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_ » . I . HOW SOILS WEAR OUT f PUn to Keep Them Producing Maximum Crops. BY W. H. STEVENSON. I« our study of a practical soil the problem of «oIl acidity In a busl- manajremont pro(fram, we should ne«»-like and energetic fashion. Any nnderatand clearly that toil.s wear other pl.in w!!l re.'fult in Bmaller crop out; by this, we moan that soils tend yields and increased coBla of pro- to produce smaller and smaller crops duction. with the passing years, unless they j IMPnoVES THE SOIL. •re fertili/.ed. Every farmer knows â-  .Soils wear out becau.so they logo that this i« the case, but many seem organic matter rapidly when they are determined to lEnor© this Kfeat law cultivated. The importance of organic of nature. Their reward in found in matter in soils is due to the fact crops ot low yield and high cost per that it contains much plant food, pro-j ton, bushel or bale. vides bacteria with conditions which SoiU wear out because crops are are necessary to make the plant food' "not made of nothing." The fact is, constituents available for use, and all of our crops remove definite quan- improves the physical condition of titles of plant food from the sqil, and the soil. tlins con.stantly reduce the store of, In order to make and keep soils plant food elements in the soil. For highly productive the organic matter! •xample; A 100-bushel corn crop, supply must he increased in light col- graln and stover, contains 148 pounds ored, light textured soils and must be of nitrogen, twenty-three pounds of ; maintained in darker colored ty-pefl, phosphorus and seventy-one pounda and in the heavier type.s. All soils, ' HOW TO VARNISH A FLOOR The Right Way to Perform This TmIc. BY BEUTON ELLIOT. of potassium. I.ikewls*, a fifty-bushel wheat crop, grain and stover, con- ' taina ninety-six pounds of nitrogen, •Ixteon pounds of phosphorus and flfty-eight pounds of potaF£ium. On thll basis we know that each year an enormous amount of plant food is re- whatever their color or texture, must receive regular and ample supplies of organic matter If their productive capacity is to be kept on a high level. Three natural fertilizing materials may be used on the farm for this pur- pose. They are manure, green ma- Tho Scnute Chamber, Ottawa, the "Red Chamber" of the Parliament bulldiofs, In Its Te&ewed and graceful proiiortloos after the rebuilding fol- lowing ilie lucend'lar)' fire during the war. moved from the soils of the country nures and crop residues. by cr.>p.s. Statistics worked out for Farmers find the problem of pro- THE ONTARIO GARDEN TRANSPLANTINO IS NECESSARY. | next in order Is the head type, which Unless plants grown ln«ide are should be loo.scly tied up to blanch Iowa show that the total value of the viding an adequate supply of organic transplanted at least once before l>e- the hearts when well grown. For thre«» prinoipal elements, nitrogen, matter one that keeps them on the '^? ^t out in their perma/ifnt posi- 'a^e summer use try some of the cos phosphorus and potassium, removed Jump. On many live stock farms the t'ons in the garden they will become tJT^- This is sometimes known as In one year by the nine leadinp: crops supply of manure rarely meets the weak and spindly. This thinning out Chinese cabbage. It is self-blanching, !• In excess of $136,000,000. In this demand; then gre«n manures are "''^ moving about, hardens them, though a little assistance is appreci- case. the nitrogen constitutes about often used as a supplement. This niakes the stalks sturdier and devel- ^t*'^- ond it is easily growm. A little eighty per cent, of the total value practice is sound enough, but goner- ops the root grf>wth. Whe.i they are chicken wire or rough lattcce work of the plant food removed, while the ally involves considerable expense for Put oi^*- after one or two transplant- will protect lettuce from the birds, phosphorus and potassium make up seed, labor and rent of the land. j l"g:», and especially if they are hur- This crop requires rich soil, should •bout ten per cent. each. These are On the grain farm, crop residues 'â- '*d along with a little nitrate of soda, ^^ -own only a fraction of an inch dgniflcant farts. Thev mean that and green manures must be depended t'"'y will make far faster growth dicep and for