion in dairy circles on the subject of washing butter, the camps being divided into the washers and non-washers. Those who advocate the reduction of washing to the minimum claim that much washing injures the flavor.

Hemp.-Dr. W. H. Dunn, who raised 300 acres of hemp near Lincoln, Nebraska, is now working the crop into tow, which he will ship to eastern markets. He announces his intention of raising 1,000 acres next year.

Maple syrup from corn-cobs is the latest. By this discovery the cobs are worth more than the corn. Frank Shafer, of Lacon, Ill., boils clean cobs in water until soft. Then the juice is strained off and dark brown sugar added. This is boiled and it comes out a fine quality of maple syrup. It is also discovered in Iowa, in this instance, that a syrup can be produced from watermelons. The past season a melon grower in that State thus utilized thousands of surplus melons which in other seasons he has allowed to rot on the vines. The melon syrup has an exquisite flavor, has good body and a beautiful color.

Ginseng is being grown in Illinois. This root is worth almost its weight in gold. The Chinese regard this plant as a cure for almost every disease. They believe that the root possesses intelligence and powers of locomotion which enable it to run away to escape capture. They also believe that it is guarded by the tiger, the leopard, the wolf and the snake, animals appointed by the gods to protect

it.

Australian salt bush has been tested in California and is a great success, growing to perfection on alkali ground alkali ground where nothing else can grow. It is, like alfalfa, perennial, and everything that eats alfalfa

will eat it. A pleasant flavor is given by it to both butter and milk. If the California Agricultural College report can be relied upon this new grass or fodder will make vast tracts of worse than useless land the most valuable for dairy purposes.

An Illinois farmer living in Jewell county has discovered that seed corn soaked in coal oil renders the growing corn chinch-bug proof. He plowed up his wheat and planted the ground with corn. The seed of five acres was soaked in coal oil and the other forty was not. The bugs ate up the forty acres and never touched the five acres. It is worth million if true.

a

Speaking of the great crops of North Dakota and the northward movement of the coru belt, B. S. Russell, of that State, advances a theory that is startling in its novelty. He insists that wheat is the pioneer of all cereals. Its office is to go

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ahead and serve as the civilizer of the soil; that is, to take the wildness, or, as he puts it, the Indian disposition," out of it. He states as a fact that there were few instances where corn had been successfully raised until the land had first been cultivated in wheat.

Twenty-one thousand acres of land in O'Brien county, Iowa, forfeited by the Sioux City & Minneapolis Railroad Company, will be thrown open to settlement Feb. 27.

Eight thousand acres will be taken by settlers who were driven from their homes when the government gave the lands to the railroad, but who are given the first chance at the land under a recent law.

It is alleged by the "Sugar Planters' Journal' of New Orleans, that many of the sugar plantations in that State have not realized 125 pounds of sugar per ton of cane, because of the use of antiquated machinery and appliances. There is a general need of replacing this old-time apparatus by the most modern type of sugar machinery, and the Louisiana papers are urging a forward movement on this line.

Some species of fish and insects do not sleep. Among fish, the salmon, pike, gold fish and some other species are known not to sleep at all, but some kinds of fish in

dulge in periods of rest for an hour or two at a time. Certain species of fly are known not to sleep, and all the animalculæ belong to the list of those which sleep not, says the Scientific American.

Every man who plants trees should remember that in the present day and age nothing but the best fruits and vegetables pay to grow and ship; and when that is taken into account, the advantage of irrigation, which will insure a crop every year and multiply the productiveness of the land from two-to fivefold, becomes the more apparent.

The average production of peas in the Province of Ontario is about 14,000,000 bushels from an average area of 700,000 acres. Much of this product finds market in the United States. Much of the land in northern Minnesota, and probably in other parts of the northwest, is equally as well adapted to the growing of peas.

Egyptian planters are rapidly increasing the acreage of cotton planting in the valley of the Nile, and are improving their irrigation facilities for its culture. Irrigation in the southern and southwestern States would greatly increase the production and improve the quality of the crop in this country.

The orchard wagon with low wheels and broad tires, that will turn round within its own length, which will carry a load over soft ground without cutting in, fitted with springs to save jar, wear and horse flesh, has become a necessity where it has become known, and it comes to stay.

General Morin, of France, says that the deterioration of common roads except that which is caused by the weather, is twothirds due to the wear of the horses' feet and one-third to the wheels of vehicles. Motocycles and rubber tires would therefore minimize the expense of road repairs.

A red clay road well graded up and packed when dry, with good provision for drainage, can be made one of the best of roads by a coating of gravel, which becomes thoroughly imbedded in and cemented by the clay. It is one of the worst in its raw state.

There is a growing demand for family Cows. Whoever produces them and complies with the requirements can get extra compensation for his labor and investment.

