Farmer Township (part 15 of 25)

The main food or roughage for a horse and two or three cows is, or will be in a year or so, alfalfa. The alfalfa also makes a large part of the ration for several hundred hens. The grain ration can be so reduced, with alfalfa, that the cost of keeping animals is much smaller, and the net profit is correspondingly increased. With this plan, fertilizers are made on the farm for the crops.

Our main money sales are berries, eggs, butter and some vegetables, especially celery and onions. This plan I have settled upon after thirty years of experience in gardening.

Location, Soil and Climate. - Our location is in Delaware Co. in S. E. N. Y.. in a small village. In this, and near-by villages, we market our produce. The land is brook flat, along one of the large streams that empty into the Susquehanna River. The soil is a deep clay loam on gravel subsoil. The extremes of temperature are from about 10 degrees below zero in winter, to 90 above in summer.The growing season extends from May 1, until November.

Our Work in April. - A part of our work in April, is fitting land for and plan ring straw-berries. The ground was well manured, last year, and cultivated crops of vegetables were grown on it. All our land is rich, and would grow good corn. On this plot for strawberries, manure was spread very early this spring, about one inch deep. The lumps were broken so that every place was evenly covered. The manure is kept under cover, and not a drop of urine is wasted. The horse manure, cow and hen manure and that from the closets are all mixed together gaining the winter. There is no fire-fang - no loss of any kind. Market gardeners can not buy manure like this. The manure is first worked in, and more finely pulverized with the harrow, then the ground is plowed a few inches deep. It is hariowed, leveled and firmed with a plank drag. Using a line we set strawberry plants in rows 18 inches apart, and one foot in the row, but leaving a space of 2% feet between every four rows, from which to pick the berries. All the runners and fruit buds are cut off and the plants are kept in hills strictly.

Plants for re-planting are grown in a propagating bed. This is our method of growing fancy strawberries. The varieties I am planting are Brandywine, Wm. Belt and Marshall, all very high-grade berries.

Our Other April work is pruning the raspberry and blackberry canes, putting them in place between the wire supports, tying up the grapevines, pruning, and spraying fruit trees, top-dressing the alfalfa with fine manure, making seed bed outdoors for celery, cabbage, lettuce, radishes and onions, and caring for those sown in cold frames. - W. H. Jenkins, Delaware Co., N. Y.

If the character cf the surface of the land to be irrigated is such as to make it impossible to raise the water high enough in the open channel to force it back the complete length of the tile, then a closed channel is preferable because then if the level of the water at the intake is higher than any portion of the lands to be irrigated, it will be forced to these parts with little difficulty.

On naturally well drained areas, as in the upper portion of our celery lands, surface irrigation can be practiced to advantage. This method requires greater care and attention as in no case should the water be allowed to flow over the surface of the land, that is, the land should not be flooded.

In following this method .we construct a main lateral from the supply ditch across the highest portion of the land and, fortunately, with us the highest parts are across the upper ends of our fiej^ls. We use the celery hiller to run out this lateral, making it as shallow as possible but having the banks high and strong enough to prevent the water from overflowing. From this main lateral sublaterals are run at intervals of every two to four rows, placing them between the highest rows. These should be very shallow with only sufficient sides to them to prevent the water from overflowing and running over the land. After these are constructed, the main lateral is filled and only as much water is let into the sublaterals as will flow the length of the field. It is well to let enough water into the sublaterals at- first so that it will flow quickly the length of the fields. After that only enough water should be let in to keep up a light flow the length of the channels. No more than fifteen to twenty sublaterals should be open as this is about all one man can take care of at a time. When the land under these is properly irrigated they should be closed and more opened, until the field completed.

When irrigating the land for setting plants the surface should be moist all over, but when irrisating the growing crop we aim to stop when the surface appears moist in spots, great care being taken not to get the soil too wet. The sublaterals should be watched very closely, in no case allowing the water to get out of these channels and run over the land Where this does occur the soil isl liable to run together, become puddled and on drying become hard and compact and difficult of cultivation. After the land has dried off sufficiently it is cultivated very lightly to destroy any

The dead-furrows should be kept open at all times as they will carry off the seepage water and in case of rain will remove the surface water quickly. - N. P. Neill, Erie Co., O.

Nursery Inspection

Under the Ohio nursery and orchard inspection law, every nurseryman, or other person in the state, engaged in growing trees, shrubs, plants or vines for sale, must, before July 1, file application for the inspection of such stock with the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The disposal of uninspected stock, either by sale or gift, renders i.ie owner liable to a heavy fine. These inspections are made by the Division of Nursery and Orchard Inspection, and free of charge when the applications are filed before July 1.

'-Beautifying the Home Grounds." - Farmers' Bulletin No. 185, with this title, is by L. C. Corbett, horticulturist, bureau of plant industry, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. It is a short, readable treatise on the landscaping, of home grounds Of various areas both in the village and the country. It is clearly illustrated by diagrams of the landscaping in several proposed situations, with location, name and description of the various trees and shrubs, vines, grasses, etc., best suited to each, together with diagrams and instructions for laying out and constructing needed walks and drives for utility and best landscape effects, and for maintaining a velvety greensward in all the open vistas of the lawn. Sent free on application.

Is assured you when you buy Dr. Pierce'i family medicines - for all the ingredients entering into them are printed on the bottle-wrappers and their formulas are attested under oath as being complete and correct. You know just what you are paying for and that the ingredients are gathered from Nature's laboratory, being selected from the most valuable native, medicinal roots found growing in our American fores£Ta«<Lwhile potent tocure are perfeTS^harnihj^gvsn to the most delicate womft^fraj^iila'r?^ Not a drou

Glycerine plays an important part in Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery in the cure cf indigestion, dyspepsia and weak stomach, attended by sour risings, heart-burn, foul breath, coated tongue] poor appetite, gnawing feeling fn stomach, biliottoness and kindred derangements of tl.e stomach, liver and bowels.

Besides curing all the above distressing ailments, tliC"Golden Medical Discovery is a specific for all diseases of the mucous membranes, as catarrh, whether of the nasal passages or of the stomach, bowels or pelvic organs. Even in its ulcerative stages it will yield to this sovereign remedy if its use be persevered in. In Chronic Catarrh of the Nasal passages, it is well, while taking the "Golden Medical Discovery" for the necessary constitutional treatment, to cleanse the passages freely two or three times a day with Dr. Sage's Catarrh Remedy.^ This thorough courso of treatment generally cures the worst cases.

In coug-hs and hoarseness caused by bronchial, throat and lung affections, except con- Sumption in its advanced stages, the "Golden Medical Discovery" is a most efficient remedy, especially ir. those obstinate, hang-on coughs caused by irritation and congestion of the bronchial mucous membranes. The fDIs" covery " is not so good for acute coughs arising from sudden colds, nor must It be expected to cure consumption in its advanced stages - no medicine will do that - but for all the obstinate, chronic coughs, which. If neglected, or badly treated, lead up to consumpthat <

"The Home Vegetable Garden." - Farmers' Bulletin No. 255, with this title, is one of the "meatiest" or "creamiest" of these bulletins. It is by W. R. Beattie, assistant horticulturist, bureau of plant industry, Washington, D. C. It is full of wise, practical suggestions and instruction, and is profusely illustrated by cuts showing best arrangement of garden, form and construction of hot-beds, cold frames and the most important and useful special labor-saving implements for use in a home garden. It also gives useful hints for the tillage of all the ordinary garden crops and some unusual ones. The "gardeners' planting table," is a very unique and useful feature. It gives proper quantity of seed, distances and times to plant, days to maturity, etc. All Farmers' Bulletins are sent free on application to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

Piotection for Melons. - As it is about time to plant cucumber, melon, squash and other vines, I wish to tell my. brother farmers thru the Ohio Farmer to plant a soup bean or any kind of a bean just at the side in the hill with the vine seeds. Then when the vines get large enough so that the striped bug will not injure them, pull up the bean stalk. The striped beetle does not like beans and is not apt to trouble vines close to them. - Subscriber, Morrow Co.. O.

Increase The Crops

Fruit Figures. - From seven to twelve bushels of apples are required to make a barrel of cider, and a bushel of average apples gives from six to seven pounds of the evaporated pro 1 UCtS. Raspberries contain one and onehalt" to three pounds of seeds to the bushel. One pint of good black cherries weighs about one pound. - R.

Northern grown, fnllj- *» percent pnre gnaranler I free from Dodder and Trefoil. All Government tested. Today', reduced price only 11125 per bo. Write for catalog of farm and field need*, and free

Fruit Packages

If you are growing crops, you expect rain. If you are spraying crops with Paris Green and Bordeaux, you hope it won t rain. If you are spraying with Bowker's "Disparene," "Pyrox" or "Boxal." the rain will help your crops and you will not have lost your labor, for these are the insecticides that "never wash off." Address this paper or Bowker Insecticide Company, ''oston.

The Union Pacific Railway is sending out. free, an attractive circular so. kinc to settle and develop - a fertile district in soul hern Wyoming. It is well written and handsomely Illustrated. Address E. L. Ix>max. G. P. A.. Omaha. Neb., and mention this paper

Improving The Corn Crop

One seeking to improve his corn crop will quite naturally set about it in one of two ways: First, by improving the conditions under which the crop is grown - the environment; second, by taking advantage of the inherent superiority of one variety, strain or individ'ual plant over another.

