VOL. XX.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, MARCH 28,1885
NO. 13
COHDITIOK 07 TEADK.
The New York Shipping and Commercial List, of the 18th, has the following encouraging report on the prospects of business at the great commercial emporium:
"The threatened disturbances of last week
have disappeared, and this week opens
with the volume of trade not only fairly
active, but progressive, as it shonld be at
this season of the year. The conservative
course thus far pursued by the new administration is strengthening public confidence as to the sincerity of the claims
made in its behalf; there is nothing to
arouse apprehension with respect to the
future, so far as the material prosperity of
this country is concerned; and after struggling for a year through the dangers of
shrinkage and depression, we seem to be
gradually approaching the open sea that is
free from hidden rocks and sunken shoals.
The eastward movement of flour, grain
and provisions last week is not only largely in excess of the corresponding date last
year, but is nearly equal to that of 1883;
tho railroad earnings for February show
but a trifling decrease, considering the interruption to trafllc from snow and ice;
the bxports of wheat and cotton for the
crop year from the whole country continue
in excess of last year, and the surplus of
idle money at this center is slowly melting away. Furthermore, the distributive
movement of domestic trade is increasing
in many departments, and while dealers
- do not report - an active demand, ttae'ab-
' sorotion of supplies has been sufficient to
""UftiVenit £rt**di"juiauui„ These are the
salient features of the situation, and they
are not without significance; neither are
they neutralized' by the obvious, but less
important, obstacles that continue to impede more rapid progress. With respect to
wheat,reliable returns, recently published,
show that an average of 32 per cent of last
year's" crop remained in farmers' hands on
March 1 in 12 grain-growing States, and 31
per cent in other localities. On this basis
the amount of wheat not yet Marketed is
indicated to be 162,000,000 bushels, which
added to the visible supply ia the leading
markets and in transit of 43,000,000 bush-
els,makes an aggregate of 205,000,000 bushels, which compares with 150,000,000 bushels as estimated by the Bureau of Agriculture on March 1, 1884, showing an increase
this year of 55,000,000 bushels:- As the
yield of wheat in 1884 was 92,000,000 bushels more than in 1883, it is evident that the
exports and consumption have made con-
siderable inroads upon our surplus of production. If the absorption by export and
consumption continues relatively as large
until the next harvest, the surplus then
will not be larger than will make up for
the probable deficiency in the new crop,
which it is assumed will exist under the
most favorable circumstances, because of
.the known reduction in the acreage of
winter wheat, as well as of the tendency
which the unsatisfactory prices realized
for this crop will naturally have in reducing the attention at present given to
spring wheat culture. The exports of
wheat, corn and flour from the whole
country thus far this year are 13,900,000
bushels wheat, 4,000,000 bushels corn, and
290,000 barrels flour in excess of last year.
Time for Sowing Clover.
Editors Indians farmer:
Tne proper time for sowing clover seed
is near at hand for this season, and as we
have noticed quite a difference of opinion
ln regard to tho best time for sowing seed
expressed in the columns of the Farmer
we very naturally turn our attention to
the Farmer for more light on this very
important subject. G. A. S. in a letter to
the Farmer of January 31st, says: "Sow
your clover seed 25th, 26th and 27th of
March when the sign is in the cancer,
crab, or breast."
A. M. Dunn says: "My time is "th, 8th
and 9th of March, when the sign is in
acorpio.   Now we claim to have had some
experience in sowing clover seed, and
have invariably sown without any regard
to the so-called zodiacal signs, and have
usually had very good success."
It is not our opinion that any day can be
set apart, three or four months prior to
the time of sowing seed of any kind, in
order that it may grow and flourish luxuriantly. It is absolutely necessary that we
have a fair calm day on which to sow
•sloveror timothy seed. Clover usually
does better sown in the spring time than
late summer, yet we have known it to do
well sown among the corn after harvest.
Timothy seed does the best when sown
among the wheat in the fall.
Our rule for sowing clover seed, if we
should say we had any rule, is to sow in
the spring, after the weather has become
warm enough to sprout and grow the seed.
If farmers will sow good seed on land
snited to .the growth of clover, at the time
indicated, they need have no fears as to
the result, let the sign be where it may.
In view of the many conflicting opinions
that the sign .of the Zodiac brings its
followers, entangling them in its mysterious meshes, teaching one man one thing
and others something else, may we not
properly "aslrttie editor, - or nome "believer
in the signs of tho Zodiac to explain through
the columns of the Indiana Farmer:
First, what the signs of the Zodiac are,
whether real or mythical? and if real then
give some reliable way in which we may
know the effect each sign has on vegetable
or animal life.? . • • .  E. H.