best results should be even if mo.»t of the nitrogen is re- on for the n'ceded organic matter, than if they had never btv'n moved thinned. turned to the soil by the use of legu- Here, again, the real problem Is one from their original ixisition until set THE BEST ANNUALS. mlnous gr;^n manures, commorcial of expense, labor and the difficulty, <>"*• (^f course this only applies to In a most valuable bulletin by Isa- niaterinls must l^ bought to supply experienced by many farmers, of those plants such as tomatoes, cab- bella Preston, the Dominion Experi- deficiencies in phosphorus and potas- growing successfully, the right green bages, cosmos, zinnias, marigolds and mental P'arirs at Ottawa have offered •'i""- j manure crop. j similar onci which arc usually start- the public, free for the asking, some PLANT FOOD RETURNED. | Red clover grown in the rotation «d indoors. When sweet peas, mcl- very useful information on annual •The plant fmxljn the crops which often serves as a partial green ma- ""•"> cucumbers and plants which are flowers. Special lists are given in •re fed to live stock on the farm Is nure if the first crop is harvested and usually planted direct in the garden, which the annuals are classified under •t least partially returned to the soil the second crop plowed under. Better are given a start Miind glrss they various headings, such as shade lov- In manure. Hut when due allowance s+ill is the practice of removing only should be disturbed as litt!-o as los- ing, edging, fragrant, tall, short, et«. 1« made for this return, from an ecnn- the clover seed, plowing under all sible and moved carefully ojtaide when In the opinion of Miss Preston the Rounds simple, doesn't it â€" the re- rarnishing of a floor? Just pour tome varnish into a rec«T5tacle, dip the Lrus'h in and go ahead. But that's not the way to do It if Vou want the job done right. liet us take, for instance, an aver- a'ge oak floor that has not been re- finished for a year or more, in a home with a couple of husky young- sters. The youngsters will have seen to it that some of the varnish has been ecuifed off In doorways and other favorite routes of travel, and there will be some places worn clear down Into the wood and weatherbeaten to • dirty, grayish color. Here's the way to put this floor in good condition again : First, scrub the floor as It has sel- dom' been scrubbed before, using one of the grit cleansing preparations. Remember that any dirt remaining on or in the surface will get varnished under. Next examine the worn spots. Any that have been worn down to a dirty, weather-beaten appearance should be bleached with oxalic acid Dissolve in boiling water as much as can be dissolved, pour the solution on the bare spots, allow to stand for about half an hour, then wipe up, and rinse oflP with clear water. If the surface is extremely bad the solution may be left on overnight. In some cases, a second application may be necessary. WHEN TO USE A FILLER. After thoroughly dry go over these bleached spots and any other places where the varnish may be worn off to the bare wood, with a paste wood filler. The use of filler is necessary on oak, chestnut, ash and other open- grrain woods. Maple and pine, which are close-grain woods, do not require a filler. Wood filler comes in heavy paste form, to be n&ae«i with tnrpentlno Or benzine to the consistency of thicic cream. It 'Is applied with a Vrush;. allowed to stand for a few minutea, and then wiped off, across the grain, wilth a. piece of cloth or burlap. Na- tural or transparent filler should bo used on natural or light floors, and • colored filler such as dark or golden oak on the darker-stained floors. The next step is to sandpaper tho entire floor, to cut the gloss of tho previous varnish coating, and level off the worn and filled spots. Brush up the loose sand particles Immedi- ately before starting to varnish. BEADY TO BEGIN. Now we are ready to start applying* the varnish. The room should bo good and warm, or the varn/ish will j not flow out and level Itself to • ! smooth, even film. A few boards at • i time should be done clear across tho room. The varnish should be applied in thin coats. In case It drags • I little under the brush, add a littlo turpentine. When varnishing keep looking across the floor for skipped places. If