Capt. J. P. Casey, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, killed six Berkshire pigs last winter that dressed together 1,100 pounds. They were fed only alfalfa except 65 cents worth of shorts each to finish them off, and the meat was of superior quality.

The spray pump is found to be as useful in the garden as in the orchard, and is even being used to good advantage for preventing and destroying vermin on stock. Weak kerosene emulsion can be so applied as to meet every portion of the body.

Every farmer should raise some pumpkins in the cornfield. It is only necessary to plant the seed when the crop is "laid by," and they will do the rest. They fill a place in the domestic economy, both in the house and in the stockyard.

Dr. A. T. Peters, of the Nebraska State University farm, reports uniform success with the new method of dealing with bog cholera. A bulletin is to be put out, bearing on the subject, which will be extremely interesting to hog men.

Five hundred dollars from a half acre of blackberries, is given as the last year's crop of Mr. H. Blanchard, a New York grower. He thinks it requires the proper combination of man, soil and season, however, to produce such results.

Orange growers in the early belts of California might profit by budding some of the earliest good varieties, such as the Parson Brown, Early Oblong and Nonpareil, which ripen in Florida early in November.

It is said that not a quarter of the usual number of mares were bred this season. Such a policy will not have to be kept up long before there will be a scarcity of horses to meet even the present limited demand.

Fruit that is worm-eaten or disfigured by insects will not command either a fair price or ready sale. It is important to spray your trees and protect the fruit. It does not cost but a trifle of the amount saved.

It is only the excess of what a cow eats above what is required for its maintenance that yields a profit to the owner and feeder. The more they can eat and properly assimilate the greater the margin of profit.

For the garden, if possible, choose ground having a gentle inclination toward the south. Give it thorough drainage, deep cultivation and liberal fertilizing, and you will get good results.

Bubach, Crescent, Haverland, Warfield and Greenville, among the pistillate varieties of strawberries, stand in high favor among members of the Missouri State Horticultural Society.

Professor Bailey recommends a large increase in the area of land planted with apricots in the State of New York, and believes the tree there will prove as hardy as the peach.

Tests prove that grain fully matured and properly cured does not shrink if held during the winter. If not protected from vermin there may be waste, but there is no shrinkage.

In any kind of farming for profit, the problem is to get the largest return from the smallest outlay in the least time. This cannot be accomplished without thought.

The appearance of the corn shocks in the field after a harvest is a pretty good indication as to the character of the farmer, whether he is methodical or a slouch.

There is a big saving of labor and horseflesh if you can make one acre produce as much as five usually does by intelligent treatment and care, and you can with irrigation.

If crops of any kind are planted between young trees, the irrigator must decide carefully the quantity of water necessary for each and apply accordingly.

Animals and fowls enjoy a fresh, cool drink as well as you do. It is not the best policy to permit their water supply to become warm and stagnant.

"Baby pork" from pigs not more than eight months old and weighing from 150 to 200 pounds to the carcass is now in the best demand in all markets.

Keep accounts with your fields, your animals and your poultry. It is just as necessary as for the merchant to keep accounts with his customers.

A duck lays large eggs, and nearly every day. It should have an ample supply of animal food in connection with grass and ground grains.

The dairyman need not see his lands run down in quality and productiveness unless he is inexcusably neglectful and shiftless.

Cement floors are the best for barn flooring. They are hard and smooth, are easily cleaned, save manure and are ratproof.

Don't feed the pastures too closely. It is for better to divide and use the lots in rotation. It saves vitality for the grass roots.

Spraying should be done effectively. Both sides of every leaf and twig should be thoroughly wet with the mixtures.

The walk is the gait of a horse that should be cultivated and improved. It is especially so as to draft horses.

Ventilate the stable and the poultry house as carefully as you do your dwelling. It is equally necessary.

As you cannot change your climate it is the best judgment to study its conditions and conform to them.

A sound and healthy hen will lay beright sort of food. cause she can't help it, if you feed her the

No good neighbor will allow weeds to go to seed that may be scattered on the adjoining farms.

Ducks can be raised without a pond if you give them plenty of water to drink and to waste.

Discuss your methods with your neighbor farmers. You will get as well as give good ideas.

When you cannot twist any drops of sap out of clover stalks, it is safe to put it in the barn.

Irrigation will double the production of melon and cucumber vines, if judiciously applied.

A fat hen is a poor layer, and her eggs will either not hatch or will produce weak chicks.

Big corn cobs are not objectionable if there is big corn on them and plenty of it.

The younger you feed a pig, and the faster, the more profit there is in him.

Are your tools in good condition? If not, you may waste time and money.

Droppings left under fowls or animals are the breeding grounds of disease.