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THE COLBORNE EXPRESS, COLBORNE, ONT., THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 1921. Address communications to Ac"« ROOT ROT OF SUGAR BEETS The sugar beet is a remarkable plant in the wide range of ditions to which it adapts itself. Given its best chance, let us a sandy or clay loam, and with proper rotation, plant diseases are of secondary importance with this crop. Ir this regard it is like corn, which, while attacked by a few parasitic fungi for the most part gives the farmer who uses good seed and plants the corn in a proper rotation, no < cern from the score of parasitic The condition, "Black Root" "Root Rot" in beets is not a simple one. It is a condition brought about by a number of parasitic ft perhaps by some bacteria, varies in its manifestations because of the variation in soil temperature, soil moisture, soil nutrients, etc. What is Meant by Parasite? The parasitic fungi which attack the sugar beet are thread-like forms, too small to be readily seen with the unaided eye. Occasionally with forms they can be made out as a thin trbwebby growth covering the affect-c : plants. Everyone is familiar t 2 web-like masses found on leaf r.iold in the woods. Here we are se ing fungus, threads clumped togethi in quantity sufficient to make them evident. The concept I wish to bring to the reader is that the soil, defying observation with the microscope, is shot through and through with fungi --mold's--most of them harmless to crops, some of them pernicious. Th< mold forms live in the soil--in every soil,--carry on their life processes and complete their life cycles. They produce their seeds ("spores"), which are minute bodies capable of b< blown about or washed from placi These fungi or molds are anywhere but not everywhere. Some when introduced can persist in the others are introduced yearly with the seed. For the most part they beneficial, assisting the soil bactt in the great leveling and transfei ing processes. There are some, however, which not only attack the dead stuffs of the soil, but also attack the living plants. These are the parasites which cause loss to the farmer. ~~ the farmer they are the weeds, which instead of robbing the soil of moisture and nutrients, use the plants as the soil and steal their living from the very plants the farmers wish to con- The Cause of "Damping-off." When the sugar beet seed is planted the first danger which it confronts is "damping-off." The name well fits the disease, referring as it does to the water relation which induce! The actual cause of the damping-off is a parasitic fungus of some sort (there are several which produce it) but the pre-disposing factor is the soil moisture. One of the common causes of damping-off is the fungus Phoma betae. This fungus is carried to the field on the seed and if the, beet ii checked at all in its growth, if th< tissues do not harden rapidly, the root rots and the beet topples over. Common, also, in producing damping-off is the fungus Rhizoctonia, well known to farmers because of its bad effects on potatoes, and what is said 1 ■-.•re about beets can almost be applied t ) any crop, except the cereals, since t e Rhizoctonia fungus attacks so many of them and with almost the same train of symptoms. Wet Season Favors Trouble. The wet conditions induce a succulence in the young seedling and bring about conditions in the soil which break down the normal resistance of the beet so that these parasites get the upper hand. The blackening is a secondary effect, a reaction of the killed host cells to the air, doubtless. Anything which kills the root will lead to the secondary blackening. When sugar beet seed is planted and farmers use plenty of seed to insure a stand, they are crowding the plants and inducing competition which leads to rank growth, rather than sturdy growth. The importance of prompt spacing and thinning is, of course, manifest. If the seed1 is planted at the right; time, the beets establish themselves and make a sturdy growth. If extremely wet condition comes on, then "damping-off" is serious. The effect of heavy rains and excess of moisture is to form a crust on the! soil. This must be broken up as soon as the rows can be followed if damp-| ing-off is to be avoided. Just what influence stirring the soil has on the! damping-off fungus is not known, but the aeration and the balancing of the moisture relation seem to , plan an j important role in the saving of the j stand. H«re may be mentioned the bene-; ficial effects of fertilizer in bringing! about a good stand of healthy beets, j It is the common practice among, growers to put fertilizer in the row with the seeds. The writer has seenj a number of fields where the effect of' this fertilizer was plain, not alone in; the size of the plants, but in the vigor and freedom from damping-off. The fertilizer is not a cure, but stimulat-! ing as it does the formation of sturdy THE CHILDREN'S HOUR Toronto plants because of the food materials so readily available^ the beets more successfully pass this great danger period. Next Comes Root Rots. After the beets pass the "damping-off" stage, other troubles confront them. These are in the nature of "black root" at the tip, and crown rot. These troubles are, for the most part, "hangovers" from the seedling stage. They represent attacks temporarily recovered from, which start again when the beet is put under slow-growing conditions. The black root caused by Phoma betae may be present in unnoticeable form, ready to start when the beet root has a set-back. T Rhizoctonia attack are < beets, apparently healed these scars restricting the growth locally bring about the "cracked beet" condition in which the top is cleft and the rotting of the crown follows. The factors essential for this latter dition seem to be the primary attack on the beet causing the scar, and then a sudden surge of growth such takes place when a dry spell is broken and abundant water supplies