any are seen brush over them quickly before the varnish commences to set. On a good varnish Job one should be able to get down close to the floor and look acrsos it, toward the light, without seeing a single skipped spot. I If the floor is in excellent condition I and has been revarnished frequently, one coat will be eufftcient; however, two coats are always preferable, especially on floors subjected to un- usually hard wear. When two coats are applied allow forty-eight hours for drying if possible, especially in damp weather or if the room is cold overnight; then sandpaper the first coat lightly and apply th* second coat. A CORNER FOR YOUNG CANADA omical rtanrlnoirt, it is clear that the tho rest of the crop. By this method the weather pennits, net loss of fertility from our soils is considerable nitrogen and much sufficiently grott to demand serious organic matter may be added to the attention and to reijiiire definite ap- soil. When clover is cut for hay and plications of plant food In a well- removed from the land, there is no ordered system of soil management, addition of nitrogen to normal soils, Again, soils wear out because they and it has no green manuring effect. KEEP GROUND CULTIVATED. The most importfint benefit derived from cultivation is the conserving of nK)isture, especially in the country where a hose and water are not avail- eonstanlly lose lime, and in time be- but when well inoculated it does not «!"'*• "^''^ ^"? ,t"*^ ''f^"': !l""'' "'' .... __ __:., y~, _^ , .. _;. t iL _ ^ .1 the surface of the soil and thus pre- come sour or acid. Crop production remove any nitrogen from the soil. vent the sun from drawing up and twelve best annuals for general plant- ing all through Ontario are: Alyssum, Calendula, Cand>-tuff, Coreopsis, Cos- mos, California Poppy or. Eschscholt- zia. Mignonette, Nasturtium, Portu- lacca, .Shirley Popjjy, Sunflower, and the Sweet Pea.- \ ASTERS HAVE A PLACE. For cutting material during Sep- Party Dresses. is generally not as sati.sfactory on and if used for feed and the manure .. . . ^ ."..,â-  â- , ♦..^r.,!.^.. ^r,A <-»„* k.. . u i. " ..:j i. n 41. . •. • . 4 » ii 1 J w c â-  1 a- . evaporating the moisture in the soi . tember and Oct )ber one would be at acid soils as on soils that contain a retunied to the land, beneficial efl^eets ,. .' .â-  , , . • . , ^ . <> H;=ftn/.t ^u.^ * uu ..» It is particularly advisable to loosen » distinct disadvantage without up tho soil after every rainfall. In asters. Each year brings out new the .early part of the season deep types md colors, and now with tiny 'cultivation can lie practiced, making singles to great globs of color as big this more shallow as the season ad- ^s chtysanthoiriums, there ij a it- goodly supply of lime. Legumes often may bo secured. Biennial sweet clover refuse to i^row where the soil is acid. Is now used extensively as a green Small grain crops and corn are not bo manure crop. â- ensitive to acidity, but they may be /On the live stock farm, the straw. Indirectly affected through a lessen- stover and other residues are gcnor- , ^, ^ ..^ j , r...fi..i-..Mo ,.^^„,^ t, .w: i. » i, I... «/ M, ., ^A, .t\ t -111 II 1 p » J u ij- 1 1 vances and the root growth develops, marln: ile rnnge from which to choose. Ing of tho production of available ally used for feed or bedding, and re-, u » u iii .ii.i..vii=. rinfa,.:- .,„t», u„ u u .. i j _i" , #„ J ' » J t .1, -1 • .u /-v A ri'TTiNo r.ABnPM '^ Ontino asters should be stirtod plant food. i turned to the soil in the manure. On' * iittino garden. i„-j,^,„ t , i ,.♦ ., u i .. fpu !•_ J fl I M â- ^ y^ t ' L\. â-  t XI 1 1^ 1 Tu in i inQoors Jor liest results and on tuis Tho limo deficiency of soils brings the grain farm the straw may be al-' The regular flower gardens fiur- j,,po„nt niost teoiln f f h our farmers face to face with one of lowed to decompo.se partially before round'ing tho house and lawns are ,u„: „, \. /â-  \v. ^ ' At. u- 11 » iu X. IX . 