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Atf'irMa communications to Agronomist. H Actalaide St. West Toront* PLOWING ORCHARDS IN THE FALL. With the right set of conditions it Is advisable and with the wrong set It is not But I believe that we have tlw right conditions far more fre- ritly than one might think, from rarity of the practice. The principal advantagfes are: First, that late autumn, when this plowing should be done, if at all, is a •lack time for the teams on most orchard farms. In the second place, by stirring the soil in the autumn we disturb and to a great extent destroy those insect p^sts which pass the winter in the soil or in trash about the orchard. Their winter quarters are broken up, they are exposed to the weather and their enemies, skunks and birds of all , kinds, can get at tliem better. j The list of such inaects includes such formidable pests as the railroad worm or apple maggot, the spring canker worm, the green fruit worm and the curculio. The last named is found in the trash and not in the soil, but it is at least considerably incon-j venienced by the plowing of the land.' In the third place, the soil in the orchard is better exposed to the action of the frosts and snows and rains of | winter and is thereby put in better condition for the following year and more of its latent plant food becomes ; available. In the fourth place, the cover crop •nd any other plant growth on the' THANKSGIVING UP AT GRAY'S A SHOCKING THANKSGIVING land are turned under, where this m*' teiial becomes thoroughly soaked and remains so, and if it does not actually begin to decay it at least is in the best possible condition to do so early in the spring and thus become of value to our trees earlier in the season. And in the fifth and last place, every block of orchard that is plowed up and laid by in the autumn is just so much work out of the way of the spring rush. That is surely a fairly strong case for autumn plowing. Turning now to the negative side of the case, the one serious and legiti- mate argument against the practice is the fact that lands which have been so plowed are more subject to wash- ing during the winter and early spring. This is a real argument and is suffi- cient rea.son for vetoing the practice in any block of orchard which is on fairly sloping land. Don't do it in such a case. But almost every orch- ard farm has one or more blocks on sufficiently level land so that the prac- tice is entirely safe. I have seen hundreds of orchards plowed in the autumn and never yet saw a case of injury through expos- ing the roots to cold. That is the case of autumn plowing as the writer sees it. Having prac- ticed it for years without any bad re- sults, he feels fairly sure of his ground. If your orchards are on reasonably level land try it out. ?> A NEW STANDARD In nearly every locality, these days, one can find homes containing many modern conveniences. The other day we inspected such a home having an up-to-date bathroom, hot and cold running water, a septic tank, electric lights and power, the latest type of washing machine, furnace, and, out- side, a well-kept lawn with shrubbery and trees arranged to set off the home from the remainder of the farm build- ings and the farm. One farmer suggested that this lay- out favored quite strongly the fem- inine side of the house. He took the position that a farmer shuold afford none of this until he becomes fiinan- elally independent. This may be true, but we cannot think it more important to play out the full length of a mother's strength, and to expose the family to unsanitary or unhealthful conditions, simply to pay off the obligation apainst the farm a year or so sooner. We venture that, in many instances, money spent in supplying the home with these things bring about financial savings and enhance the family income out of proportion to the gains that might come by devoting all the funds in profit-producing investments. A rea- gonable division of the farm income between the home and the farm should augur for the highest interests of the farmer and his family. fied with things as they are. Often, too, they are afraid of changes be- cause they do not know what the changes will bring. They are usually those who have responsibility and therefore want to let well enough alone. The middle-of-the-roaders are the great body of people, sane-minded and with a realization that there is some good in what both the radicals and conservatives advocate. They weigh sanely all things and take the good from both extremes