Mechanicsburg. . ■ ■   • „
The signs ofthe Zodiac are the ^divisions of the ecliptic or apparent path of
the sun, corresponding to the 12 months
ofthe.year. TJrgvri>ok their names from
fancied resembltr>- '/iaCofanimals, etc. in
the groups of sta ijihey contain. There
is no virtue in theiifiy of xiotfrse. There is
less nonsense in planting in the moon,
than in the signs.—Eds. *
defeat of Mr. Thompson for the International Revenue Bureau, they say it looks
as if Mr. Randall's influence is to be largely felt in the affairs of the present administration.
Among the President's daily stream of
callers are many celebrated men. Henry
Ward Beecher, William H. "Vanderbilt,
and Red Cloud, the Sioux chief, followed
each other in close succession the other
day. The frequent changes' of "Great
Fathers" greatly perplex and aboriginal
mind, and necessitates the repetition of
the story of grievances brought by the.
chiefs to every President. Red Cloud renewed his appeal for the relief of his people, and his request that agent McGilli-
cuddy be removed.
Wednesday was President Cleveland's
forty-eighth birthday. He spent it in attention to his usual duties, except that he
took a drive behind a pair of ex-President
Arthur's horses which have been left for
his use. One episode of the day was an
interview with the President by Rev. C.
S. Smith, a colored Democratic oratorfrom
Illinois. Speaking of the President afterwards Mr. Smith said. "He is a mag-
niflcent charjacter,__aild__he will meat the
expectations of all reasonable people of
everyvlass, color au*4 sectum. I an^satis"-
fied that he intends to deal jusaylwitfrthe,
colored people." '"."-.-■',
, And now there is to be a long needed
adjustment of army officers about:Washington. The new Secrotary of War sent
for the Adjutant-General "of the Army
the other day, and_ requested a full list of
all the officers here; with information as to
what they are-doing. It is thought that
those whd have been on duty here for
three'or at furthest, five years,, will be relieved, and, that others, who are entitled
to some experience of Washington official
life, will be permitted to take their places.
i.~~\:■'•'■ ..Washington Letter.
From our regular correspondent:
"  The third week ofthe  new administration has been marked by a succession of
surprises and disappointments.   The men
most loudly  called were  not chosen, and
the  expectants  have finally  como to the
conclusion  that  only the  unexpected is
imminent  at the  White   House  cabinet'
meetings.   I refer, of course, to President
Cleveland's    nominations.   One   of   the
most notable  was that for Commissioner
of  Internal   Revenue,  which  ended the
fight between Representative Phil. Thi..;" p-.
son, of   Kentucky, and  all his  rival?, '••*
Mr. Miller, of West Virginia,  gettlnp*
place.   Speaker Carlisle was the most "^1%
spicuons  advocate  of the  claims  t-vs^lffc
Kentuckian,   and   Mr. Randall  was V}^
alleged support of the nominee. .vsv ?
Ex-Representative  Durham's   appoimWi
ment as first  comptroller of the currencyf
was unexpected.   The name of Mr,
gomery, of Michigan, for commissioner
Patents, had not been publicly mentioned;
and   Mr. Hay, of   Pennsylvania,   for first
Assistaut Postmaster General,  was a real
surprise  to all political  guessers.   Of the
many names discussed for this important
place, that of Mr. Hay  had not been suggested.   There are many who claim to see
in this  appointment again  the fine work
of Mr. Randall.   Coming  right  after the
Orchard Grass, Eto.
Editors Indiana-Parmer:
I noticed by an article in tho'Farmer a
short time ago that you had made an un
fortunate experiment with . orchard grass
in your yard or lawn. I an>. »ure you did
uot make the experiment a my sugges-
l_£n, notwithstanding you quote from one
of my articles where I recommend it as a
profitable farm crop for grass or hay. But
above all things.'keep it out of your lawn,
if you ever expect it to.make a handsome
turf or sward, for it cannot be dono. None
but the finest grasses are suitable ttr.c *Jt*v
lawn, of which blue grass is tbe <ft»it>f, arid
I hadaltnost said tho onlytgrasS suitable
for the purpose,and I think I will say not-
. Ithstanding there are said to be-over 300
'■Hies. '•' '■■,'-•■'
season'for sowing Orchard grass
?rnTk«>v^K-V4WQt.
.ner of lha-^»*^r *#nt.