1- x- 1 XL X 11 â-  1 1 •» 11 XL 11 . . . their stock from the nearest green- the big problems of the times. It is application, and the cornstalks and spoiled if all the bloom is kept re- i^yuj^- „.,„ • big problem because vast sums of stubble may be plowed under, but In moved for supplying decorations in- moncy will be required for the pur- both systems of farming these resl- doors. Of course it is not advisalile chase of the need?d limestone and dues should never l>e burned or other- to let bloom go to seed, but in these because a hugra amount of heavy work wi.se destroyed. | gardens which one can see from the musi be expended in transporting tho! We have found that all soils natur- hou.se wimiciws and along the walk limestone and distributing it on the ally l<>iid to wear out under cropping, leading down to the street it is much land. But there is no practical way It is the business of tho farmer to put nicer to have the flowers in full bloom of treating acid soils except by appli- into practice methods of soil manage- and deix-nd on another garden at the Wilson Publishing Company To prevent disease plant in a ditfoien*. location from last .vear, and give thorn h position where they will have v -'t ty of room ani su.v They require rich soil and plenty of '•ulti>-ation. They are very subject to .•i;i;icks of root maggots. These can bo pi evented by dipping the roots in a mixture of corrosive sublimate just utside. This .s now gen- .. ,. , . "ii'''"^;."7\7^''''"'^,fth'-" which have k;;-p'^^^^^^^ are originated in the heart of the beautiful blooms but very ordinary j,„,„^ ^ cultivate well and put a stylo centres and will help you to foliage. These will supply abundant ,. ,„i,^r about the stem, sticking acquire that much desired air of in- cut flowers if grown in straight row.s ^^-^ ,,„^^ â- ^^_^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ dividunlity. Price of tho book 10c '" tn« vegetable patch where they will ^^ jj^^j, .> cations of lime materials; therefore, ment that will return to the soil as back for filling up your vases. Then i,e|-„,. transnlnntii ir t l farmers generally should resolve now, ' much plart food, lime and organic again there are some flowers, such as il'^fi, "-„„ tr. nt ' x " "" without further delay, to deal with matter as has been lost. 1 sweet peas, halchelor's button glad- T V !. .fi V V f i, /w < . , • ,• J xi > . , L eriillj emplojeu with cabr tho copy. HOW TO ORDER PATTERNa Write your name and address plain- ly, giving numtier and size of such Vutterns as you want Enclose 20c la ttamps or coin (coin preferred; wrip it carefu.'iy) for eacD number ami eddresi yoTir orJer to pHttern Hept, Wilson Publmhlnir Co., 73 West Ade^ laide St., Tororto. Patterns sent b; return malL get plenty of cultivation and are more accessible for cutting purpo.ws. THE WINDOW BO.X. Now tlint the window boxes are made and the h;m'ring pots purchased one nfust get busy and prepare to fill them. Use some old broken crockery or cinilers for drirnage in the bottom, then a layer of well rotted manure, tramped down tight, than two or three inches of rich garden soil, sifted fine. Bedding plants can be purchas- ed ready grown from the nearest gi-een houpe man or can be grown in- Trailing flowers A Costly Pest. The hou.so fly (musra domestica) door.s by yourself, is a costly pesl. The fly paper cost to such as (lerman ivy, climbing nas- the people of Canada each year is turtiums, and some trailing foliage nearly a quarter million dollars, plants should be used «long the front while the new wire screen purchased a'' well as clumps of Alyssum and each year costs us in our fight Ix>belia to add a touch of color. Back again.«t the fly nearly $1,000,000. n fow inches stick in some special Thi.H is not all, in spite of the fly window box Petunias, Geraniums, paper and wire screen the fly makes Sprengula Kerns, aijd a bit of bright- the people of this country pay over ly colored ribbon grass. This is only two and a half million dollars each » guide as there are scores of flowers year in counteracting intestinal dis- which do well in a box. Fertilize, Map Showing Grand Falls orders and dysentery. The cost of frequently and water daily. f ^^^ ^^^^ „^^j, ,.,,,^^^ ^^^ j^^„^^ caring for tubercular and typhoid pa- KliEP LETTUCE MOVINO. i of Oraad KaJl« In relation to the award tente adds anoth<.»r $10,000,000 to the The .secret of growing tender let- i-e<ently made by the privy council charge account against the fly as the tuce is to keep it moving. It must Tlie shaded area surroumllng Grand agent for tho dissemination of these not bo allowed to pause from the time JVilte wae In doubt as to