The hereditary differences which have long been utilized in the animal world, exist also in the plant world. Assuming then that you believe that ears of corn looking very much alike and nominally of the same variety, when grown under similar conditions, may vary widely in production, three very important questions present themselves: 1. How c&n we best lay hands upon the superior individuals? 2. What methods are best adapted to the perpetuation of their superior qualities? 3. How much Of the superiority which we discover and attempt to perpetuate can be transmitted to subsequent generations?

Selection of Seed. - Taking up my first question I answer (1) by systematic selection of seed corn, preferably after a careful examination of the plant and ear in the light of its environment; (2) by the ear-row test.

In these days when so much is being said about corn breeding tnere may be a tendency to overlook what has, and what is being accomplished by careful selection. I suppose that J. S. Learning and James L. Reid made no use of the ear-row test, or of modern corn breeding methods, but they nevertheless secured some very valuable results. They certainly succeeded most remarkably in stamping their ideal upon their handiwork, and not only did they succeed in establishing a certain type, but they succeeded in establishing high-yielding qualities. While it is probable that modern methods will yield greater results, it is a little early to boast.

I think that all. will agree that ears of corn are not always as valuaoie as their appearance would indicate. Excellence may be due either to hereditary, or largely to external influences. As ordinarily selected from the shock, wagon or crib, a very large percent of seed ears are excellent because they have grown under much more favorable surroundings than the average. Indeed it is possible that if we could follow our choice crib-selected seed ears back to the field where they grew we should find 80 to 90 percent of them growing one plant per hill - their superiority clearly due to the fact that the plant had the food, sunlight and moisture of two or three plants poured into it.

It is exceedingly difficult to carry from one generation to another excellence which is the sole product of environment, unless the environment is carried along with it. Many corn growers are sadly disappointed in , their purchase of seed corn for this reason. What they needed was not seed from the one-hundred-bushel-to-theacre field of some prominent seed grower, but rather the field itself and its environment. By selecting seed corn upon the plant as it is ripening, one stands a much better chance to secure the latter. Plant Selection. - With this thought ' in view the writer conducted tests in 1906 and 1907 in which ears selected from plants growing under as near normal conditions of stand and other environment as it was possible to judge, were compared with other ears of the same - variety and selected from the same ;' field, but selected from the wagon, no | attention being given to environment. : As might be expected, the ears selecti ed from the wagon were superior in * size and general appearance. In 1906 ; eight tenth-acre plots were planted I from the two selections, four plots of | the plant-selected seed and four of the I seed selected in the ordinary way. , The average yield of the four plant-ser lection plots was 72.49 bushels per ' acre; of the ordinary selection plots,

In 1.907 twenty tenth-acre plots were used in this work, ten being planted from the plant-selected seed and ten from the ordinary. The average yield of the ten plant- selection plots was: 89.04 bushels per acre; of the ordinary selection plots, 84. 64 bu.; gam for plant selection, 4.40 bu.

Maturity, or Adaptability to Locality. - Many Ohio farmers are growing corn that is too late in maturing. In seasons like 1907 the loss from this source is quite serious. Save for a limited area in south central and southwestern Ohio the seed and market condition of Ohio corn is most deplorable. It is not wise to grow a variety which will only mature in seasons of extreme length. The habit of completing growth before killing frosts are to be expected should be well fixed. The variation in the time of maturing existing between individual plants of a given variety affords ample opportunity for the selection and development of strains in which the character of early maturity is hereditary.

Vigor. - Vigor, as evidenced by circumference of stalk below the ear, by freedom from disease, by leaf development, and especially by ability to stand upright until harvest, is a character well worthy of consideration. It is not enough that a plant produce a good ear; it should be able to carry the ear to harvest. That this character is hereditary; that some mother plants can transmit it to their offspring, while others transmit the opposite, is, I believe, pretty well established. The breaking over of corn plants presents a serious problem in many corn fields. I believe that we can largely solve it by giving attention to the vigor and stiffness of the plants from which we select seed. We must look to heredity for its solution.

Position of Ear. - In the selection of mother plants the position of the ear on the stalk should be noted and extremes avoided. The proper hight of ear will have to be determined by each grower for his own conditions. The continuous selection of the higher ears tends probably toward later maturity, while the selection of extremely low ears tends to reduce the size of plant, shorten the growing season and decrease the yield. The seed and market condition of corn is greatly favored if the tip of the ear points downward, thus shedding water.

Weight of Ear. - Weight of ear may mean much or little, depending upon whether environment or heredity are the controlling factors in its production. If stand of plants and conditions of fertility are uneven, and seed ears are selected without regard to such conditions, weight Of ear is not especially significant. If, however, conditions are quite uniform, weight of ear is one of the best indications of productiveness.

Length of Ear. - Of the two factors which certainly have much to do with weight of ear - length and circumference - our tests this far have shown that length is of much greater significance than circumference. Ears a little above average length for a variety and locality have yielded more bushels of corn per acre than ears falling below average length; while ears of large circumference have proved lower yielders than those of medium circumference, showing that it is impossible to make up a deficiency in weight due to shortage in length by increased circumference.

Shape of Kernel. - A correct shape of kernel, what is commonly described as broadening gradually from a not too pointed tip to crown, with edges comparatively straight, and of uniform thickness, is, of course, associated with good weight of ear and high yield per acre. I do not discover that extreme length of kernel is essential to highest yield.

Uniformity. - Uniformity, or a reasonable degree Of trueness to the type determined upon is quite essential to progress in corn improvement. It should include hight and habit of growth of plants; hight of ear as well as size, shape, colo' and indentation of kernels.

Germination Test. - I should probably say a few words regarding the relation of the germination test to the improvement of the corr crop. There is no one thing a con grower can do that will mean as much in the way of increased yields as to test the vitality of each individual seed ear. Our stands of corn plants are everywhere much poorer than they should be and poorer than they need be. The germination test, if properly conducted, will greatly improve them. I think that a common mistake is to conduct the test under very much more favorable conditions, especially as regards temperature, than obtain in the field, and as a result we get much better germination in the box than we get I later in the field. We would get better results if we conducted the test under ' more rigorous conditions. There has been a tendency in the past to expect I too much from the germination test. The indications are that the germina- 1 tion box reveals little save the sort of care the seed corn has received.

The Ear-row Test. - This test consists in comparing the productiveness of a number of ears of corn grown side by side, an ear, or part of an ear, ' being planted upon each row. It is the relative standing rtf the ears tested that is of moment. Actual yields depend upon environment and go and come accordingly; comparative yields depend upon heredity.

Theory and Practice. - I come now to my third question: How much of the superiority which we discover by means of the ear-row test and attempt to perpetuate, can we hope to transmit to subsequent generations?

In answer to this question I want to call your attention to the average yields of a duplicate ear-row test of 30 ears conducted the past season at i the Ohio Station. Of these 30 ears, 18 were new selections from the field. and consequently of unknown pedigree, and without performance records; nine were pedigreed crosses from the breeding plot of the year previous, sire and dam. and the performance record of both known; while three were in- J bred pedigreed ears selected from the sire rows.

The nine pedigreed crosses, with two exceptions, stood well toward the top, while the inbred ears stood well toward the bottom. The average yield of the nine pedigreed crosses is 78.01 bushels per acre; of the eighteen field selections, 71.01 bushels per acre - a gain of 7 bushels per acre for breeding. The field selections were much concerned. The former were the pick of many bushels, while the latter of very few. - C. G. Williams.

TARTAR I. ITHINE Us keen n-d in the treatment of Rheumatism with results that are little less than wonderful. An improvement is noticeable within 24 hours. It does not up o the stomach.

Tartarlithlna rarely fails because it mpplfoa the blood with the necessary substance to dissolve and remove the poison of Kheumatism - uric acid.

In February Delineator an article entitled "Before Tou Buy Your Sewing- Machine." describes several methods by which sewing machine buyers are duped by fraud and misrepresentation. For example: The prospective buyer is called to the door to meet a genius, whose boast is that he could sell a cake of ice in Greenland. He persuades her that he can save her money, time, travel and trouble by leaving with her a sewing machine which he is anxious to sell cheap, as it is the last of the stock which he picked up at a forced sale. He shows her a machine* which looks all right and most likely departs with her cash in his pocket, leaving no address. But it is not long before the owner discovers the fraud. In a few days or weeks the wheel wobbles. the treadle rocks, the belt slides off in a maddening way, the screws fall out and the owner has a worn-out machine on her hands.

Here is still another method: A wellknownj machine is advertised far below its regular price. The explanation of the dealer is that the upper part from the standard firm is referred to only. the framework and body having been supplied by another house. This is simply a trick to palm off a second-hand machine.

The Club offer is another trap. When you are asked thru the newspapers to join a. club, for buying machines at a ridiculously low price. you are told that you must come in ciuickly. But whether you are the first or last to join, your machine is delivered a day or so after you ordered it. The "Club" offer is merely a trap for those who wisti to believe that, in joining a mythical organization of women, they are getting a still further reduction on an already worthless fraud machine.

A sewing machine contains many parts: the tiniest of them causing much trouble, unless made just right. The value of a good sewing machine Is in the uniform ease, quietness and rapidity of its operation. Work with a slow running noise is drudgery at best. The sewing machine is one of the most important factors of home life, so greatest care should be used in its selection.

The Singer Sewing Machine Co. have agencies in every city in the world. and the Singer Sewing Machine is everywhere recognized as the standard. The Singer Company makes and sells as many sewing machines as all other American makers combined.

Made By R E. Dietz Com Pa Ny Ne.Iors

If so, we can collect it. We have bonded correspondents throughout entire U.S. and Canada. If yon have any notee, open accounts, an interest in an eRtate, or any other claims, don't let them get too old, hut let us collect them. No charge unless collection is made. Write for terms* Best references.

Espec'Ally Designed For Farm Work

We have just bought a lot of these nickel open face, stem wind and stem set watches, at a special price, by taking an extra large lot, and will pass the benefit along to ycju in the cut price.

It is a good serviceable watch, that will keep good time, stand hard knocks, and is just the watch for the boy, or the man who does not care to risk a more expensive timepiece at rough work. Sold thruout the country at $1.50. but while they last our price only 95 cents or

Free for 3 Subscriptions to the Ohio Farmer at full price. 'Watch and Ohio Farmer one year. SI. 65; 2 years, $2; 3 years. $2.25. Prices good only while present stock lasts, so order at once. THE OHIO FARMER, Cleveland, O.

We guarantee to stop sending paper when the time for which it is paid has expired, so that, to avoid missing any numbers, all should renew promptly.

Always send money by draft. postofflce money order, registered letter, or by express. We will not be responsible for money sent in letters. Address all communications to, and make all drafts, checks and postofflce orders payable to The LawrencePublishing Co.

WE GUARANTEE to stop THE OHIO FARMER immediately upon expiration of time subscribed for, and we will pay all expenses for defending any suit brought against any subscriber to The Ohio Farmer by the publisher of any farm paper which has been sent after the time ordered has expired, providing you return such papers to your postmaster unread, tell him to notify the publishers that you refuse to accept them, and you send us due notice before suit is started.

Avoid future trouble by refusing to subscribe for any. farm paper which does not print, in each issue, a definite guarantee to stop on expiration of subscription.

The Cream Separator

We are receiving a great many inquiries touching the practical value of the cream separator to the farmer a small number of cows, and believing that the best argument for their use is the testimony of the user, W5 have decided to offer three prizes for articles on "The Practical Value of the Cream Separator to the Farmer with a Small Herd of Cows," under the following conditions: The articles to give the result of actual experience of subscribers to the Ohio Farmer in the use of cream separators, if possible with definite figures touching the profit in their use, and to contain not more thaan 500 words written in a legible hand on one side of the copy paper only. For the article adjudged the best of all those submitted in competition for these prizes we will award a cash prize of $10, for the second best $5, and for the third best $3, the three prize articles to be published in our issue of August 1; we reserving the right to publish any of the other articles submitted which are deemed especially worthy of favorable mention, at our regular rates for such matter. All articles submitted in competition for these prizes must be in our hands not later than July 1. Remember that every user of a cream separator among our subscribers can compete and has a chance of winning one of these prizes.

the closing days of th° Legislature, providing for the appointment of a commission to purchase land on which a new penitentiary could be built, and carrying the necessary appropriation for the purchase. We consider this act another evidence of the long-headedness and good sense of Ohio's farmer governor. The agitation for a new penitentiary was begun in 1906 when Governor Herrick urged that a new site be secured as soon as possible, on account of the great value of the land occupied by the present institution. Governor Herrick, with his excellent business judgment, sought to secure better returns from valuable property owned by the state, and at the same time to put the convicts into better sanitary surroundings. Both of these results are very desirable but the interests of the public demand that we go still further. In the Ohio Farmer of Jan. 20, 1906, we said, in this connection: "What the public should demand, now, is that instead of expending an immense sum for the erection and equipment of another penitentiary upon a grand scale, the state make this a starting point for the employment of convict labor upon the public highways. There is no better way for the wards of the public to pay for their keep, so that the entire public, and especially the farmers would share in the benefits." We have not changed our minds since the above was written. In the meantime, however, the good 'roads cause has received some big reinforcements and the sentiment .favoring convict l oad labor should now be stronger than ever. With such a system Ohio roads could be vastly improved. They are good now, about the best in the United States, as shown on page 548, .May 16, 1908 issue, but the employment of hundreds of laborers constantly would work great benefits. Urge your state Senators and Representatives to consider this phase of the subject during the next session of the Legislature.

An unprecedented Our Natural Re- convention was sources. held at Washington, May 13 to 15, having been called by President Roosevelt. It was a conference of the President with the Governors of all the states, the members of the President's Cabinet, the Judgp<? of the Supreme Court, Senators, Representatives and business leaders and experts, to consider ways and means to protect and save for future generations the country's great natural resources, which, in many instances in the past, have been wasted by reckless methods of development, the ravages of fire, etc. For years it has been quite apparent to thinking persons that something would have to be done to promote economy and care in the use of our resources or s#rious results would follow. But the public only smiled. When observing men pleaded that the timber was being slaughtered and wasted the lumbermen said that there was enough standing timber in the tree-growing states to supply the world for all time. But the great forests of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota have practically disappeared, and today the cut-over timber lands are being gleaned for every available stick of wood, just as, with the modern methods of gold mining, the old tailings of the ancient placer miners are being profitably worked today. Ohio was once a vast forest with the exception of a swampy prairie in the northwestern part of the state. Today probably less than ten percent of the land of the state could be called forest land. All thru the South and the Northwest the available timber is being located and plans being made for cutting it. The removal of the timber does not mean merely that the wood is to be used. It means the denuding of the land, the rush of floods in the rainy seasons and a monstrous loss of soil fertility thru washing; it means withering drouths in the summer months: it means an irregular stream flow and the loss of the use of our inland navigable streams during a large part of the season: the forest underlies the problems of irrigation, land drainage, domestic water supply, and of increased water-power to save fuel. The forest policy of the present national administration is the most alert and farreaching that we have -»or had. The setting aside of vast tracts of forest lands as "forest preserves" has called forth sharp criticism from lumbermen and "land sharks," but future generations will see the wisdom of those who created these "preserves." All of these facts, and many more were emphasized at the Washington conference. They are not new, but never before have they been brought before the public in such a prominent way. It requires the clang of cymbals to acquaint some folks with the fact that they have been robbed. The same seems to be true of the public in regard to the wasted and vanished resources that should have lasted for ages. It is almost never too late to mend, however, and the farmers of the United States should realize that it will pay them well not only to care for what woodlands they now have, but to plant trees and care for them. In a few years the trees will care for themselves, and in a few years more they will care for their owners.

weaken the confidence of the farmers in the honesty of manufacturers of commercial fertilizers and in the value of their goods. This is unjust to the vast majority of the manufacturers and harmful to the farmers. For it should be remembered that only one of all the fertilizer companies that sell goods in Ohio is charged with known and intentional fraud, and the case of that one is still in court. Some two or three years ago we made a careful analysis and average, and found the fertilizer companies as a whole were furnishing to the farmers on the average nearly one percent above the law's requirement on their claims in phosphoric acid and proportionately over the percents required in nitrogen and potash. Along the same line we have just received a personal letter from our friend W. G. Sadler of Nashville, Tenn., former editor of the Tennessee Farmer, and now secretary of the National Fertilizer Association, made up of several of the largest and best fertilizer concerns in the United States. He writes, in part, as follows:

"Occasionally I notice in some of the agricultural journals criticisms of the fertilizer manufacturers, and I am sorry to say that sometimes the criticisms are rather harsh, and in a few instances it is claimed that the fertilizer manufacturers do not give to the trade goods that are fully up to the guarantee. Recently I have had occasion to examine bulletins issued by the agricultural departments of several States where commercial fertilizer is largely used, and in comparing the guaranteed analysis and approximate commercial value as made by the manufacturer with the actual analysis made by the different State chemists, I find in every instance that the average value found by the State officials is far above the guarantee made by the manufacturer. In other words, the manufacturers of fertilizers in this country arc giving to the consumers far more plant food than they guarantee to give in the analyses on the packages. The latest bulletin which I have reviewed was issued by the agricultural department of the State of Ohio, and after carefully calculating each brand of goods mentioned therein I find that the farmers received an average of $1.88 per ton more plant food than the manufacturer guaranteed to give them. This figure was shown after deducting all shortages that were shown by the official analyses. It is estimated that Ohio uses from 1 'jr.. 000 to 150.000 tons of fertilizer per annum, hence the manufacturers give from $235,000 to $282,000 worth of plant food more than their guaranteed analyses required."

We have watched th« fertilizer manufacturers pretty closely In Ohio for 28 years, a part of the time officially, and are thoroly convinced that as a class they are honestly and earnestly trying to live up to our pretty stringent fertilizer law. and to give the farmers value received and fully up to the law's requirements based on their guaranteed analyses on the fertiliser sacks and barrels. And we say this in order to allay the natural di trust referred to above. Farmers is many localities must use commercial fertilizers, and we think they are be:- -ter protected by law o these, and get more nearly value received, than on most other manufactured articles.

We do not nrc- Tiie Cleveland Street- post to take Car Strike. sides in regard to the present street-car strike, on the question whether the new municipal or holding company kept its promises to the men or not, or whether the men had real grievances or not, but simply to speak on the questions whether it was wise for the men to strike under all the circumstances, and whether the means used to enforce the demands were wise or lawful. - The facts seem to be that the men struck while the company was still offering to arbitrate. The time was surely illchosen in this respect, as also in this other respect, that a very large percentage of the laborers and factory workers of Cleveland and elsewhere are just now either out of work or else working on short time and short pay. and that but for fear of violence the places of the striking conductors and motor men could easily be filled by good local men, unemployed, hot not specially trained to street-car work. And this brings us to the question of violence. In spite of, or because of. the above facts it seems unquestioned that not only did the men strike while an offer from the company was pending, but that they in some cases, and their sympathizers in many cases, entered upon a course of violence and terrorism almost immediately upon the declaration of the strike, and that this violence and terrorism of a most criminal character still continue at this writing. May 22, altho it is now altogether prohable that the matter is to be settled by arbitration. This throwing bricks and stones, dyna miting and even burning cars, endangering and even destroying human life is unwise not only because It it criminal but also because it sets all law-abiding citizens (and they are in the vast majority) against the strikers and their claims. Criminal violence to enforce a strike should never and will never be tolerated in this land of freedom. "Freedom" does not mean license to destroy property and endanger, maim and slay persons, but freedom to enjoy "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" peaceably and unmolested. A long term in the penetentiary is not too good tor those who perpetrate the deeds of violence and destruction that have occurred to the disgrace of Cleveland's fair name during the past few days. Our readers are chiefly of the farming class, and this class, in spite of a few present exceptions in the tobacco Tegions of Kentucky and Ohio, is almost wholly composed not only of law-abiding citizens but of those who furnish the great conservative power for the enforcement of law and the preservation of true liberty.

Great dissatisfaction Gai.vanizedWa- exists on the part of tek Tanks. most farmers at the shameful lack of durability in the so-called "galvanized" wire tor fences. One of our advertisers, a prominent manufacturer, is anxious to learn whether similar dissatisfaction exists in regard to durability in the galvanized iron water tanks for live stock, now upon the general markets. His company has perfected a process of manufacturing the material and making tanks as durable as the real charcoal iron regularly galvanized in the old way. l et us hear from our subscribers on thi* matter. Do you have trouble with your water tanks' rusting out in a very few years, and would you reall? appreciate it if you could buy, at little increase of cost, tanks far more durable both in material and in make" If so, the company referred to will*' into the manufacture of such tank* in a large way. and advertise accord ingly.

Hammer and Mallet Handles. - If vour hammer or mallet needs a new handle, pick out a light colored one The light wood is the sap wood and is tougher than the dark wood, which comes from the heart of the tree.TesL* have shown that the toughest part of the tree is the sap wood, or part nest the bark, and just above the ground

One of our readers The Exclisiox asks whether our Policy. exclusion policy toward Japan is like- !v to result in war, and whether it is c wise policy or not. No one can tell what will be the result. There is no immediate danger, for Japan is almost bankrupt and is in no financial condition to engage in war with such a country as this. Japan is "inflated" by her victory over Russia, and is offended at the attitude of the people of the Pacific Coast, and it is believed by many that when she gets into favorable financial conditions she will demand concessions that will place her on an equality with other nations in regard to immigration and public treatment. We have always believed in a policy that will restrict all immigration in a way that will secure the best class of immigrants and exclude undesirable ones - the vicious, criminal, anarchistic, diseased', paupers, etc. Let this policy apply to all nations alike, and hot discriminate offensively by reason of ra»e or color. The Japfj and Chinese are good workers, and they are needed on the Pacific coast and the vast undeveloped regions contiguous. Why not make use of them to our advantage? If they are inclined to use the open door to an overwhelming extent, as feared in the Pacific States, restrict immigration to the demand for labor. When there are enough, shut down, but apply this rule to laborers from all countries alike. Friendly relations with the Orient would greatly promote the welfare of the Pacific country and of the country at large. The stand;" ! of morals in Japan, China and some other Eastern countries is lower than our Christian civilization staritfaiu, and we think it right- and proper, where Japanese and Chinese pupils are numerous enough, to previde separate schools for them. We do not want our children contaminated, as would be likelv in close daily intercourse with untrained and racially depraved children. Political and treaty rights never can include social equality. Give Japan the same treatment and consideration- that we would demand of that country. Americans in Japan would n'ot object at all to a separate school for their children. When an immigrant arrives here from any country he should cheerfully submit to our policy and laws.

Good Roads

Ohio, which is now the second state in mileage in good roads, Indiana being first, will take first place within the next year or two. if the demands for state aid under the good roads law form a correct indication. What has been done in Ohio in this way sin^e the state highway department was created has been well done, and State Highway Commissioner James C. Wonders, who is thoroly familiar with the character of the newly-constructed public highways, in both states, confirms Hon. Martin Dodge of Cleveland. in* the statement that the Ohio roads are superior in character and durability to those in the Hosier state. The Ohio Legislature was generous in the matter of appropriations at its recent session, allowing each county $5.1)00 for this purpose, while two years before the apportionment was only $3,400 to a county. But this, is not all. In addition to making a larger approvriartor>. the state has doubled its own burden and reduced that of the counties in the construction of new roads. Under the law as amended by the Legislature which just closed its session, the state now pays one-half of the expense, while under the old law, it paid only one-fourth, the remaining threefourths of the expense, whether great or small falling upon the county, the township and the abutting property. This libers.! change in the law will greatly encourage the cons iruction of new roads, and some of the counties which failed to avail r.iemseives of the provisions of the law last year, notably. Medina and Luke, tho ..litre were sixteen others, are among the first to let it be known this year that they T\ant their full allowance. Th'j $61,200 which had been apportioned to these eleven counties, and which they failed to avail themselves of last year, is re-apportioned this year to the other BOWL' ties, but with the increase in the appropriation for this year, they will not lose much if they take all that is coming to them under the law. Under th?T recon- ' structed law, the state pays one-half of the expense, the county 25 percent, the township thru which the road passes 15 percent and the abutting property is assessed 10 percent, so that it is not made burdensome upon any one.

Last year a total of 30 miles of roads were constructed in Ohio, by the highway department, while it is confidently predicted that the mileage of new roads this year will double that of one year ago. Counties which want to avail themselves of the $5,000 appropriation this year must make their application to the state highway commissioner by January 1. 1909. Commissioner Wonders and two engineers. Messrs. Sites and Learsch. are now visiting the different counties, consulting with county commissioners and going over the proposed lines of new roads. Commissioner Wonders is now endeavoring to convince these county officials that the tiling for them to do is to construct new roads instead of repairing worn-out ones, and they are responding very generally to this suggestion. The new law permits the repair fund to be used in the construction of new roads, and this is another change in the law which commends itself generally to- those who are interested in the subject.

New Penitentiary Bill, Vetoed

Gov. Harris caused great surprise* this week by vetoing the bill providing for the appointment of a commission to se- . lect a site for a new state penitentiary. In a formal statement accompanying the veto he gave as his reasons for disapproval the need for economy in state expenditures amT" the difficulty he would have in finding "recognized authorities on penology" for members of the commission as required by the bill. While the proposed new penitentiary probably would have cost nearly $3,000,000 before completed, but $205,000 was appropriated by this bill, leaving subsequent Legislatures to provide for the rest of the expense. The need for a new penitentiary is so urgent that another bill will be passed by the next Legislature - indeed, had the Legislature been in session this bill probably could have been passed over the Governor's veto unless the question of sustaining him had been made a party issue. - Hal. D. Landon, May 23, 190S.

Hanna Statue. - The unveiling of the statue of Senator Marcus A.' Hanna. at Cleveland, last Saturday, was an event of national importance and interest. There was present an immense assemblage of men of state and national prominence. John W. Griggs who was Attorney General 'under President McKinley, was orator of the day; Warren S. Stone, grand chief of the Brotherhood of Engineers made the address. Vice President Fairbanks was to preside but was prevented from doing so from the fact that Congress had not adjourned. His place was filled by ex-Governor Myron T. Herrick. Secretary Taft arrived during the reading of a letter from Mr. Fairbanks and his appearance was greeted with prolonged cheering. He made a brief address after the regular exercises were completed.

Floods and Storms. - Heavy rains caused serious floods in Oklahoma, and on May 24 there was not a railroad in that state in operation. Bridges were washed out and tracks damaged in many places. The great main supplying gas to the Indian Territory part of the state was washed out and Muskogee and several other cities cut off from gas. Great property damage has occurred in many important cities. - -A terrific wind storm swept Texas from the Pan Handle to the Gulf. May 24. There was heavy damage to croos and buildings. - A tornado swept Council Bluffs, la., May 24.

Currency Bills. - Last week the conferees of the House and Senate met and attempted to agree on some sort of currency bill but it was impossible' for them to get together. All they did was to agree to a bill to establish a currency commission of eighteen - nine from each house. The conference split upon the question of a suitable basis for an emergency currency.

Ship Subsidy Loses Again. - May 21 the conferees on the postoffice appropriation bill agreed to acceDt the Senate amendment to authorize the Postmaster General to make carrying contracts with steamship lines running to ports in South America. Philippine Islands. Japan. China and Australasia. The rate regulations p-o-iosed in the amendment would encourage the establishment of first-class passenger lines to the ports named. The amendment was defeated in the House, however, by seven votes. The bill was again reported May 23, but was defeated by nine votes.

Bureau of Mines. - May 21. by an overwhelming vote, the House passed a bill providing for the establishment of a bureau of mines, under control of the Department of the Interior. It will seek to safeguard miners in their work.

Appropriations. - It is now estimated that the appropriations of the present Congress will total $1,020,000,000. This will be $100,000.00) in excess of any previous session. The largest increases will be in the postoffice. nension, naval and army appropriation bills.

The Atlantic battleship fleet, with Admiral Sperry in command, left San Francisco for Puget Sound. May IS. and arrived off Seattle May 29. There were about 500.000 persons on the hights.high buildings\ and shores of the bay to see the fleet arrive. They had gathered from Montana. Id->ho and Oregon to see the great sight. It is now planned that President Roosevelt shall review twentvfour battleships in Hampton Roads. February 22, next, when the fleet returns from its cruise around the world. Arrangements have also been made for the British Australia and China squadrons to meet the American fleet on the occasion of its visit to Sydney. Australia.

A phvsician at the Massillon. O.. state hospital claims to have discovered the germs of paresis, a nervous disease considered incurable. He claims to have cured several specific cases.

Last week President Roosevelt signed the bill to replace the words "In God We Trust" on all coins. He ordered the motto removed some months ago.

An unusual situation was presented last week when it became evident that the C. B. & Q. railway was actively interested in breaking the corner on "May" corn, which has been engineered by James A. Patton t in Chicago. The operations of Patton 'forced the price of corn from 60 to 77V£c. and there were hopes in many

May 21 Gov. Hughes of New York, signed Senator Cassidy's bill to make the operation of bucket shops in that state a felony. The act is similar to the Massachusetts law.

The worst railroad accident in the history of Belgian railroading occurred at Contich. near Antwerp. May 21. There were about fifty persons killed and one hundred injured. The victims were pilgrims going to a local shrine. An express train crashed into theirs.

Reports from nearly all of the Southern peach orchards are favorable for a fine crop, both in quality and quantity. The same general report comes from all of the peach producing sections of the North.

Dun's Review of May 23. says: Encouraging reports predominate, and for the first time in six months the indications of improvement are well destributed thruout all departments. Gains are small in many cases and unfavorable' weather - has retarded retail trade at some points, while comparisons with last year still show decreases, but as compared with preceding months, satisfactory exhibits are found everywhere. In all leading manufacturing industries orders increased and output enlarged. Farm staples command high prices, altho crop progress is much better than the average, despite the delay to corn planting by heavy rains. Foreign commerce at New York City showed a gain for last week of $3,933 504 in exports and a decrease of $7.000. S51 in imports, as compared with last year. Railroad gross earnings thus far reported for May~were 21.3 percent less than last year, yet the high record was reached during the week in the average of the sixty most active ra/ilroad securities. Lower prices for pig iron brought out a large tonnage of new business, but several prominent consumers are waiting for still better terms. Textile markets show distinct improvements. Farm products are still high in price, corn establishing a new record for recent years during the week. Weather conditions are favorable on the whole except that some sections have had too much rain. Failures for the week numbered 336 in the United States, against 191 last year, and 41 in Canada, compared with 17 a year ago.

Bradstreet's summary of crop conditions for the week is as follows: More sunshine and less rain in the corn belts. Winter wheat good despite some deterioration. Spring wheat perfect on increased acreage. Fruit crops irregular. Hay crop will be large. Texas and Arkansas need warm, dry weather. Southern fruits promise well. Peach crop large.

According to J. C. Reynolds, counsel for the government against the American Tobacco Co.. this trust would soon control the entire tobacco business of the world if allowed to continue business as they have been conducting it in the past. He says half a dozen men own the company which declares a dividend of 22 percent, amounting to $9,010,000 annually, besides adding $6,000 000 to the surplus. It is connected with the Imperial Tobacco Co.. and the British-American Tobacco Co.. and thru these relationships seeks to control the markets of the world.

George Compere, an entomologist, hns just brought a parasite to California from Japan to destroy the mealy bug. a | pest which causes great loss to the I orange growers.

A cargo of oats was shipped into this country last week from Argo«tina. This [ is the first shipment of th's kind except for seed. The oats are to be used by j manufacturers of breakfast foods. The I firm making the shipment declared that with 58 cents for oats in Chicago, there was a profit in importing grain even with a tariff of 15 cents pi - bushel.

A Paying Farm Proposition. One of the best paying farm propositions an ambitious man can take hold o." is cattle feeding either for market or for milk. Now that agricultural science has given us an insight into the actual principles which lie at foundation of the business, it Is a mere matter of applying them in daily practice to get good profit for ourselves. Feeding corn meal, or any combination of feeds, won't necessarily make beef or produce milk. Your steer or cow has got to digest and use its ration, or manure heap will be the richer and you poorer. In other words, the simple act of feeding doesn't always produce results. Here is where farm science comes to the rescue. The new idea on feeding tells us. first of all. that steer or cow is like a machine, and that feed each gets Is raw material which we wish to turn into flesh, fat or milk. Now. if your steer or cow. as machines, don't work properly, a greater or less percentage of your feed is bound to be wasted. That is. animal digestion must be absolutely right if greatest gain Is to be made. But it is impossible to keep stomach and intestines working right when constantly forced beyond natural limitations, and that is what every feeder of live Stock is doing when feeding for market or for milk. It follows that anything capable of continuing the digestive function in healthy activity during weeks or months in which fatting process Is going on will solve the problem to feeder's satisfaction. Experiment has proved conclusively thiit a preparation containing true tonic elements, blood builders and nitrates (which are well known as cleansing the system) is an actual necessity in cattle business. In fact, greatest success is impossible without it. Just as well expect to preserve your own health and stuff with rich food for a period of months as to expect your stall-fed steer or cow to do so. The "food tonic" Idea has come to stay in cattle feeding business - success depends on it. Your animals must be "toned up" and strengthened by these mild elements which great medical writers, like Professors Winslow, Quitman and Finley Dun. recommend as beneficial. Give it to the horses.- it will make them fitter and more salable. Lambs grow faster, swine fat quicker - indeed, all live stock profit depends upon this tonic.

Ohio Farmer Pays Advertisers

We have been advertisers in the Ohio Farmer for* sixteen years, and know from experience that it has great merits. - Carter Wire Fence Machine Co.

My three-line adv. of seed oats and corn, four times in the Ohio Farmer, has done wonderful work for me. It has brought even more replies and orders than in previous years. Please discontinue it, as my stock is sold much earlier than I expected, and I am being compelled to return orders that I can not fill. - E. C. Detmer.

The advertisement of Guernsey cattle, that I placed in the Ohio Farmer some weeks ago, has sold the stock, consequently I wish you to discontinue its publication at the termination of the three months. - J. A. Beidler.

The Ohio Farmer has always brought -me good results. I do not need to advertise in any other paper, as my stock of eggs and poultry is always sold by a two to four weeks' adv. in your paper. - Chas. E. Penquite.

I have been using Gombault's Caustic Balsam for some time and find it a very good medicine. I cured one horse of bone spavin with it. and worked him right along. - W. H. Spaulding. Vistula. Ind.

All White or White and Colored Mull Ties - all White or White and Colored Fancy Net Bows, small medium or large - Silk Bows. rich, plain or plaid silks of all fashionable colors - all White Mull Bows edged with dainty lace - embroidered laundered Collars, all White or Black and White stripes with colored embroidery - Windsor Ties, plain or plaid Silks - all White or fancy Colored Gibson Stocks - Ascots. all White or White with colored tie - write us shades preferred, also, if Bows, whether large, medium or small, and we'll send Neckwear that will be a delight to you at a Quarter.

Other lines Women's Neckwear equal- Iv pretty and extraordinary of its class from neat too collars 5c. to elaborate Real Lace Coat Sets, $25.00.

Our Ohio Farmer sewing machine a rived in good condition and is giving as good satisfaction as those the aeents are | selling at $30 to $4» - Jos. McCartney. New Cumberland. O.

The Cleveland Leader has established a free Summer Work Bureau for the purpose of placing unemployed Cleveland workmen with Ohio farmers needing hands for the busy season.

About Buff Orpingtons

L. B. R. wants- some information regarding the Buff Orpingtons; their good and bad qualities; how they are as layers, for the market, as mothers, and their value* compared with the Plymouth Rocks.

In size they are a half pound heavier than the Rocks. They are considered a first-class market fowl, especially in England where their white skin is a point in their' favor. In most of our markets there is still a prejudice against a white-skinned chicken, tho the rapid introduction of the Orpingtons of the several varieties is doing much to remove it. Of course the color of a fowl's skin has nothing whatever to do with the quality of its flesh.

The Orpingtons are excellent layers. Of the large breeds none can equal them, perhaps, excepting the Lang- Bhans. As a rule I think their eggs are not so uniformly large as those Of the Rocks. As a general-purpose chicken they Tank with the Rocks and Langshans. As mothers they are about like the American breeds. Many people are fond of the buff color. It is attractive and adapted to conditions in which white becomes displeasing. But in fancy breeding it is an extremely difficult color to maintain. It fades and mottles in the mature birds. However, in utility stock this does not matter.

There are ten varieties of Orpingtons, the most popular ones being the Single Comb Black, Single Comb Buff and Single Comb White. - Geo. D. Black, Greene Co., O.

Lime And Eggs

The article on the above subject on page 328 of Ohio Farmer by A. Shirer calls to memory an experiment I tried a few years ago. I had a Wyandotte hen four or five years old that habitually laid eggs with imperfect shells. Her eggs were above average size and were partly covered with a reasonably hard shell, but there would invariably be soft places on the sides of the eggs. I had noticed this for some time and decided that I would try the effect of animal bone upon her so I procured some bones from the kitchen, taken from boiled meat, and washed them up. I gave her a liberal amount of these mashed bones once a day and noted results. The first and second eggs laid! after I began to feed the bones did not show much if any improvement in the shell. The third egg showed a decided improvement. In about a week she began laying eggs with perfect shells and kept this up for some time after I quit feeding the broken bones. The hen had free range and it appeared evident to me that she was lacking in shell-forming material. Hens on free range in the summer season get much shellmaking material from the insects which they eat. - A. J. Legg, Nicholas Co., W. Va.

Scratching Sheds

Some years ago I did not think that a hen-house was complete without a scratching shed attached, and nearly all hen-houses put up at that time were constructed with this same view. But practical experience has lead me to believe that these open-front scratching sheds are not just the thing here in the North. The construction of a good scratching shed is quite expensive. There should be a good roof upon it. and it should be well sided. If not, and it leaks and the snow and rain drives in from most all sides it is of little value as a shed for poultry to work under. These open-front sheds will fill half-full of snow when the ,storm comes towards the open side. Nearly all of the litter will become soaked when there comes a driving storm. This ruins the litter, and even if it does not storm, the straw, etc.. in an open shed soon becomes damp. A shed is of no use in hot. weather, for unless the hens are fenced in they will not remain in the shed, but will seek shade under trees and bushes. No. I would never Invest in another scratching shed, but put put the money into a good, substantial building. But if I used a scratching shed I would' have burlap, or a blanket of some sort, or a door to close up the front when it stormed, and in this way protect the fowls from sudden weather changes and heavy winds. - Vincent M. Couch, Cortland Co., N. Y.

Poultry Raising In Small Quarters

I would like to give the readers of the Ohio Farmer the benefit of our experience with a small flock on a town lot, closely confined as to runways and coops. Our lot is only 43x120 ft. and we like a nice lawn in front and rear of house. We are compelled to restrict our pets to a space 13x43 ft. for runs, divided into two parts, for old and young. Our coop is 5x14 ft., divided into two parts, with open front for ventilation. We hopper-feed for convenience.

An average of $4.07 net gain per hen per year looks very large to me, but I have gone over my figures several times, and the feed bills are all before me. Our flock consists Of 6 R. C. R. I. Reds, 6 S. C. B. Leghorns and two mongrels, but good layers. We have always kept an account of our income and expenses with our poultry and can always tell at a glance what they are doing. At the end of eaeh month we refer m k to the record for the same month one or two years and compare results. This we. find to be a good plan. In case we have become careless and the returns are below the average, we look around and invariably find that some little thing has been neglected. - J. T. Mc- Brier, Columbiana Co, O.

Weak Swarms

The primary object of uniting weak colonies of bees - in the early spring especially - is to build up strong ones as early in the honey season as possible, or, rather, before the%season for active and profitable honey-gathering begins. Some one having the weakcolony problem to deal with and wishing to deal with it sensibly, as he would with any other problem involving the question of profit and loss, might want to know whether or not it will pay to bother with a colony that has a good laying queen but only bees enough in the hive to cover one comb and partly another.

In such a case I would answer, yes, it pays to do the right thing with such a colony. If you are not keeping bees for honey and money, and therefore don't care to '-bother" with such a problem, just ignore such colonies as tho they were not, and thus neglect them to death. That, it seems to me - altho I have never tried the remedy - would be the cheapest method of killing weak swarms. If you undertake to actually murder them some way, you will have to do something that will cost more or less time and some kind of effort. I don't know of any better advice in such a case.

If. however, you really want to get all there is coming to you from your bees, I advise you to either unite weak swarms without delay, or, if you don't wish to decrease the number of colonies on hand, build up the weak ones by stimulative feeding, or by giving them combs of brood and honey from your strong colonies. I presume, of course, that you know how to do this without detriment to the colonies thus drawn upon. In every case of removing a full comb from a hive, a frame of empty comb should be put in its place. The best way is, however, to fill the space by removing the other frames up and placing the added frame on the outside of them. Two such brood-combs given to a weak colony at one time, and1 before it is too late to bring paying results, is almost sure* to build up a strong working colony before the honey-harvest begins. According to my observation and experience along this line, a weak colony thus built up into a strong one may, and often does, give the caretaker a larger honey-yield the season following than those that came thru the winter in full strength. But it is also true that strong colonies sometimes come out weak in honey-yield at the end of the season, even when the bee-keeper's intelligence can in no way account for it. Due allowance must be made for such and many other unaccountable variations in beekeeping.

Since writing my previous article on this subject I have reconsidered my intention to tell you how to unite weak swarms, or colonies, because the season is now too far advanced for such work. Later on such instruction will be more timely and will be more likely to stick in your memory. One thing I wish now to especially caution you against: Lookout for bee-robbers. If your hive-entrances are fullopen, close them partly, so that the watchers at the entrance can keep sneak-thieving bees out. Remember, prevention is the very best cure for robbing. When a case of robbing is once under way, try to find out where the robbers come from. They may come from one or more hives of your own. In that case you have on hand the double task of vigorously attending to both parties in the conflict.

Please bear in mind, also, that early-fruit bloom is not generally to be relied upon for surplus honey. It is for that reason nearly always detrimental to a colony even when in first-class condition, to give it a super before the brood-combs are well filled with nectar. Neither is it wise, nor is it profitable, to delay the putting-on of supers when the time for the real honey-harvest, peculiar to your locality, is due to begin. Such delay may result in loss to the extent of from five to ten pounds of honey per day, during a rush. I know of one bee-keeper who had only 500 pounds of white clover honey from 53 hives, owing to this kind of neglect; while I had from 16 hives, during the same time, 1,700 pounds of white clover honey in pound-sections, 1,200 pounds of which had been stored by my bees before my neighbor began putting supers on his hives. He had his honey-dishes bottom up when the honey-rain was at its best. Look out for such mistakes! - J. D. Gehring, Douglas Co, Kans.

Severe Hemorrhoids

"I am now eighty years old, and three years ago I was taken with an attack of piles (hemorrhoids), bleeding and protruding. The doctor said the only help for me was to go to a hospital and be operated on. I tried several remedies for months but did not get much help. During this time sores appeared which chang-d to a terrible itching eczema. Then I began to use Cuticura Soap, Ointment, and Pills, injecting a quantity of Cuticura Ointment with a Cuticura Suppository Syringe. It took a month of this treatment to get me in a fairly healthy state and then I treated myself once a day for three months and.after that, once or twice a week. The treatments I tried took a lot of money, and it is fortunate that I used Cuticura. J. H. Henderson, Hopkinton, N. Y, April 26, '07."

MKN* who can furnish team and wagon, to sell our line of Stock and Poultry Food. Veterinary mid Household Remedies, etc, to f.irmers Exclusive territory in Oliio. Send for particulars and appl ication and counties available ToiliC Stork FOOd < O . Blgld Illinois.

TfHB BREED THAT LAYS IS THE BREED .A THAT PAYS." Pure-Bred Single Comb White Leghorns. Best layers. Egg* f..r Hatching and Stock for sale. Write us before placing your order elsewhere. White Leghorn Poultry Yards Co, R. 2. Waterville. New York.

Raxdt. C.Kkfta. Ohio

Good Layers. - Mr. J. A. Potter of Cuyahoga Co, O, during a recent call at this office told of his White Leghorn hens. He has a small flock - 17 hens - which laid 24 dozen eggs during the month of April. Five of those hens had been laying since last September. "

T^GUS - RnlT Rocks S. C B. l eghorns. Buff Turu.J keys, Tonl. geese. Dnroc swine, all ages. Stork guaranteed as represented. Ceo. W. Crttn. I'Krirhsx illr Ohio.

Precocious Turkeys. - Under this heading we published a note in our issue of Feb. 2 which said that turkeys hatched in May, 1907, were laying, and requesting that if any one could beat this record to let US hear from them. Mr. R. W. Rogers of Gloucester Co.. Pa, writes that they have two turkey hens that were hatched in August. 1907, that have been laying a lot of eggs. He has kept no accurate account but both of the young turkey hens and their mother arc silting. One of the young hens was set In April - at the age of eight months. That is "going some.'"

To Test Thermometers. - I would like some person to answer thru the Ohio Farmer how the thermometer of an incubator can be tested to know whether it is accurate or not. - A. K, Decatur. Ind. - Borrow a physician's fever thermometer and compare the two. or have the physician make the test for vou.

Wo have- used our Ohio Farmer machine for several weeks. It sews perfectly and my wife is deliphter] with it. - E. M Hi !itli v. Wilmington, O.

I<H}<;S U. c White and Brown Leghorn »1 per ' 2": *3 per 45: W. Wvan. H per 15: Pekln Duck »1 per IS. Locust Orore Poultry Co, Mlddleport ".

Mrs. J. N. Hogsett

Another of our loved and honored pioneer Grange women of Ohio has received the welcoming "Well done, good and faithful servant" of the Father. After an illness from Bright's disease of several months' duration, Sister Hogsett passed away April 30, at her home near New Vienna, Highland Co., O. Mr. and Mrs. Hogsett joined the Grange Bee. 27, 1873 at Hillsboro, Highland Co., and "have sver since been constant, active and jarnest leaders of the order in Ohio. When the writer of this article be- :ame interested in the Grange, about 18 years agt>, Bro. and Sister Hogsett were among the prominent and es- :eemed members in State Grange counsels and work. To their faithful, Bnthusiastic efforts is due a large part )f the Grange growth in southern

Mrs. J. N. Hogsett

Mrs. Hogsett's maiden name was lannah Ellen Hughes. She was born Ug. 5, 1841 at Marshall, Highland }o., and was the oldest daughter of Ion. J. L. Hughes, a, leading farmer ind business man of that county, who epresented the county in the Genertl Assembly for several terms, and vas afterwards State Senator. In 1857 he was married to John Newton Hog- ;ett of Hillsboro, and settled on a 'arm there. To them were given seven hildren, all living and successful nen and women. The oldest, a son, is ion. T. H. Hogsett, a prominent and ible attorney and highly esteemed :itizen of Cleveland, who was a mem- )er of the recent State Tax Commission; the second is Frank Ht>gsett, leputy sheriff of Highland Co.; next ire John V., farmer at Marshall; Mrs. iVhite of Hillsboro; Mrs. Wright.wife )f a farmer at New Vienna; Mrs. Moder, wife of a lumber dealer at Dayon; and James, a farmer at Hillsboro.

For two different periods Mr. and Mrs. Hogsett served as superintendent md matron, respectively, of the Highland Co. Infirmary. The remainder of heir married life, up to seven years igo, was passed upon their farm four ailes from Hillsboro. Their activities in the church and social life of Hillsboro made a large circle of friends 'or them in the town and section roundabout. Mrs. Hogsett was affiliated with the Methodist Church in early life, but upon coming to Hillsboro joined the Presbyterian Church, in which she continued a faithful mem- JftT up to her death. Seven years ago Mr. and Mrs. Hogsett, having retired from, their seven years' service as superintendents of the Infirmary, located upon their farm at New Vienna, about 10 miles north of Hillsboro.

Mrs. Hogsett's energy and mental and executive ability made her an able matron of a public institution, a wise and successful mother and an honored member of the social circle in her community. She has been a very busy woman with multitudinous responsibilities, but few emergencies daunted her or found hef" unable to assist. Says her home paper: "Never was the day too short, the night too dark nor the task too severe for her to undertake anything for the welfare of her family and her friends."

In Grange work she was well versed in all the principles and practices, and was ready at any proper time and place to exemplify them. She seldom missed her subordinate or county Grange meetings, and has been a constant attendant at the State Grange meetings, ever ready to help whereever and whenever she could. She was frequently an officer in her local granges, and in 1900 was elected Ceres of the Ohio State Grange. Her kindly heart and social gracTousness won many to her, and there are very many over the state who will feel the absence of this noble woman from the future meetings with the keenest of sorrow. May her beautiful example be an inspiration to us all.

Our Rural Schools In Ohio

I note in recent issues of the Ohio Farmer same howling about the present school laws of Ohio. It is true that our school system is not yet what it should be, but it is not true that the system was better under the old laws. Why any kicking against paying teachers for attending institutes? Is the teacher so handsomely remunerated that she can dismiss school for one week, attend the institute, pay her board herself, and then in the spring' be compelled to make up the week spent at the institute. Shame on boards of education that quibble about paying teachers for attending teachers' institutes! As for the legislature's acting as if "school boards were incapable of managing the business entrusted to them," the conditions in many Ohio rural , schools previous to the enactment of the uniformity features of the present school code prompted the demand for such enactment. Rather than a return to the old independent, every-district-for-itself system, we should recognize that the trouble with the rural schools of Ohio today is lack of efficient administration. We need a more completely organized system, with township and county supervision. That time is past Of which Subscriber from Henry Co. speaks, when we could hire teachers "for $25 per month who were better than those we get today for $40. Then there were more teachers at $25 than we have now with the wages at $40 to $50. Because of the sharp competition among teachers at that time, their work, limited as it was to comparatively few subjects, was perhaps superior in some respects to some of the present-day work, which covers a general range of subjects. While everything else advanced, teachers' wages remained low, and something was wrong with. the fellow who would accept $25 per month for 6 or 8 mcVnths when he might secure, in divers other occupations, double that amount and for the year around. Consequently many of .the best teachers betook themselves to more remunerative lines of work. Then when wages were advanced to not less than $40, every boy and girl past 18 and capable of passing the teachers' examination was out hunting a school. And it is lucky that there are so many young teachers, else a number of school's would be closed for want of teachers. Even yet, in many districts of Ohio, 'teachers are hard to get at $40. If the wages were $80 instead of $40,and if teachers' tenure depended not upon the likes and dislikes of board members and patrons but upon results, there would not be much cause for complaint about Ohio's rural schools.

The teaching profession, as a class, is making every effort to improve the schools, and in this work the people should stand loyally by them. Their school system is gradually undergoing a change. It is not yet all that it can or should be, and he is a wise man, a patriotic man, who instead of idly lamenting and indulging in the forlorn hope of a return to the Old regime of "the deestrick skule," vlobly puts his shoulder to the wheel in the common effort for improvement and growth. - Homer L. Wright, Monroe Co., O.

IN handling the securities of corporations we consider our first responsibility lies with the investors to whom we sell. This is the reason we take unusual precautions in selecting and recommending investments.

absolutely last forever. Being solid rock, they are spark ami fire-proof. Reduce your insurance rate. Afford pure cistern water. Don't require frequent painting and coating like metal and composition roofing. Not affected by beat or cold. Suitable for all buildings, new or old. First cost - only a trifle more than short-lived roofings Let us settle your roofing question for all lime.Don't spend more good money for poor roofing, f WHITE TO CS AT ONCR for our /cm boolt,"ROOFS." It will save you money. Give us the name of your local dealer.

Everything - potatoes and truck 4 and 6 rows at a time. Man-power and Horse-power. Hi.erh pressure and perfect agitation. Vapor spray stops Blight, Scab, Rot, and Bugs. Bra3s valves, plunger,strainer, etc. Guaranteed 5 Years.

For Man-Power

Do you grow CORN, WHEAT, BARLEY, OATS, POTATOES, or any other FARM SEEDS ? We want to contract for some of your crops this year and will pay good prices for delivery after harvest.

Write us at once what you are growing and we will tell you what we can use and price we will pay as soon as harvested. Special inducements to a few reliable farmers. Address F. St. MILLS CO., Seedsmen, Rose Hill, N, V.

"Diamond" or "Yankee" Paint1 it* more convenient, wears longer, poes further and Cost* let** than ion ran mix the materials, but nor paint coil a more ihan the "rhe.ip dope*' paints so treelr advertised, tirt color card and prices The BEST is always the cheapest. THOMPSON & CO .Diamond Paint and Oil Works, ALLEGHENY, PA. Mfrs.

Km bden, Chinese, and African Geese; Pekin, Rouen, Wh.&Col'd Muscovey In.Runne.&Grny Cull Ducks, largest breeder in Ohio. Cup winners nt big Chicago nn<l Cleveland Shows. 500 for sale. I*rices reasonable. Start now - Money makers. Also 1# P. Hocks, Wvaml'.ttes, Leghorns, R. f. Reds, Circular free. CHAS. R. McCLAVE, NEW LONDON, OHIO.

Burred and White Plymouth Rocks, White and Huff Wyandottes White and Brown Leghorns, and S. C. Rhode Island Reds. Sil.OO per 15. Newly hatch-d chicks 15c eaeh. Orders now booked. VANWIK POULTRY SUPPLY HOUSK, Sch.enectn.dv, N. Y.

Thinks Magazine Section Grand. - Success to your Ohio Farmer. It is getting better as the years roll around. Your Magazine Department is grand. - N. W. Holler, Shepard, O.

Live Poultry Wanted - Highest market price and Immrdlnte r.-turn*. Hens, chickens, ducks * geese. Send for -hipping instructions. No rounds. Inn. The PARK& POLI.AHDCO.. Live Poultry Dipt , 37 Canal Street, Boston, Mass

Buff P. Rock 4 Buff Leghorn

T> rize- winning S. Rhode Island Reds, brpd to * lny. Prices rednced for balance season, fl, 15; $5, 100. Crestview Farm. W.H.Laue, Gallatin, Tenn.

Our Chicago Letter

safe, top sale being on a load of these that averaged 1.610 lb. at. $7. Dry-fed butcher cattle sold about steady with last Monday, while grassy ones were from 15 to 25c lower. Prime heifers were hammered about 10c lower. Fat cows sold generally at $4.50@4.75, a few choice at ?5. The bull trade was disappointing; offerings were light but demand

Same day last year.24.413 47,623 14,891 the top being $5.25. Fresh cows and Received last week. 43, 265 98,650 65,922 springers were slow, selling $5010 lower. Same w'k last y'r. 60.580 164,287 56.070 Receipts of hogs today were liberal, Cattle last week were in limited de- 14.400 head on sale. The market 15 to mand. Best kinds sold well, but lower 25c lower than Saturday. One load of grades went at an average decline of choice Illinois hogs sold for $5.90; general out 25c. It appears that really good al market for all grades outside of pigs, cattle will sell better as the season ad- $5.85; pigs, $5.25. The market was acvances, while short-fed ones will go a tive at the decline, and at the close a little lower, making a still wider range fair clearance was effected, of prices. Receipts, tho unusually small. There were 14,000 head of sheep and were enough for the demand. Beef steers lambs on sale today, including 2,400 sold largely at $5.85@6.85, choice to fan- head held over from Saturday. Choice cy shipping steers going at $6.75©7.35 lambs sold steady. Tops, $6.25; heavy and the cheaper light-weight killers at lambs, $5.50@5.75; cull lambs, 25c lower; $4.6005. Good cattle sold around $6. 30(a) good lambs. $5.25. Sheep trade was 6.70; fair to medium, $5.7506.25; export- somewhat improved over last week. One ers. $6.2506.75. There has been a great load of choice handy-weight wethers sold fall in prices for butcher stock, cows and for $5.25; heavy ones, around $5. About heifers selling at $3.50@6.30, as against six loads of sheep and lambs were car- $6.90 a short time ago. Butcher stock ried over for Tuesday's market, should be marketed promptly, as Texas. With 2,500 head of calves on sale and grass cattle now being shipped freely to a good demand, prices were steady with Western markets are exerting a depress- Saturday. A few choice veals- sold up to jng influence. Canners and cutters, have $7, bulk sold at $6.75; cull calves, $5.50 sold moderately at $1.60©3.45; bulls, $3@ @5.75.

evenly distributed over the past week, l**" 1 w?,ek the attendance of buywith Monday receints of 32.416 head and f.rs was ,sm,;l11 and *he market ruled very

$1700225 and sometimes at $250@275;me- Hogs. - The supply on sale was 50 doudium weight chunks for express and de- ble-deck loads. The market ruled lowlivery service. $1300175 and upward. - F. er orl all grades, hut was fairly active at Chicago top prices a year ago. the decline.

R.-tir.s of cattle after Monday were of 25c from last week's closing values, made up mostly of hold-overs The de- Choice yearling lambs n shade stronger, mand was not very good, trading drag- otllor Brados lambs dull. Fair supply gy. and general tone of market Was low- spring lambs, choice grades steady, other. The receipts of hogs after Monday ers very slow

Pittsburg Top Prices A Year Ago

Cattle market slow but about steady. Calves active at 25 to 50c higher. Sheep and lambs slow and lower. Hogs active but at a decline of 5 cents from last week's quotations.

The butter market is in very unsatisfactory condition. Prices have been forced so high as to check most of the business and trading is dull. Cheese holds firm and active on desirable grades of old full creams. Eggs have been in better supply during the past week and some accumulations have occurred. Trading in live poultry continues exceedingly slow. Dressed poultry is little better and dealers have accepted almost any prices in order to clean up. Country dressed calves are in liberal supply and the demand is slow and market weak. Dressed hot-house lambs are nearly done for the season and those coming are of irregular quality. Old potatoes hold steady. but the demand is light. New potatoes are coming in rapidly and prices dropped 50c. Other vegetables are as quoted. Fruits are steady. The first melons and peaches are coming to market.

Fruit. - Apples, $1(93.25 bbl. Strawberries. 3®10c qt. Peaches. Florida. S. .- I carrier. MuakmelortS. Florida. $2®3 crate. Watermelons. Florida. 50075c each.

Iwiuy Markets

1'tlca. N. Y.. May 25. - The cheese market today was 'n<fV higher than last we. k The ruling price for all grades was inu,c. Sales of 965 boxes large at 10% lOVsc and 2.607' boxes small at 10%© 104c. Sales of 88 packages of butter at 23 O 24c.

Pork Packing And Provisions

PORK PACKING AND PROVISIONS The Cincinnati Price Current of May 91 K-ports 580.000 hogs killed in the West last week, compared with 575.000 week he fore, 465.000 two weeks ago and 735 000 a year ago. The total from March 1 is lD proximately 5.560.000. against 5 735 0(mj» year ago - a decrease of 175.000. Pri, were steady during the week, tb* gen. r al closing price at prominent markets being $5.45 per cwt.. compared with If 45 last week, $5.50 two weeks ago. $6.4, a year ago, $6.25 two years ago and $[ 35 three years ago. The speculative provinion market was fairly active during the past week, and prices showed an upw. rd tendency. July pork was lowest at $13 !5 highest at $13.75. closing at $13 6'.;' against $13.50 a week ago and $16.67V a year ago. The week's export clearances were as follows: Total meats. 12.694 1 00 lb. against 10.497.000 lb. last year. La d 9.121,000 lb. compared with 7.294,000 lb a year ago.

General Produce Markets

The American Wool and Cotton H porter of May 21, says: There is little o - tration in the wholesale wool mark, t, and piecemeal buying is the rule. Man 1- facturers are buying for immediate co 1- sumption alone. In the meantime t n new clip is accumulating in the West >r being sent East on consignment as nevel before. Some of the Western grower are going East to superintend the se 1- ing of their wool, quite a jag of 1't .1 wool coming in under this new plan.Tr wool does not show very' good qualit) and will be compelled to compete wirlj the hold-over stock already in the mar ket. If growers are to sell their owr wool on the wholesale market, they mus grade with great care, as the manufec turers are unusually particular and «il throw out every fleece not up to samr. e Just what this close grading amounts ti is shown by the fact that Boston dealt n have had thousands of pounds returns by their customers since January. Heie after wool buying is to be a more caxei ful and a more scientific operation wh i 'something just as good" will not get ly Veteran dealers say that m 25 to 3 years' experience they have never st-al the market so depressed and so une. rf tain, and it looks like a poor time (M experiments, both for growers and bark| ing institutions. Probably the only to satisfy the Western growers is totrj out their scheme which has failed in IN past, but from surface indications it *il] take only a short time to demonstr. tJ that without general co-operation dir. c| selling can not be made a success. Amor the sales of the week were 50.000 lb Ohio quarters at 23c; 100.000 lb. do, a| jj-.i 15.000 Michigan quarters

"In regard to Sloan's Liniment for p< trv diseases." writes E. R Spauld Jaffrey. N. H.. a disease called rout one of the greatest drawbacks in rab' poultry- It is somewhat similar to < temper In a horse. After trying : experimenting with about everytbl recommended. I found that Sloan's Iment was the speediest and surest r^m edy for roup, and I can especially new onimend it for canker in the wind-pine S. n.l for Dr Sloan's free book on Ho'se Cattle Hogs and Poultrv. Address: V Earl S. Sloan, 615 Albany St., BoRt»-i Mass J I

Cleveland, O., May 26, 1908. Everything is (juiet on the local market except early summer fruits and vegetables. All grades of butter were advanced one cent a pound. Eggs and poulitry are steady. Grains are a little higher. All seeds (juiet except seed corn. Potatoes quiet but steady. Vegetables as quoted.

Lime and Cement - Per bbl., in sacks, white lime. 75c; Akron cement. 80c;Louis- 1 ville. 75c; Portland, $1.55. Agricultural Lime. - Ground burnt lime, $4.00 ton, in sacks, ground limestone, $1.25 ton, in bulk.

Recknt Books

W. G. FARNSWOirril. W. Farnsworth was born on a farm near Waterville, Lucas Co., O., Nov. 26, 1864. Until 22 years old his life was spent on a grain and stock farm. Educated in village school and high school and attended the Ohio State University for one term. He has served several terms as a member of the school board; was secretary and later president of Lucas County "Horticultural Society. Served as president of the State Farmer's Mutual Insurance Association and for eleven years was secretary of the Lucas Co. Farmers' Insurance and Aid Association, during which time the membership increased from a few hundred ud to 2,- 400 and the risks to more than $3,500,000. Served several terms as a member of the village council. Has been on the Ohio farmers' institute lecture force for several years and also lectured in Michigan. Was president of the State Farmers' Institute last year. Has also served two years as president of the Ohio Plant Breeders' Asso'n.

He is now engaged in the production of fruit and vegetables. He has 10 acres of asparagus. 28 acres of peach orchard. 32 acres of apple orchard. 15 to 25 acres of potatoes each year, besides strawberries, raspberries, cherries, plums, pears, together with corn, oats, wheat and clover. Mr. and Mrs. Farnsworth have a family of four children - two girls and two boys - all of whom seem to enjoy farm life and work.

Free Government Farms

In northern Wyoming. 75 miles- east of the Yellowstone National Park. 300 farms, from 40 to 160 acres each, have just been thrown open to entry and settlement under the Reclamation Act. This tract of about 15,000 acres constitutes what is known as the first unit of the Shoshone1 irrigation project. The farms are obtainable under the Homestead law. subject to the charges of actual cost of supplying water to the land. This charge has been fixed at $45 per acre, payable in not less than five nor more than ten annual instalments. In addition to this, the settler is required to pay an annual fee for maintenance and operation of $1 per acre. The first instalment of $5.50 per acre is due and payable at the time application is made for water right for any farm unit. The second instalment will be due on or before Dec. 1, 1909. thus giving the early settlers an opportunity of securing two crops before the second payment becomes due. Transportation facilities are furnished by a branch of the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy Railroad, which passes thru the entire length of the project, and a line under construction giving a north and south trunk line from Denver. Colorado, to the Pacific Coast via Billings and Great Falls, Montana. Every settler will need some capital. The amount, of course, will vary with the man. but $1,000 or its equivalent, is desirable. He will need a house to live in. well, fences, barn, provisions for his faiu'ly anil feed for his working animals Sufficient to last one year, as well as machinery, tools, etc. Arrangements have been perfected whereby settlers will be given opportunity by the Reclamation Service to work out their water right payments in excavating canals, extending the present system to cover additional lands. Further information may be obtained by addressing the Statistician. U. S. Reclamation Service, Washington, D. C.