and put it to practical use. They pull on the tugs with the load of heritage behind them. Whereas, the radicals want to be un- hitched from that load and run ahead in leaps and bounds, while the con- servatives would sit in the breeching and leave the load where it is. The middle-of-the-roaders put into the mill of puMic thought the grrist that the radicals and conservatives furnish and grind out a safe and sane pro- gress. So, it seems that regardless of what our trend of thought is, except that it be evil, we serve a purpose in this world. But, the one thing we are glad of is that most of the people are middle-of-the-roiSders. Hiram Gray and his sister Mary sat talking matters o'er. Young Hiram's wife had been sick in bed a whole six months or more. And Mary, by way of comforting, said : "Brother, be strong of heart, For methinks the time draws very near when you and NeKie must part. "There is no disease worth mentioning, so Dr. Brown declares, It's just a slipping away from life, and all life's worries and carM. She'll be a saint before the year's outâ€" she looks a saint to-day; And, brother, there's no use grieving if the Lord doesnt want her to stay." "We mustn't question Providence" â€" ^here an interruption came From Aunt Rosanne, who^e figure was short and temper somewhat the same. "If I were you," the good lady said, "Hiram Gray, upon my word, I wouldn't saddle my own mistakes and meanness upon the Lord" "I'd be man enough to bear them myself. Five years ago last May The woman who lies in yon big spare room was married to you. Nephew Gray. Her eyes was bright as a happy child's, her face was sw«et and fair, You seemed to think the whole wide world not worth a lock of her hair. "Oh, you were a wonderful lover, but lovers and husbands, I find, Are often different creatures â€" I am going to speak my mind. Wish I had spoken it long ago, wish I had cried out shame When you first began to wear the life out of her who bears your nam*. "She wasn't fitted to do the work of this big house year by year â€" Trying her best to get through with it has cost her something, 'tis clear. And scant the sympathy that you gave â€" you were better at complaints. And fault-finding is very poor help when a mortal droops and faints. "Her life mission was to slave away, that you might prosper and thrive. And I tell you plain that a selfish man is the meanest thing alive! 'Didn't think?' Don't tell mel 'Twas the greed of gain kept you from doing right. You neglected to cherish the woman you wed â€" and you're paying for it to-night "What'."? that? You love her with all your heart â€" and have loved her all the while? Methinks it would be a pious plan to tell her so once in a while, And not leave her bearing her burdens, uncheered by a tender word. And then try to ease your conscience up by blaming it on the Lord, "When she lies In the big spare bedroom, with her face as white as snow^. Dreaming of Heaven's own peace and rest â€" and thankful enough to go." j He's awayl How he cried at that last; never saw him so moved. I He's in his wife's room, he's down on his knees praying her to live and be loved. "Now, Mary, I know you're thinking 1 should have left him alone. You've never been married, I have, dear, and have daughters of my own. And too many wives are wearying for the cheering word and smile â€" But, well, from the way Nephew Gray's carrying on Nellie won't be a saint for a while." Can't you surmise how things will go? As fast as ever she can Nell will get the roses back in her cheeks if only to humor her man. The blessed prophecy came true, and this is why to-day They keep Thanksgiving royally in the home of Hiram Gray. "Let UR number up our blessings before we sing the grace," Speaks up the happy husband with his eyes on Nellie's face. She smiles at him, and he can but note the dimple in her cheek and chin. "I've so much to be thankful for," he cries, "I don't know where to begin!" â€" ^EAN BLEWETT. Thanksgiving! When the turks have ceased to gobble. An' are bein' stuffed to eat, An' the ducks no longer wobble On their pigeon- toey feet; When the odors from the oven Come to tempt the sons p' men. It's a sign that that ol' lovin' Day â€" Thanksgivin's here again I When the pumpkin, fat an' juicy, la transformed into a pie, Alt' your Ma an' Aunt Jerushy Keep the kitchen stove "on high"; When the cellar's store o' cider, Pickles, jellies an' preserves. Makes you let your belt out wider. To accommodate the curves; When the air is full o' spices. An' the scent o' things a-balM, An' the freezer's freczin' icea, An' there's frostin' on the cake; When the folks â€" both kin and neigh- bors, Start appearin' on the scene, liOokin' hungry-like, b'jabersi â€" You can guess what it may meant When the gruerts have all foregathered 'Round the moanin', grroanin' bqard, An' their smilin' lips are lathered, An' their appetites have soared; When the gobbler's stuffed with dressin'. To be gobbled up by men, Tou can thank God for the blesein' 0' Thanksgivin' Day, again! â€" James E. Ilungerford. « The Three Classes. Despite the vari<vi8 activities of life, people are divided into three great classM, radicals, middie-of-the- twders and eoniervatives. All three 4rt useful In world affairs. The radieala are against "what is" eld are usually in a hurry to bring topian conditions upon earth. Some Ki radical because they want to at- et attention; others sincerely think fhat thoy can bring the seventh keaven oc earth if we would but let them. The radicals are usually ahead at the timer, in ^ch they llv». The consitrra^vS are better 8*ti*> Late Cutting of Alfalfa. | Alfalfa haying in October is not in' the best interest of the alfalfa plant in Ontario. As late as October the' 20t-h of this year the writer noticed a number of fields of alfalfa in differ- ent counties th&t had just been cut, raked and coiled preparatory to ex-; tracting the last straw possible from' these fields. This practice can be fol- lowed without the risk of removing all profit from alfalfa growing. Past experience has shown that late cut- ting or close grazing leaves the plant in a weakened, unprotected condition and not likely to survive a hard win- te<l with sufficient reserve energy to produce a full crop the following sea- 1 son. Alfalfa fields have been com-' pletely lost by the practice of late! October cutting. | * J Only silage from well-matured com: should be fed to the sheep. j Song of Praise. We praise thee, God, for harvests earned. i The fruits of labor garnered in ; | But praise thee more for sail unturned From which the yield is yet to win ! ! We praise thee for the harbor's lee, ' And moorings safe in waters still ; But more for leagues of open sea, j Where favoring gales our canvas \ fill. ! We praise thee for the journey's end, The inn, all warmth and light and cheer; I But more for lengthening roads that wend I Through dust and heat to hilltops clear. We praise thee for the conflicts won. For captured strongholds of the foe. But more for fields whereon the sun Lights us when we to battle go. We praise thee for life's garnered gains, TMe bl.^ings that our cup o'erbrim; But more for pledge of what remains Past the horizon's utmost rim! Salt is essential to all farm anunais. Ordinary barrel salt is the best to feed for the reason that an animal mny have all the salt desired. Salt) should not be ml.xed with the ftod . but fhould be fed in a separate t»e<? , box. If salt is mixed with tho feed ' the tinimal ~may get either too much ! or too little and suffer as a result. j Silos. In Ontario only one farm in seven has a silo. Some counties show a high percentage, other counties a very low percentage of farms using this mod- ern economic storage construction. | The fodder storage costs can be re- ! duced by the use of the silo to one- i sixth of the barn storage costs. The ' silo has made possible the extensive' use of plants that are not sufficipntly palatable in their natural state to be of great use. The ensilage process when practiced on sunflowers, mus- tard, coarse, sweet clover and Russian thistle makes palatable, acceptable silages. The silo can be made to serve a useful purpose by providing a med- ium through which weed infested crops may be handled, by being util- ized to save grass, clover and grain crops in seasons too wet for haymak- ing or grain ripening. Well made sil- age will keep for a number of years if not exposed to the air. The .sur- plus corn ensiled in September of one year will have a distinct value in carrying the stock over a dry period the following summer. ' Should your farm still be without a silo, why not plan to get the lumber, and gfravel ready during the coming winter. Bulletin 287 may be of assis- tance to you. BY LYDIA UON ROBERTS. "Four quarts of cranberry jelly,", she could make to earn •on* mohvy murmured Mrs. Bratiioa, her !:ind i and Rita remembered her w</rderfol gray eye^ watching to see that every I plum puddings, and told her she woa;d one was served, "and about eight or {try t« get orders from the girls In ten pies.' .'