ownerehlp, diseases. ,. , '* comes through the soil until it i.s V>ut the text of the Judgment Indlcatee These tremendous cosU could be rea,]y for the table. Of course whert that It belongs to Nawfoundlanl largely avoided by simple sanitary the head lettuce is sUrted inside and f^rand FaJIs t« In this area. Hamilton The fly breeds in fllth, nioved out in the open later, there is rlv»>.r and pert of tho Inlet are shown measures. A SMART TWO-PIECE SUIT. principally in horse manure. Care- ^ \nt\e pause following the trans- on tie map. Thla smart two-piere single-brofWt- ^-^snean in leaving manure exposed planting, but this will not amount to •d ouit U made with or without pUiU ""'' "^K'ect to use }H>rax and belle- ^uch if about a third of the leaves •t b^ck of the coat and has a notched J»°'^« "" exposed manure results n are snipped oflT after moving and if chicks each season. They had a habit ooll«r, two-piece sleeves and patch *''« "^ P''"'''""*'""'"'^ *« l"'^* •'^ *«"• the ground is well fertilized and one of wallowing in the road by our poekoU, while the accompanying trou- ""• pound of borax spread over each ^hlch is quickly available. A little . hou.s.>. I found a way to prevent this •«« •!« of the straight type. NO. 1« T''7i,'i^ \ T"on" "'*"'" T i "'»'*'« "' ">da. »b<>«t « scant table- i loss by building in one end of my 1668 is in aizee 4. 6, 8 and 10 >-»ore. ^"""'l o' h<>"«l>ore to 20 square feet gpoonful di.olved in a gallon of water poultry yard a shallow box, 10 x 12 m^ » 1~. <« .-~i. 5«-.„x.». will kill about 90 per cent of the ^nd sprinkled around the plants is feet, and filling it with clean sand and larvae. Such will greatly reduce the .ufflcient for one square yard of gar- gravel. Upon the sand I scattered pest and cut down th. losses In a jen, will be found very useful to keep «„„« grain to attract them, and in a Blaa requires 3 yards 36-inch ma toriol, or 1% yards 54-inch, and IH 7*rdi 86-inch lining for coot Price M cents the pattern. Ev«7 woman's deolro Is to achieve tliot omort, dUTeront appearance corresponding degree. In Jasper National Park, Alberta, whicli draws favorable comment from ' there aro about 640 miles of standard and when this is done salads must l)e tbs observing public The designs I trails by which tourists msy visit the given up. 1/enf lettuce is the e;:<'ie^:t fllustmlod ia our now Fashion Book ! outlying scenic attractions. all types of lettuce moving. One, short time the chicks found this a should not run away with the idea ; good substitute for the highway, and that there is only one type of lettuce j ^ny trouble was ended. â€"I). H. Fooli-hucss is tho beginning of Ito grow and comes on quickly. Tho, anger. Repentance is tho end thereof. Janet went through the pile of bright-colored scrape that Grandma had sent her for dolls' dresses thoughtfully. I "The red piece would make a lovely | cape," she confided to Nancy Anne,' who sat stiff and upright at a little table in the playroom. "And the blue ailk ought to make a dress. I do hope that there is enough of it. It's good that skirts r.re short," > In the midst of these pleasant re-| flections, that every little mother knows about, there was a patter of feet heard on the stairs, and the next minute Juliet Rivers rushed into the playroom. | "I'm all out of breath," she said, panting. "I ran so fast. Oh, dear, what lovely scraps. I've bought some sewing over. Gwendolyn is nearly in rags. What do you think of this for , a dress?" And the fly-away Juliet opened her workbox and brought out a piece of yellow material. She gave it a shake and flourished it gayly be- fore Janet. "I think that it is beautiful," said Janet, "And I'm so glad you brought it, for now we can work together. I'm -going to make Nancy Anne a dress out of this blue." Both little girls got out their thimbles and needles and scissors. "The pattern, Janet. Have you still got that cute pattern Auntie May cut for us?" asked Juliet. "Yes, I've got it right here in my workbox. I'm sure it will fit Gwen- dolyn, too." 'The little pattern was cut 'or a simple one-piece dress. Snip, snip wont the scis.sors, as Juliet hurriedly cut in'o her yellow material. "Oh, b\it you ought to pin the pat- ern on t>''» c'.