.4 soon as the ground can be put in
V:; spring, which Inordinary sea*
at band,-I*WJi? repeat what I
Jlother occasion, as it is still
with .'lie.
a v-y~oisst grower, and
very tenacious o*>."a ■ 'y.'i masses its roots
f*o as to resist k,«/-VV'vi*.'-b.inent of other
grasses, coveri^'J-T.olcnttf the ground with
its large pembsii,-., agaves that spring out
near the base of the plant to shade, nourish and enrich the soil not occupied by the
plant itself. This perhaps accounts largely for its ability to endure excessive
drouth. It will produce two large crops of
good hay, on rich soil,and submit to more
abuse than any  other forage plant except
blue grass,which is of little value in a very
dry season.
| H will also add the following extract from
the same address which may be of interest
to those expecting to fit up their lawns or
yards this spring:
, Perhaps I ought to refer, before closing,
tb an article sold as lawn grass seed, usually put up in packages by seedsmen and
sold for more than it is worth. There is
no such thing, properly speaking, as lawn
grass seed as a species of itself, but is a
mixture of grass seeds, most of which, if
the preparation is w6rth anything, is blue
grass. But frequently timothy, red top
and other coarse-leaved grasses, not suited
to a nice lawn, compose the chief ' part, all
of them so old, perhaps, that they refuse
to germinate, and the lawn grass seed is
denounced as a fraud, which it generally
is. The best method of securing a nice
lawn, which is the most beautiful thing
about the premises, is to cut fresh, strong
blue grass sward and sod it. If, however,
the grounds are too extensive for this, prepare the ground by manuring it well,
trench or plow deep, smooth it nicely and
sow fresh blue grass seed, and nothing
else, with an unsparing hand early in the
fall or very early in the'spring; brush or
rake it in lightly—water it thoroughly if
the season is dry—mow every 10 or 12 days
to keep down the weeds, and in tho fall a
beautiful deep, &ieen, rich, velvetv lawn
will bo the satif-f •-tory reward oi your
labor. ;..i
', Toil pake ft raistake ,wben you stats that
I am no\^j».ira,ent otthis city, I am only
'i*r*?.5^>Heteniporarily1engaged during the
consy.*£*«S^wJjwJ_J,fiW state House. My
socj*i|DUsiness and poliUcaT-r»j»_UL,
njaiirthe^tame; \n Allen county, as for the"""
past 50 S*S»rgi      , I. D. G. Nelson.
"'      ifW.^/;.; •.'.»" ♦ •—:	
CpjjS^ate, the Meadows.
There fif^o part" of farming at the present day ~d much neglected as the meadow,
and theJfiS is no crop grown that pays better. - The general idea bf the farmer is that
the meadow does not require any cultivation or care. "The meadow," he says, is
all right. I seeded this field two or three
years ago; -but I cannot see, why I get so
light a crop." It is quite"^th;- you have
been robbing the land for Qri-^e'years and
returning nothing. Worse than that; you
allowed the moss to creep in and smother
the roots which you. have robbed of their
natural sustenance, without returning any- ■
thing to them or driving off tkemoss fronf
the root-bound, grass.'    .:..'.       ■;.
What kind of acorn cfoji would you get
if you didnot cultivate it? To itlsnre a
big crop of hay cultivate it. HauWjyVIng
the winter months, six to eight lipids to
the acre of barn-yard manure and spread
it whilo baullng^s evenly as you can with
a fiirk- Th.?n an .carryas you can on the
ine-id'.-.-.'■■in March, or'aa soon as the frost
£-v*. H' «ua.t.hti ground dry enough to get
ion'*>;ULna team,, take a good harrow and
draff ii tK'ronghly, and then cross-harrow
it, then roll the meadow with a common
field roller. You will imagine you are going to ruin your meadow, but you are
simply loosening the roots and giving
tbem aehaiice; and when harvest time
comes you will find you not only did not
injure your meadow^ but greatly increased
your crop of grass, and also improved your
ground.
This matter of cultivating grass is not a
mere "theory." It is a principle, proved
to be correct by actual trial with profitable
results. In 1882 Josiah Bagley, of Serena,
from a six acre meadow took 12 loads of
hay, with no after crop. The following
season he manured and cultivated the
samel six acres substantially as outlined
above. Some of his neighbors laughed at
him; but about the loth of July, 1883, he
cut 19 loids of grass from these six acres, '
and in the last of September cut a second
crop of nine loads. He says: "I am an
advocate ol\ cultivating grass.—From J. E,
Porter's Spring Circular.