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.
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JKbCMIm Km - -Lmj
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3.00 Arnry Brkflsj 1.40
mmm I
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15
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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.