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About The gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1914)
HOME 'AND' VAKM. MAdAUKS REOTTOIf Turkestan Alfalfa Seed Poor AWABNINQ to alfalfa growers to avoid the use of commercial Turkestan seed is contained In De partment Bulletin No. 138, of the TJ. & Department of Agriculture, which is shortly to be issued under the title "Commercial Turkestan Alfalfa Seed." Specialists of the department have been investigating the comparative merits of different kinds of alfalfa seeds and have readied the conclusion that there is nothing to recommend the TurkeBtan variety for general use in this country. It is, they say, par ticularly unsuited to the humid climate of the East which, as a matter of fact, uses most of the Turkestan seed im ported into this country. This seed is also not sufficiently hardy to warrant its general use in the upper Mississippi Valley, whore hardiness is an impor tant factor. Investigators, however, are careful to distinguish between com mercial Turkestan alfalfa and special strains of hardy alfalfas that have been developed from certain introduc tions of seed from Turkestan. Valuable varieties of alfalfas unquestionably ex ist in Central Asia, but these are at present only fitted for use in experi mental work in breeding. Imported Seed Inferior. At the present time, approximately one-fifth of the alfalfa seed used in the United States is imported. Of this t nantity, practically all 95 per cent in the last twelve months comes from Bnssian Turkestan. In the European market, commercial Turkestan is the cheapest seed available, in this country its wholesalo price is less than that of domestic seed. In spits of this fact, however, a mistaken belief in its su perior qualities has resulted In raising its retail price to a point frequently above thai of domestie seed. No such preference is shown in the alfalfa growing regions of Europe. There French seed is commonly considered the best, with Italian ranking next and Turkestan last Under these circum stance, very little Freneh and Italian seed finds its way to the United States, the bulk of the importations being, as already stated, the cheap commercial Turkestan. Easily Identified. Fortunately, growers who wish to avoid this variety can readily identify it by the presence of Bussian knap weed seeds. These seeds have not been found anywhere except in commercial Turkestan seed, and here they are prac tically always present Bussian knap weed is in some ways similar to quack grass, Johnson grass and Canada thistle, spreading both by seeds and underground rootstocks. The seeds are slightly larger than those of alfalfa and cannot all be removed by any prac ticable method of machine cleaning. Their chalky white color makes them especially conspicuous, and their sym metrical form slightly wedge shaped distinguishes them from the notched seed of other species often found in varieties of alfalfa from other sections. The knapweed seeds, however, are not usually found in large quantities and any lot of alfalfa should, therefore, be examined in bulk. The examination 01 small samples is not sufficient to Bhow whether the alfalfa eomes from Turke stan or not. Silo Filling HAPHAZARD methods of filling silos has spoiled many thousand tons of good corn and often given silage a "black eye." Careful tramp ing and leveling, together with other essential features in filling the silo are Important. Corn makes the best silage when the majority of the cars are dented, or just beginning to glaze. If corn is put into tho silo before this stage of maturity is reached, the silage becomes very sour or acid, and is apt to have a low feed ing value. "When corn becomes dry from boing frosted or allowed to get ripe, it will make good silage if water is added at filling time. No definite rule can bo given as to the right amount of water to add, but tho aim should be to malto the moisture content equal to that of green corn. It is very essential that the cut corn be thoroughly mixed after it is elevated Or blown into tho silo. If this is not done, the heavier portions will fall in One placo and cause the silage to settle unevenly, resulting in much loss, due to spoiling. During the process of filling, the cut material should be kept slightly higher 6t the edges than in tho center, and well tramped cloBe to the sides where friction prevents it from settling. It is not necessary to tramp in the center of tho silo, for the weight of tho silage there is sufficient to insure thorough packing. Silos that are deep and of largo diameter require less tramping than those of smaller dimensions. Northwest Crops Good portunity the opening of the market will give. Hood Eive.r reports estimated crop of 1,200 cars, conditions very favor able, weather very dry with a tend ency to retard color, which is made safe by irrigation. Attitude of grow ers not to say much and await de velopments. General matter of discus sion marketing "C" grade of apples. Some shipping, mostly Gravensteins and pears. Everyono asks: "When will the war endt" Yakima Six thousand cars, quality of crop good, weather dry with cool nights; hardly enough dampness to color as fast as desired. However, gen eral conditions satisfactory. Growers in this district also seem to have the "Watching und Waiting" spirit, and seem to believe that this year will be a crucial test from many angles. Situa tion for coming picking season is splen did. Growers