^th first," said Janet, watching her. "IxMik, you're cutting thai crouKeii. Oh. my, it will never fit around the neck!" "Pin the pattern on! What a waste of time! I guess I can hold it on," »aid Juliet. "I'll be through in a .second, and you can pin yours on, if v,>u wint to. I expect to take Gwen- di>lyn home in her new dress." She finished the cuttimg with an extra hard ^ip of the scissors that ntade a slit In the skirt. "Oh, now, you'll have to piece it," said Janet. "What a nuisance!" "Piece it? Never heard of th-jt," F^id Juliet, ho'ding up the queer- 1(X)king dress. It had little resem- blanco to the pattern, but it seemed perfectly satisfactory to Juliet. "Now, then, I'll ha\<! this all sewed up before you even get that pattern pinned on," she continued. Janet smdied. She wis'hed phe could work fast, too, but somehow she didn't want this lovely Wue silk dress to look like Julie's yellow one when it w«s cut out. So she pinned secure- ly and cut carefully around th« edges. And JuMet threaded her needle and sewed energetically with great long stitches. "Aren't >iou going to make French <*eams?" a.«ked Janet. "You know. Auntie May taught us how. You just run up one aide and then turn the dress insidie out and run it up again, so that it looks quite neat." Juliet looked pu7.zlpd. "1 guess not. It takes too long," she said I The little girls worked awsv quiet- ly for some time. Then Juliet ex- claimed: "Mine's donol" And she slipped the dress over Gwendolyn's he-'d. It sagged off one shoulder, and hitched upon one side. Juliet looked at it ruefully. Janet stitched away at her little dress. She turned seams and put in a nice hem and finished off the neck the way Auntie May had taught her. And when Nancy Anne was all deck- ed out in that blue silk she was a doll every little girl would look at twice. Just then Mother came into the playroom. "I thought your babies might like a party," she said, setting down a plateful of thimble cakes and two tumblers of milk. "Oh, Mother, thank you, thank -you 90 much!" cried Janet. "They will just love a party. And they can wea.r their new dresses. Oh, isn't this fine, Juliet?" Juliet, of course, was delighted over the party. But when she placed Gwendolyn in her queerly nuade yellow dress beside Nancy Anne in her neat blue siilk some of the party feeling; left her. "Gwendolyn doesn't look fit for anything but the rag ba.^l" she said, soberly. "I guess if anything is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well. Ater this I'm going to take pains, and pin patterns on first and sew a nice seam." "And now let's pass the cakes," said Janet, laughing. Fertilizing Clay Soils. Manure is very beneficial to hea\'y clay soils, which are often deficient in organic matter, especially when they have been poorly farmed. In a section dealing with clay soils, in a bulletin of the Dominion Department of Agriculture on Crop and Farm Management in Eastern Canada, it- is stated that, where an ample supply of manure is not available, a dress- ing of 2O0 bo 300 pounds of super- phosphate per acre, broadcast on clay land just before sowing a cereal crop, generally results profitably. Super- phosphate may be applied with profit even when manure is available when the clay land is badly run down. Tho plowing under occasionally of a sec- ond crop of clover will also materi- ally aid in improving such soils. Pot- ash fertilizers are rarely profitable for application to clay soils, as this fertilizer is usxially abundant in soils of this type. Harrowing Emerging Crops. A number of experiments have been made during recent years at the Beaverlodge, Alberta, Experi- mental Sub-Station with the harrow- ing of cereals, sunflowers and other crops with a light lever harrow jus* as they are peeping through tho grround. The superintendent of tho sub-station, in his latest report, states that the ultimate effect upon the crop is usually beneficial. Tho object is, of cours#> to deetroy germ- inating weeds. To make the opera- tion successful the grain should have been drilled at a fair depth and, at the time of harrowing, should be showing single shoots just emerging. The harrow must bs light and the surface of the ground fairly free from rubbish. It i« best to do the harrowing on a warm day when ths ground is dry on top. If then, • sh<.<wer follows In a day or two, tho immediate adv«rio offoci OB the graia is very slight. t .,4: t ^ i. ' I • l: