Improved Artichokes

Attention has been ealled of late to artichokes as food for stock, notably for hogs. Farmers in various seotions of the country have reported success with feeding swine on these tubers until j, short time before killing, -when a few bushels of corn are given to harden the flesh. Following are extracts f rom a Michigan farmej's letter to Vick's Illustrated Monthly: One acre of artichokes will keep from 20 to 30 hogs in the best condition, as they aro always healthy when fed on tliem. For horses, cattle and sheep there is not a b e 1 1 o r root grown. One acre wiU produce from 300 to 700 bushels of tubers, depending on the soil. Theimprov. ed artichoke is entirely different frorn the native v.or wild variety which is raised in s o m e gardens. The Improved White Frenen is a native of - France, where it is largely grown for domestic use as well as for stock. It grows abbut 6 feet in - height, and in the fall is ed with yellow blossoms, which in this country liever mature seed; henee no danger of covering the farni. My flve years' experience has proved to me that they can be destroyed. My plan is to plow under when one foot in height. A simpler way is to leave the hogs in the patch a little late in the 8pring, and they will find every one. The tubers are much like Irish potatoes in appearance, only rougher, flesh pure white, very brittl3 and sweet. Many farmers in Newago county are growing them extensively as a general farm erop. The artichoke is important, as no insect, blight or rust has yet struck it, and the tops make a good fodder when properly handled. Last winter they were tested at the Fremont creamery with the best of results. Lowland which is too frosty for corn and many other crops is just the place for artichokes, as freezing does not hurt them. Drought seems to have but little pffect on them. Celery For Home and Market. With proper management celery may now be had nearly all the year round, and consumers have become more discriminating as to the qualities of the different varieties, as is evidenced by the followiug inquiry from one of the largest celery growers in Ohio: "Is it not advisabiefor growers touso more of the self blanching varietiss of celery like Perfection Heartwell or Porie Ie Grande and less Golden Self Blanching, and are not the pink and red varieties the best for marketing?" This inquiry wassnbmitted toa number of experienced growers in various sections of the country, and their swers as pnblishod in The American Agriculturist are highly interestiug and show how the tastes of bnyers differ in different localities and how important it is for growers to acquaint themselves with tiie requirements of their markets. Nearly all agtee that the eating qualities of the pink and red varieties are superior to those of all others, but for marketing they are almost worthless. Ilomemarie Windmills. A Nebraskan writes as follows 1 cerning a homemade windmill for pumping water: We usually make our wheela 8 feet in diameter - that is, we use four 2 by 2 inch hard wood pieces 8 feet long, and they cross on the axle, so that the fans aro 4 feet long, and we make them 4 feet wide, so that the fan is square. We use half inch lumber to cover the fans. Lap siding does very well. The box is made enough larger thau the wheel so that there is no danger of striking with the fans. We use a wire extending from the extremity of onc fan to the next to brace the wheel. If there should be trees or buildings near to hiterfere, the box rnay be set on posts as high as you choose. Mine is 8 feet to the top of the box. A Plank Marker. For planters of small gardens a Texas correspondent of Farm r.nd Fireside gives au ilhistrated deseription of a homemade tooi which he finds very serviceable in planting small beds, such as radish, onion, etc. Take a plank 6 tír 8 inches wide and 1 foot long. Hollow out tho side that is intended to drag on the ground, and nail a small, sharp stick to it, which is iuteuded to open a small furrow for the seeds. Attach a handle about 5 feet long to the top edge of the board and pull it straight ahead over freshly plowed ground, and you will have ;i nice sniooth ridge, with a small furrow on top to receive the seeds. To cover the seeds, remove the small stick and drag the concern over the ridge again.