^he sight d a little, and ab-' the office. She's got twenty orders sentmlndedly smoothed her wavy ^ now." white hair. "And two plum puddings, ' "The pluclty woman!" exclaimed besides the turkey. Did you speak to! Mrs. Bronson. "It's a good idea and :no. Myrtle?" she apologetically in- it won't cost much more either." quired "It won't coat you anything," smiled ' it sounded like a poem in free Ruth. "It's my present to the JoIIiert verse," smiled the new daughter-in-j mother in town," and she hurried out law uffectlonately. again. "It will taste much better than free' "Wt-ll," smiled Mrs. Bronson, "my verse," spoke up the eldest daughter. ^^'^ keeps getting smaller and smaller. "And we have tarts for br-iakfast This is a topsy-turvy Thanksgiving, and mince pie the night before, and What next?" mother packs a basket for each of the "^ ordered a chicken this ytar," an- married ones to Uke home after the nounced Mr. Bronson. the first of the ftinncrâ€"there's something goinft- on nil Holiday week. "The children said the time," grinned Ellsworth. j t^ey didn't mind if I'd put what I "I guess it's mother who is going ««ve<l <>" it toward phonograph on all the time," quietly suggested the records." fatlier of the family as he rose from "Well, I'm sure that's getting off the tia-table and went with the others *««y ^o"" ^^' so I don't mind," said into the living-room. mother, and bustled cheerfully abo'At "How would you really like to spend the kitchen as she planned the un- Thank.sgiving Day, Moth'- Tronson?" usually small dinner, curiously asked Myrtle, *ith her When mother awoke Thanksgiving hands in the dish-pan. "Suppose some morning, she was surprised to find one should give you a present of that father was already up and out Thanksgiving Day, what would you do *>* the room, and when she turned to with it?" " • see what time it was, his watch was "You nonsensical child," indulgent-' ^"^' too. ly smiled Mrs. Bronson, "v.ho ever "^ ""^^t have overslept," she mur- heard of such an idea? For thirty mwed, and opened the door to ask the years I've had the big Thanksgiving time. "It must be late," she worried, celebration at our house." " | "'or I hear the children ".« voices, and "I suppose you can't even imagine' ^ ^^ell coffee, too." any other way of spending it then," ^" answer to her anxious call for said Myrtle. i the time, a merry laugh answered her, "I wouldn't say that exactly," dryly; '°l!°wed by Myrtle's dark eyes and answered Mrs. Bronson, a little | <^â„¢P^^s beaming at her over a tray, twinkle glinting over her face, "for| "Here is your coffee, madam," she sometimes when I've been extra tired i curtsied, "with griddle cakes sweet, I've rested myself pretending what I «"'i ''""'t to eat," and she put the would do if things were different, well-filled tray down in front of her First, I think I'd lie in bed an extra ' "P««<:hiesa mother-in-law. hour, and after breakfast I'd do up: "'^°^ goodness' sake, what time ia the housework leisurely. Usually I'm ^t?" exploded Mrs. Bronson, her sur- in a breathless rush all dayâ€" and then Prised eyes resting hungrily on the father and I would go to church and dainty and appetizing breakfast in the afternoon we'd saunter over to ' "Time is nothing in your young life the home of one of the married chil- to-day," saucily teased Myrtle, "you dren. have a light supper and sing have absolutely nothing to do but do and Ulk around the fireplace," and J>ist as you are told." mother shook her head at her own! "Which I won't do unless I'm told sinfulness. ' niore," threatened Mrs. Bronson. "I think that's a lovely idea." warm-' "^'^'^y well, tyrant, so be it," assent- ly defended Myrtle, "and you needn't' ^ >lyrtle, and giggled as Mr. Bron- look so horrified at yourself for tell- ^°'^ '»"<^ the rest of the family tiptoed Ing me. I understand just how you ^° to see how mother took the news, feel," and thought to herself, "I think I "What's my family up to?" demand- I understand more than the rest of >^° mother, the family." i "Your dinner is cooking nicely and One morning, a few days later. Mrs.' will be served at noon by Myrtle and Bronson was making out her list of Uavid," began her daughter-in-law, groceries for father to take to town., "helped out by the pies Bertha and I When Bertha ran in. "Mother," she made, the plum pudding Ruth bought, began, "would you feel too badly if , a"'^ ^^ chicken Father Bronson pro- we didn't come to dinner on Thanks-' vided. You are to dress slowly, walk giving day? The baby is so little, wa' to church with father in this crispy hate to take him away from home all ^ir, rest after dinner, and then go day, and I thought maybe you could o^«'" to Bertha's for supper." arrange to come over to my house for "Thisâ€" why â€" this is awful!" gasped supper instead." i Mrs. Bronson. "I never heard of such "If you think best. I g-jess that will' 'â- Â« Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is be all right," meditated her mother, ^<^^ the familyâ€" not ju.st for me," she "and it would be pleasant for father protested, eating the grapefruit which and me to be at your house for David had handed her. supper." "That's just the trouble." smiled The next evening David strolled in' David, "Thanksgiving ha.= been all for on his way home from work. i the family and none for you. and now "By the way, mother," he said, as the family is presenting you with a he hunted for doughnuts in the pan- workless. painless, gronnless. gaspless try. "don't make any pies for Thank.s- glving. Myrtle wants to make all the Thanksgiving.' "Go along, you young scamp." scold- pies this year. Is it a couple of dozen ^^ his mother, "and you too, you you usually make?" "Mercy, no!" said his mother, chuckling, "not more than six this young mischief," shaking a finger at Myrtle affectionately. "This is simply shociving â€" but I am enjoying being Cows fed plenty of well-cured leg- ume hay are receiving an abundance of vitamines. i year as long as Bertha's family isn't shocked! coming. It's very nice In Myrtle to ^'^^^- Bronson's day went leisurely help me out." and happily along, each hour full of "Mother," cried Ruth, hurrying into comforts and surprises. When she the kitchen after David had gone, <^ntered Bertha's home and found the "don't make any plum nuddings, for whole family, waiting before the flre- I have promised to buy two big ones place, with the smallest baby gurgling from a girl in the office." "* **"" -)""..;"- «».»,.,., â„¢.,»i,„..'. !,„„-» It has proven economical to hog down corn at the dancing flames, mother's heart an office girl know was full. It has been p. wonderful day," beamed Mrs. Bronson after the good family "sing" around the piano at tha the evening, and then she What doe: about plum puddings?" protested her mother indigmantly. "Rita doesn't make them," explain ed Ruth, "it's her aunt in the country, close o: She asked Rita if there was anything stopped in surprise. __^ 1^ j "Y^ou have always packed Thanks- ; giving baskets for us," said Bertha, as she placed several gay boxes and packages in mother's arms, "with all I kinds of goodies from your big pantry 'â-  and your big htart, so now it is our i turn. Here is some of our Thanks- giving for you. Take it home and feast for a week." Mrs. Bronson dazedly opened the boxes, v/hile the girls and boys whom I she had served so eagerly and loving- . ly for many viars, looked on with ten- I der pride. There were bright paper napkins holding nuts, fruit, little Cakes, chocolates, and other surprises, and in the long-'st box of all lay six , golden chrysanthem'-ims. I "I never saw such goings on ir. all ' my life!" she e.si-laimed, as she faced ' them with mi.^ty. radiant eyes. "I never was so shocked and I never w»j! so thankful! This is the most wen iorful Thanksgiving that any one ever had!" "v, vv' â-  ?j^' isX â- -• * ';';'- y^*:il^ / ! CENTRE OF STIRRING ELECTION SCENES i Trafalgar Square, where nearly half a million Londoners awaited the election results. A large screen was hung over the wall tt li:o Uuii.ilss which is exposed to the extreme right of the photograph and as the results wore received they were fla.?hc,l into it frvin one cf the sjiie wia.io>v.? ci tL? Canadian Pacific Railway and Steamship offices which arc seen toward the right front. In addition to the election results a serle* of sliiJts and fllnis lUustratIng scenes and iudustpies In Canada were shown, 'wlille at the same time, through the largest loud speaker procurable, a lecture was deli.ored on Canada interspersed with the Maple L««f and other Canadian songSk ] To determine w'nich hens .should be I killed off and which kept over for an- ' other year, the Poultry Di"ision of the Central Experimental Farm at Ot- tawa carried out sn experiment, in which it was learned that the latest moulting hens are as a rule the heav- ie-t Tayers. It i.s recommended, there- fore, thnt wh'. n killing in the late fall, it i.«! well to reserve those that are not , fully feathered, that is .» say. those • j that are ir the jjrocess df mo<»it'ng, • provided they are vigorous -•nd of ! good typ% \