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CAN NEHKASKA
MAKE AS GOOD TlIE CONSERVA-
ou A HETTEH TivE has hold that
SHOWING ? county ami state
lairs have outlived their usefulness.
State boards of agriculture and county
agricultural societies should turn their
attention to the collection of agricul
tural data and statistics. In Kansas
this system has long been in voguo. The
results are classified knowledge as to
the live stock products , the cereal prod
ucts and daily products in that state.
Below THE CONSERVATIVE furnishes
from the proper Kansas authorities some
tabulated facts and figures which Ne
braska agriculturists , stock-raisers and
dairymen may read with profit. There
is no reason why wo should not have
equally accurate statements for the
whole commonwealth of Nebraska :
Assessors' returns compiled by the
secretary of the State Board of Agricul
ture indicate that
DAIRY PKOaitBSS dnjry interests
IN KANSAS. Qf Kftnsns have
been in a very healthy and prosperous
condition during the past year. The
butter made in families and factories is
reported as 41,450,981 pounds , worth at
home $5,5)20,144. This is an increase for
the year of 4,287,05' ] pounds or 11.88
per cent , and the increase in value
amounts to over 1C per cent.
Of cheese the quantity made was
1,418,969 pounds , worth $118,517 , an in
crease of quantity and value of 24.09
per cent.
The value of milk sold for other than
butter or cheese making was $615,890 ,
an increase of 5.64 per cent.
The total value of the state's dairy
output was $6,049,552 , which amounts
to an increase over the preceding yeai
of $789,800 , or 15.01 per cent.
The following table shows the value
of butter , cheese and milk sold in Kan
sas in each of the last 10 years :
1889 . $ 4,451,927
1890 . 4,145,555
1891 . 4,958,961
1892 . 4,665,497
1898 . 4,846,788
1894 . 4,870,480
1895 . 4,510,681
1890 . 4,987,885
1897 . 5,259,752
1898 . 6,049,552
Total in 10 years . $48,696,978
Annual average value . . . 4,869,697
For 1897 the value of animals slaugh
tered or sold for slaughter in Kansas
was returned to
PRODUCTS OF KAN-
KANthe
the g
HAS LIVE STOCK.
Qf Agrioulturo M
$87,781,678 , and for this year it is $49 ,
128,517 , showing again of $11,841,889
or 80.02 per cent.
The increase in value of poultry am
eggs sold is $294,786 , or 7.65 percent
A decline in the wool clip from 762,464
to 654,708 pounds brings down its value
from $91,495 to $75,112.
These values , together with those o
the cheese , butter and milk sold , com
wise the year's income for the products
f live stock , and aggregate $59,898,918 ,
us against $46,988,922 the previous year ,
and show a total gain of $12,409,991 , or
6.41 per cent , making the largest
imount and largest increase shown for
any year in the history of the state.
Prior to 1898 the largest value re
named for products of live stock was
151,225,617 , in 1898. The largest value
- returned for animals
n-oviously slaugh-
ered or sold for slaughter was $42,874-
" 01in 1898.
The following table tells the story of
value of animals slaughtered or sold for
slaughter in each of the past 19 years ,
and the magnificent growth of the stock
nterest in Kansas in spite of fluctuating
ind sometimes depressed and depressing
irices :
1880. . $ 12,700,045 1890 . $88,450,990
1881 . . 16,251,184 1891 . 87,922,192
1882 . 20,689,651 1892 . 85,280,278
1888. . . 25,804,084 1898 . 42,874,761
1884 . 81,059,800 1894 . 42,009,708
1885 . 80,405,212 1895 . 40,691,074
1880 . 29,020,018 1896 . . 86,592,057
1887 . 80,447,801 1897 . 87,781,678
1888 . 29,978,254 1898 . 49,128,517
1889 . 88,598,115
TKEES NOTED FOR SPECIFIC
VIRTUES ANI > USES.
GUELDER ROSE. From the bark of
the root birdlime is made. The shoots
make excellent bands for fagots.
Evelyn says a decoction of the leaves
will dye the hair black and strengthen
it.
HAZEL TREE. The wood makes ex
cellent charcoal for forges. Fishing-
rods , walking sticks , crates , hoops for
barrels , shoots for springles to fasten
down thatch , hurdles , etc. , are made ol
this wood. Hazel chips will clear tur
bid wine in twenty-four hours , ant
twigs of hazel twisted together wil
serve for yeast in brewing.
Hazel wands were used in divination
for detecting minerals , water-springs
and hid treasures.
By whatsoever occult virtue the furkuc
hazel stick discovers not only .subterraneous
treasure , but criminals guilty of murder an <
other crimes , made out HO solemnly by the at
testation of magistrates and divers other
learned and credible persons who have criti
eally examined matters of fact , is certainly
next to a miracle , and requires a strong faith
Evelyn , Sylva , (1001) ( ) .
The small hole bored through the
shell of hazel nuts is not the work o
squirrels , but of field mice ; squirrels
always split the shells.
HOLLY TREE. Birdlime is made fron
it. The wood is used for veneering
handles of knives , cogs for mill-wheels
hones for whetting knives and razors
coachmen's whips , Tunbridgo ware.
IVY. The roots are used by leather
cutters for whetting their knives ; am
when the roots are large , boxes anc
slabs are made from them.
It is said that apricots and peache
protected in winter by ivy fencing be
come remarkably productive.
JUNIPER is never attacked by worms
The wood is used for veneering ; ant
alcohol or spirits of wine , impregnated
vith the essential oil of juniper berries ,
s gin ( or juniper water ) ; for the
Trench ycnevrc means "juniper berry. "
Ordinarily , gin is a malt liquor , distilled
i second time , with the addition of jun-
[ > or berries , or more frequently , with
; ho oil of turpentine.
LARCH , very apt to warp , but it re-
ists decay. It bursts into leaf between
i ,
torch 21 and April 14. I/ / .
LIME or LINDEN TREE. Grinling Gib-
xms , the great carver in wood , used no
other wood but that of the lime tree ,
vhich is soft , light , smooth , close-
grained , and not subject to the worm.
Tor the same reason , it is the chief ma-
; erial of Tunbridgo ware. Bellonius
states that the Greeks used the wood
: or making bottles.
Lime wood makes excellent charcoal
'or guupowdur , and is employed for
juttons and leather-cutter's boards. The
flowers afford the best honey for bees ,
ind the famous Kowno honey is made
exclusively from the linden blossoms.
It was one of the trees from which
impyrus was made , and in the library of
Vienna is a work of Cicero written on
the inner bark of the linden.
One other thing is worth mentioning.
Hares and rabbits will never injure the
bark of this tree.
The lime is the first of all trees to shed
its leaves in autumn. It bursts into
leaf between April 6 and May 2.
At Deopham , in Norfolk , was a lime
tree which , Evelyn tells us , was 86 feet
in girth , and 90 feet in height. Strutt
tells us of one in Moor Park , Hertford
shire , 17 feet in girth (3 ( feet above the
ground ) and 100 feet high ; it contained
875 feet of timber. Ho also mentions
one in Cobham Park , 28 feet in girth
and 90 feet in height.
The lime tree in the Grisons is up
wards of 590 years old.
MAPLE TREE , employed for cabinet
work , gunstocks , screws for cider
presses , and turnery. The Tigrin and
and Pantherine tables were made of
maple. The maple tables of Cicero ,
Asiiiius Gallus , King Juba , and the
Mauritania ! ! Ptolemy , "are worth their
weight in gold. "
At Knowle , in Kent , there is a maple
tree which is 14 feet in girth.
MOUNTAIN ASH or KOWAN TREE , used
for hoops , and for bows , comes next to
the yew. It forms good and lasting
posts , and is made into hurdles , tables ,
spokes of wheels , shafts , chairs , and so
on. The roots are made into spoons and
knife-handles. The bark makes excel
lent tan.
Twigs of rowan used to bo carried
about as a charm against witches.
Scotch dairy maids drive their cattle
with rowan rods ; and at Strathspey , in
Scotland , at one time , sheep and lambs
were made to pass through hoops of
rowan wood on May-day.
In Wales , the rowan used to be con
sidered sacred ; it was planted in church-