making preparation to harvest wholo crop, although general trend of conversation is toward appar ent need of proposed emergency rate by railroads. Winter peaches, pears and few apples moving now, divided in usual proportion among handlers. I'cshastin Upper Wenatchee Valley reports excellent conditions and splen did quality of crop, tipples maturing ono week early and few peaches, pears and summer apples aro moving; most ly operations with Seattlo commission men; not many sales reported. Very little talk and much guessing. much larger seal than at present prasv ticedk At tit Opera, A eertaia leprescntatfos in Con gress from ths West is very fond of music, and it annoys him to a degree at the opera to perceive the inatten tion of the audience. One night when ha had slipped over to Now York to visit the Metropolitan a friend found him supping si a Broadway establishment "I have been to the opera," said he, in response to the other's inquiry. "What did you heart" "I heard," said the representative, "that the TwiBers are going to get a divorce, that young Van Gilder has married an English barmaid, and that Mrs. J. C. Sprcckelmeyer is gradual ly pawning her jewels." THE HEART OF THE TBEE. What does he plant who plants a treef He plants the friend of the sun and Bsy; He plants the flag of the breezes free j The shaft of beauty towering high; He plants a home to heaven anigh For Bong and mother-croon of bird In hushed and happy twilight heard The treble of heaven's harmony These things he plants who plants a tree. What does he plant who plants a treef He plants cool shade and tender rain And seed and bad of days to be, And years that flush and fade again; He plants the glory of the plain; He plants the forest's heritage; The harvest of a coming age; The joy that unborn eyes Bhall see These things he plants who plants a tree. What does he plant who plants a treef He plants, in sap and leaf and wood. In love of home and loyalty And far-cast thought of civio good His blessing on the neighborhood. Who in the hollow of his hand Holds all the growth of all our land A nation's growth from sea to sea, Stirs in his heart who plants a tree. BOYS AND GIRLS COLLECT P08TUABI8 Cheaper and Hose Intejestlnf Than Collecting Postage Stamps), SEABURY POSTMARK CLUB Boa 14S, O&thlamet, Wart. : IWUMI IU AWf AIM MlHil &I4 ,i,msjiimi avi TJ. 8- Army T&W - 1-4 ?V. I. Maw - M IriMlefsltm'x lHq JKbCMIm Km - -Lmj Itioslt Bum Jt 3.00 Arnry Brkflsj 1.40 mmm I Xbmkirmm Cos i .n mm 4UMMMB IM mm mmw issiMr 15 U Awt . Chswy. tiiw, Kwmi CttT. ' Fmsj, Nice New Rugs Made From OLD CARPETS AT SMALL COST Mail Orders Solicited NORTHWEST RUG CO. Portland, Ore. 188 East Big-nth Street WHITE TJB TOtTB WANTS WE Pay Freight One Way AUTOMATIC HOOK EXTENSION LADDERS ANT LENGTH, FRUIT AND STEP LAB. DEBS A SPECIALTY. FRANK NEWTON ft CO. PACOTO LADDER WORKS. 85 and 87 East Eighth Street, Portland, Orafun. COMB TO THE NEW MADISON HOTEL Cor. Pint and Madison, Spokane, Wash. 8T0P WITH US IF YOU VALUE COURTESY, SERVICE AND HOMELIKE BURR0TJNDT5Q3 Management Arthur Q. Jnrf. Rates 50c and Up. Special Weakly Bates. Hogs in Northwest THE Northwestern Fruit Exchange, through their representatives in the various districts, report as follows: Wonatcheo will ship about 4,700 ears; weather conditions good and qual ity of crop excellent The dry weather seems to be causing apples to mature s little too fast. Growers generally optimistic and seem to feel that even a black cloud, as caused by big gen eral crop and war conditions, may have silver lining. Wenatchee is moving some Jonathans, Winter Bananas and Early Fall apples. Sales give some evi dence of cash buyers. Some inclination on the part of shippers from this dis trict to store. However, majority de sire to take advantage of whatever op- DL'RING recent years the hog in dustry in the Pacific Northwest has been inadequate to supply the local demands for ork and pork pro ducts. Tbis has caused tho average price of pork to be relatively high and his made it necessary to ship a largo percentage of tho hogs slaughtered and baeon consumed from ea9t of the Bocky Mountains. It is possible to provido pasture for hogs in most of this region throughout much of tho year. In most localities it is also possiblo to provide crops that mav bo hotrccd off during several months of tho busy season. Tho crops generally used tor tins purpose are wheat, field peas, corn and barley. By supplementing well-managed pasture with the proper grain rations and util izing the ability of the hog to harvest grain crops for himself, the average cost of producing pork may be ma terially reduced. These conditions offer an opportunity for profitable pork pro duction in the Pacific Northwest on a IT PAYS TO DUY A GOOD PIANO Cheap prices and special inducements should not Influence fhs Tiano buyer. We carry all grades of Pianos from $250.00 to $200.00, bnt only makes in which we have confidence and which we can recom mend. Our Tianos from $250.00 to $375.00 include several makes which are positively the best Pianos manufactured to sell at these prices tho lowest prices at which good dependable Pianos can be sold. We carry only ono line of Player Pianos; that of the Aeolian Company, makers of the world famous Pianolas. The Pianola is furnished in six different makes of Pianos. Write TJs for Catalogues and Prices. k i w Sherman Jflay & Go, Steinway, Weber and Other Pianos, Pianolas, Victroias, and all the Becords. PORTLAND, OEEGON.
