| OF INTEREST TO FARMERS |
STRAWBERRIES FOR PROFIT
Where strawberries are to be grown
with a view to mark *«nj the crop
as a side line to farming, about an
acre of ground will prove the most
profitable. Less land than that re
quires too much attention for the
quantity produced; more is apt to
bo handled in a manner so inefficient
that it will return small profits.
Setting the plants is done the same
with the large plot as with the small
one, but the rows should be three
feet wide, with the plants set 13
incites apart in the rows. By laying
out the rows in one direction, then
setting the plants crosswise of these
marks, one will te able to cultivate
the field both ways, thus effictively
destroying all weeds and effecting
ideal soil conditions.
Mulching the vines with straw is
a tedious job, not requiring so muc.t
time on the small plot, but calling for
considerable hard work in connection
with the larg:: field. In every case
however, it is well worth the time
employed in spreading it. Distributed
evenly to a depth of even two or three
inches over the plot, mulching helps
to hold the moisture in the soil, forms
a clean surface for pickers to walk
on, keeps down weeds and holds the
fruit off the ground, thus preventing
its getting soiled or rotting. Later,
it enters the soil as a fine fertilizer
It will be found that picking the
strawberries is one of the big prob
lems in connection with the business,
it being difficult to secure good pick
ers at a price that will leave one
much profit. The fruit is usually
handled in an inefficient manner by
poor help, or good help demands high
wages. Where one can secure a crew
of youngsters in which most of them
arc careful not to trample the vine*
and the fruit, and will take special
care in handling the berries, the price
one will have to pay for the picking
leaves a fair margin of profit. If
this cannot be done, the next best
plan is to hire grown people who
will oe careiui oi Dom me vines ana
the fruit. In any case, insist on pick
ing the berries clean as they go, and
handling the fruit in a manner that
will leave it in the best condition
possible for marketing.
Plans for marketing the crop should
be laid before the berries begin to
ripen. If one delays this till berries
arc on the market a surplus is apt to
pile up and result in much loss, as
these berries go down very quickly
alter removal from the vines. Local
conditions will very largely deter
mine the form of marketing straw
berries that will prove best. In many
cases the local groceryman is glad to
engage berries of high quality at a
price that is profitable. At some ,
points one may be able to dispose of
enough ot a wholesale market. Ship
ping to some large center is practical,
provided it is near enough that the
berries are not delayed in transit and
only for a very brief time after ar
rival at their destination. Quick mar
keting is the watchword with straw
berries.
Where one has the time to deliver
the strawberries direct to the home of
the user (and it usually requires lit
tle time) this form of marketing will
prove much more profitable than any
ether. The middleman’s profit is then
saved- Always aim to have enough
order;- in advance of delivery to take
all the berries you will have picked
each day. In fact, it is better for
both buyer and seller for one to have
a waiting list of customers than to
have several crates of strawberries
around that spoil before they are
sold, or to try- to sell strawberries
which will come under second, or even
third grade.
Practically no returns may be ex
ected from the strawberry field the
first season. If taken good care of, it
will produce a good crop the second
season. The plot may be left to pro
duce a third crop, but weeds must
be ktp down and the runners trained
Jn eat t direction, care being taken
that t j many plants are not started.
Thin tit to four to six inches apart.
Not later than the third season
after ~ field has been established, the
old p nts should be plowed up. Or,
in th" meantime, a new plot should
have Leon set to keep one in bearing
every /ear. Still another plan is to
train .ill runners between the old
rows of plants. Then immediately
alter < ich crop is harvested, plow' out
the c I rows of plants, leaving the
new, ’ore vigorous vines for produc
ing r.< t season's crop of berries.
As on as a plot is well established
muk ng should be done, regularly,
tvert ill, about the time of the first
light ..eeze. This checks the growth
befo the injury that would be done
by l ?re freezing while the plants
are ; en. It also prevents excessive
Iree: g and heaving of the soil which
so t en breaks the roots oi the
plan , while the ground will be kept
tool i party spring, noiaing oacK ine
plai so they will not bloom and be
emu- t by late spring frosts. This is
one <f the strongest features of
muh .ling, as many a disappointed
gi er of strawberries will testify,
aftc losing his crop entirely through
ear >' frosts.
1 '.ever, the mulching should be
rak ! from Ihe plaats when the
wee ;er begins to grow warm, to pre
ver scalding It should be worked
t'.o . t around the vines instead of
U1' left over them. This will aid in
ki tig down the weeds and protect
th< berries at harvest time.
'IIIN MOl.m M I .1
?. *)ldy feed must be avoided, es
p< ally for young chicks liiey
at susceptible to trouble from this
m ere Feed of this kind often pro
docea gas in the crop Sometimes the
cl icks show symptoms of fils and
p* :1b*I paralysis as a result of moldy
ft 'll.
’•nail chicks eat but very little feed
both in to *1 amount and ui propor
tion to 'ne gains made This makes
It poor economy to take chances on
it ding material that it not pure and
s' eet Como'"■rial feeds, as well as
those which are prepared at Ivonte,
FEEDING BRDODI K CHICKS
The feeding of the artificially
hatched brooder chicks is one of the
most important factors in poultry
keeping, because successful and the
right kind of nutrition should begin
with hatching and extend throughout
tlie growing period. Tire first four
weeks are the most trying for this
period covers the delicate stage of the
chicks growth, and is the time when
the death rate is the greatest and
when mistaken methods will be shown
by poor broods. The following prin
ciples apply to baby-chick feeding, a
discussion of which will better fix
them in the mind of the reader.
Just prior to hatching, the yolk U
drawn into the chicks body, and sup
plies the growing chick with nourish
ment for a number of hours after
hatching. It is undesirable to at
tempt to force the chick to eat within
a period of from 48 to 60 hours, af
ter hatching. The best practice is
to supply plenty of fresh water and
sand when putting the chicks in the
brooder. A good plan is to give the
chicks their first feed in the morning
after they are placed in the brood
er.
The young chick which has been
artificially hatched has to be taught
many things which under natural
conditions it would learn from the
mother lien; such as searching for
feed, and the elementary process of
eating. The natural instinct of the
chick is to pick up bright things, and
for this reason, feeds which are easi
ly seen are desirable. A good p c
tice is to throw a limited amount of
rol! 1 oats on the floor of the brood
er, only what the chicks will eat in
an hour or two. Rolled oats are very
nutritious, are relished by the chicks,
until the end cf the second week.
ever, their continued use is undesir- |
able. Er> cracked grains are some
times fed, but they have been found
to be less satisfactory.
Grit to enable the digestive organs
to perform their functions, and shfcll
to supply ihe lime so essential in the
formation of bone, should be placed
before the chicks when three days <T
age and kept continuously before
them till maturity. Sand placed on
the floor of the broeder will help, but
will not cf itself be as effective as
two or three handfuls of sharp gran
ite grit and fine oyster shell placed
in several conspicuous places in the
brooder.
Plenty of fresh air is essential,
since the chick gains weight rapidly,
much of this weight being water.
Stale or stagnant water carries dis
ease germs and is liable to produce
digestive disorders in the flock. Keep
fresh water before them constantly,
’ using a small siphon fountain, whicli
can be rinsed out daily to keep tt
from getting slimy.
Wtieat bran is an important asset
in the feeding of baby chicks, since it
is easily digested, and contains a
form of vegetable ash which is very
readily assimilated. Wheat bran alone
may be kept in small hoppers, and
will furnish nearly a balanced ration
for the first two weeks.
Owing to the small size of the di
gestive organ of the small chick, and
its heavy feed requirements in pro
portion to its size, it is wise to give
only small amounts of feed at a time
and to feed often. The practice
should be to feed four or five times
a day during the first week, gradually
diminishing the number of feedings
untli the end of the second week.
Cracked grains may then be fed threa
times a day and dTy mash kept before
them constantly.
-« «
CULLING AND BETTER FEEDING
Urging testing of cows and showing
possible gains from intelligent man
agement, a successful dairyman says:
For February, 1926, my herd of 18
cows, 17 of which were milked, pro
duced a total of 457 pounds of fat
which at 50 cents was valued
$228.65. The total of feed was $142.56,
leaving a profit over feed of $86.09.
In February, 1927, this herd con
sisted of 19 cows, 17 of which wars
again milking. They produced 534
pounds of fat which at 50 cents a
pound was valued at $266.90. The
total cost of feed was $149 27, leaving
a profit over feed of $117.63 or an in
crease of income over feed cost for
tha an Hva harH nf si
The average profit for all cows in
the herd including those dry was
in February, 1926, and $6.19 in Feb
ruary, 1927. This increase of $141
more profit per cow for the shortest
month in the year was due to the
culling of poor producers and better
feeding. During the intervening year
se/en undesirable cows were sold and
these replaced by five cows purchased
and three heifers raised. The cows
were fed a more liberal and better
balanced grain ration consisting of
oats, wheat feed, corn, oil meal and
cottonseed meall. The roughage in both
cases was practically the same, con
sisting of corn silage and mixed clover
and timothy hay. The same prices
were used both years in figuring the
value of the butterfat and cost ol
feed.
I charged $12.00 a ton for hay
$4 00 for silage, oats and barley at
$28.00, wheat feed at $30.00. corn at
$32.00, oil meal at $48 00. and cotton
seed meal at $33 00. The Increased
profit came In spite of the fact that
there were two dry cows figured in
tile average for 1927 as against only
one in 1926.
should be stored in a dry place where
there Is no danger of molding.
• •
Feeding without cat** Is useless
Clve the row sunlight; It has its
place In the economic producttott of
milk just ss well as good fond,
Dts you know young chirks often
dig from regular chills? Well, they
do. Keep them dry and warm on
damp, chilly days.
• •
Invest something In kind word* ant
compliments In (lit h sue Tits big
gest dividends ars not nlsays <•
rived from Invcstnisnta of n<v
WHITE STREET
I like to walk out on our street a
night
Like this and watch the first white
fall of snow
And scuff it down before me as I go
And feel the cool caress of flakes
alight
Upon my face. . , . Lamps make gro
tesque sight
In their fluffed wigs and dotted veils
that blow
Before each blinking eye. Perhaps
they know
Their droll indulgence gives us new
delight.
Our street Is still as scenes in fairy
land. .
With ermine carpet spread out ev
erywhere.
A glistening softness now' drapes ef
ery tree.
And while I reach to catch within my
hand ..
Some fragile spangles as they slip
through air .
I think how calm a clattering street
can be!
—Agnes MacCarthy Hickey, in the
New York Sun.
♦ ♦
Columbus Memorial.
From the New York Times.
The project, of a memorial to
Christopher Columbus in the form of
a giant lighthouse at the mouth ol
Santa Domingo harbor is at last tak
ing shape. Speaking for the Pan
American Union. Secretary Kellogg
has announced that a competition in
designs for it will be held, open to
architects in all parts of the world.
The government of Santo Domingo
has set aside the land for the memo
rial and has appropriated $300,000
to cover the preliminary expenses.
The cost of construction is to be
defrayed by the nations of North and
South America. When the memorial
is completed the traditional remains
of the great explorer will be moved
from the cathedral in Santo Domin
go City to a specially prepared crypt
in me new uummig.
Whatever the disputes of historians
as to the precise spot in the Western
Hemisphere first seen by Columbus,
or of the true resting place of his
bones, the people of North and South
America will see in the proposed
memorial lighthouse a tribute to a
great explorer to whose activities
every one now living in the western
world is indebted. The selection of
Santo Domingo as the site for the
memorial is appropriate as being
midway between the two American
continents. The choice of a light
house is in keeping with the spirit of
the enterprise—a beacon to guide the
countless successors of the first trans
Atlantic navigator, who felt his way
cautiously into the unknown world
that he believed to be the Indies.
The spirit of the 20th century is
reflected in the preparations to use
part of the Columbus Memorial Park
as an airport for inter-American avi
ation. The beacon is to guide the
pilots of the air as well as those of
the seas. It is the contention of the
sponsors of this project that the na
tural air route between North and
South America is by way of Cuba.
Santo Domingo and the chain of
West Indies that stretch in a curve
to the northern coast of the south
ern continent. If suitable landing
stations are built at short intervals
on this route, it will be possible to
find shelter when the furious winds
are loosed in the Caribbean that
threaten destruction to all things
that fly and to ships on the seas.
-4 « _ ——
Turkey In Jail.
From the Terre Haute Tribune.
A newspaper reporter in Fort
Worth, Tex., got an idea. He went
to the jail on Christmas day when
the prisoners were dining on turkey
and dressing, mince pie and ice
cream, and enjoyed an entertain
ment program prepared for them by
the good people of the city.
He looked through the prisoners’
records and found several names of
men who were serving terms for
abandoning their families or refus
ing to provide properly for their
children. Then the reporter went
out and looked up the families of
these men. He found most of the
abandoned children in misery. Some
were being fed by charity. Some
were beir.a cared for bv their heroic
mothers who were working at hard
and illy-paid tasks to feed them.
The reporter's idea was that de
linquent fathers should be made to
work and be paid a living wage by
the city, instead of being kept in
| idleness and in turkey and Ice cream
in comfort of a modern jail, the
money to go to the support of the
families. He would keep dad boxed
up until he got the work habit so
thoroughly that he would continue
it outside .
It would not do to abandon the
Idea of punishing evildoers. The ex
perience of centuries proves that
punishment pays. But it is not hu
mane or intelligent to punish the in
nocent along with the guilty. The
incarcerated offender should be made
to support his dependents. It would
soon be found that most men would
prefer to work outside prison than
inside,
— --
Q. What are the different kinds
ftf meters for measuring water? H.
N.
A. Water meters are of three gen
eral types, tlie positive, the inferen
tial, and the proportional. Positive
meters measure the actual volume of
the water; inferential meters measure
the velocity of the flowing water and
the quantity is deduced by a compu
tation from that record; proportional
meters measure a fractional part of
the full flow, and are necessarily onb
approximately accurate.
Not the First One.
From Americas Humor.
She; How dare you! Papa said he
%ouid kill the Unit man who kissed
me.
He Mow interesting. And did he'
• •
htlraragant.
From America's Humor.
Tve heard there's folks in there
fsrge apartments (list bu> butter by
the quarter pound,**
* Aw, no! Maybe, when th* y have
company “
• •
fitly • hospital, olid on. was found
rd by Thomas Guy, a bookseller of
Uui tune of Queen Anne.
■ - _. -.... —
’ i i —■ ' ■ ■ — T *
If you smoke
* for pleasure _
V *
{. — get right up front
where the pleasure
is. Have a Camel.
The real object
of smoking is to
enjoy it.
Camels
«
Camels lead by billions and keep
! right on growing
(**) 1928, C. J. Reynolds Tobacco
Company, Winston-Salem, N, C.
Not Big Enough
Dora—Why do her people object to
him?
Doris—There are seven In her fam
ily and the car holds only six.
The fool politieian fluids friction;
the wise one “soft soaps" it.
Slang doesn't care how had its syn
tax is.
Dad Knew
Young Son—“What Is an air pocket,
dad?” Father—“Mine, after your
mother has gone through them."
One has to live a long time before
one discovers that It doesn't matter
much if one doesn't talk.
Many a luxuriant head of hair is
due to the mellowness of the soli.
Usual Process Reversed
Cement bags are tied at the top first
and filled from the bottom. They ara
then sewed shut.
i
There Is more to art than naked
ness; hut some art never gets any
farther than that.
The product of a tight shoe or an
oak tree is a-corn.
(l878 ^***^^» 1928 j
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