are available. The cracking is merely a mechanical breaking of the bonds which hold the tissues from expan- Other fungi such as the common damping-off fungus (Pythium de bar-yanum) attack the beet and this form either kills the beet outright or attacks the tap root and leads to death later on, or at least to spangly beets of small size and low quality. But, through it all, the water tion is paramount in deciding whether the fungus or the beet gets the mastery. One other factor needs to be noticed. Those farmers who follow beets with beets have the most trouble. The second year they usually find the root, rots and the leaf spots present in intensified form. To follow beets with beets is taking a risk which makes the operation pure speculation. Fields may become foul with disease germs, just as they become foul with weed seeds. Since Rhizoctonia is so important as a fungus causing damage to many crops, a little may be said about the place of beets in the rotation, short, may not the preceding crops influence the succeeding ones if the various crops are subject to the same disease. Years ago it was demonstrated, that when beets followed potatoes, or vice-versa, scabbiness followed. We are just beginning to realize that this relation hold; beets and the Rhizoctonia or Black Scurf fungus. Now practically all the crops, except the cereals, are subject to Rhizoctonia attack. It is an established practice in certain beet regions to follow corn with beets. There must be a reason for this, and the effect of a crop like corn in starving out Rhizoctonia and thus leading to more safe soil for beet planting must be considered as one factor in leading farmers to this particular rotation. It would certainly seem to be preferable to following sod beets or following some legume. This matter open to study by farmer himself and consideration of the fields in his neighborhood ovei series of years will let him determ the wise course to follow. A Brief Summary. We may now summarize the points of this article. The sugar beet may carry disease, but no method of treatment is practical. The disease may come from a soil source. The utilization of poorly drained soil, the lack of prompt and frequent cultivations may favor the fungus enemies. Lack of food materials to start a vigorous growth may favor tha parasites, as does also over-crowding of the plants, such as comes from late spacing and thinning. The first thing a farmer must do to^drain, and with valuable beet land open ditches are not economical so he must tile drain. This is imperative with soil which has a dry subsoil and the accompanying hardpan. He should plow deeply. Cultivation must be started early to break up the clods. rotation wisely chosen, in line with the best practice in his district, should be used. A sugar beet is subject to the diseases which come from the debris of a preceding crop. During the summer, the farmer's ideal should be to secure a steady, even growth. The only way he can secure this, given well drained land, is by frequent cultivation, long continued. In general, authorities state, cultivation stops too soon. With the present crop, the giving of the sugar beets the best of care, along with the conservation of the soil moisture and the establishment of proper aeration, are the practical measures by which the farmer may bring through a planting which even now looks to be in bad shape. But with another year, the beet grower must realize that the sugar beet can't do everything and can not win against too heavy odds. Make the ground fit for the beet and the opening sentence on this article will hold true. Then sugar beet growing for the farmer who practices modern culture will be as safe as corn growing. „ The other evening I was attracted by a great disturbance. There seemed to be some sort of bird convention taking place. They were robins, sparrows, blackbirds, blue jays and catbirds all assembled in a big cherry tree and all making a terrible noise. I thought at once that they must have met for some common purpose, for we never see all those birds together without their being engaged in battle. And sure enough, high up in the tree I saw an owl. All the other birds had come together to give battle to a common enemy. At any other time these various birds would have been fighting each other, but on this evening robins perched on the same limb with blue jays. Catbirds and blackbirds sat side by side and the outlaw sparrows were mingling with the crowd like life-long friends. First one bird and then another would make a dash at the owl, the common enemy. Then some bird would dash away in fuH cry and in a few minutes be back with several others of his kind. Blue jays, robins, blackbirds and catbirds all went for re-enforcements, and then two brown thrashers and a flicker suddenly appeared like a police reserve in answei to a riot call. The allied bird forces became too much for Mr. Owl, and at last he was put to flight with a majority of the bird pack after him in full cry. But the following day he again put in his appearance and was seen perched or a stake in the garden. No sooner hac1 he lit on that stake than the battle-cry of birdland sounded throughout the neighborhood. Once more the rallying battle-cry of allied birddom brought a surprising result. From every direction came robins, jays, blackbirds, sparrows, thrushes and catbirds. In the winking of an eye almost twenty or more birds had assembled for the battle--and the assault began. Mr. Owl, as we all know, can not see well in the daytime, and he was nearly powerless before the lightning-like dashes of his enemies. The birds would dash at him from all s pecking his head and picking at his eyes as they dashed past. He soon gave up his perch on the stake and flew to a dead peach tree, but the sault continued. He was driven from the dead tree into a walnut tree and there the assault became so fierce that he was knocked to the ground and finally got away from his enemies by taking refuge in a brush pile : where he fell. All during the day the allied bird army kept sentries in the trees about that brush pile and those bird sentries kept up a constant chatter all tray long. The owl must have made his escape after nightfall for I haven't seen him since, nor have I heard the rallying cry of allied birddom recently. It was certainly an interesting demonstration of how the various members of the bird family who will fight among themselves, will rally to common cause when their home is i vaded by a common enemy. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL AUGUST 14. Acts 14: 1--28. Golden Text--St. Matt. 4: 10. Connecting Links--Paul and his told in verse by the Roman poet Ovid, the feeding company, leaving Cyprus, had_sailed j that Zeus and Hermes (Greek r become contaminated by the limited range or quarters. A moveable coop provided with comfortable roosts for sleeping in is the only house necessary for a flock of chickens turned out to grow. Two things, however, must be supplied-- water and some grain. For the former, a large sized drinking fountain should be replenished daily. The grain feeding may be given by the hopper system. For some years the feeding nortjlwa,'r'(j t ^fi maimana 0f Asia for Juni.er and Mercury) had once of a dry mash m hoppers has been Minor> to perg& in pamphylia. Thence visited those regions in human form" very popular, especially on large he and Barnabas\had gone up through and the simple-minded folk might well farms where labor has to be con- the mountain passes into the interior have believed that they had come sidered. The hopper system has one to the city of Antioch of Pisidia. - again. Barnabas, the taller and more disadvantage in the waste of .some John Mark, for some unknown reason,1 dignified of the two, they supposed to feed. This may be reduced to a left them at Perga and returned to j be Jupiter, or Zeus, father of the minimum by careful construction of Jerusalem. He "withdrew from them ' gods, and Paul, more slender, shorter the honner nr hv clnsino- it entirelv from Pamphylia and went not with; in stature, and more ready and elo-the hopper, or by closing it entirely th h g) d this: quent in speech to be Mercury, or except at certain regular pencds. The act did Mt comme;d him"faVorably I Hermes, the messenger and spokes-chief advantages of the hopper sys- to pauL For it was never paurs Way, man of the gods. We also are men. tern are the saving of time and the to turn back from any enterprise in! It was some time before the two mis-lessened danger of overfeeding by use which he had engaged, however diffi-! sionaries knew what was bejng said of dry mashes. A mixture that has cult or dangerous it might be. j and done. When they did know they proved satisfactory at the Central That Paul went forward under dif-; were horrified, and running in among Experimental Farm, Ottawa, consists Acuities is certain. He was suffering the people tried to prevent the sacri-~" "mnl nni-to of hrnn mirMLincy from some kind of illness, possibly the fice which was about to be made in qual parts oi bran, micMlings, malaria, fever which ;-g so common in their honor. They would have no , , , ,» ' » » malarial fever which is so common in their h l°^mZLTdA^! ZarL0tJ™ those ^orua^d especially along the false h, Chickens let a coast. Writing afterwards to the 1 Labor Saving in Poultry Feeding. After chickens have feathered out, much of the labor and attention necessary at an earlier age may be overcome by the use of the hopper system of feeding. It is surprising how rapidly chickens grow if given their liberty in a cornfield or an orchard. Chickens, like other birds, will consume many insects and will eat tender green things, provided these do not orchard, root field or a field of grow-1 Christian people of these inland cities ' Lord Jesus Christ whom they preaching corn and given access to this1 of Roman Galatia, he says, "Ye know; ed. Getting the attention of the mash with a liberal supply of water j that it was owing to an infirmity of crowd they tried to persuade them of will make gains at an astonishing! the flesh that I preached the gospel, the emptiness and folly of their idol-rate junto you the first time: and thatiatry, and that they should turn to the A'suitable feed-hopper consists of; which was a trial to you in my flesh ye j living God, the Maker of heaven „ ,,,,-fVi „ i,ir,„o^ +™ rt„ k„+ i despised not nor abhorred; but ye re-;earth and sea, and the Giver of all a box with a hinged top with the hot-, ceived me as an angeJ of God> even|f tom so arranged as to allow the feedi£ls Christ jesUs" (Gal. 4: 13-14). That i to fall slowly as consumed into a is to say he went up through the trough. The trough should not pro- j mountains of Antioch, hoping in itsj, jeet wider than the side walls of the; higher altitude to recover from his ; hopper and should be slatted at the sickness, and was received with open-front so that the birds may insert hearted kindness^and faith by the peo- i cai u.i dim oeci, Uliu (.lie Vjrivei Ul ai I the good gifts which Nature supplie *-* man's need. Jews from Antioch, commissioned, ) doubt, to follow up the apostles and to make trouble for them, now appear upon the scene. In the riot which followed, Paul was stoned, their heads without getting into the1 plt to whom he then brouSht hls ^o&- dragged out of the city, and left for - Pel message. dead. In telling, some years after- There were several Antiochs m ward, of these missionary journeys countries. This one was in the ana labors, Paul says that he was "'- labors more abundantly, in pri-more abundantly, in stripes measure, in deaths oft. Of the trough itself. The opening fn hopper into the trough may be justed by a thin board which may be old" country "of PhrygiaT "The" wild raised or lowered, closing or opening and lawless people of the neighboring the space as desired. The roof should regions of Pisidia had been subdued aD0' extend well over the sides of the box by the Romans, who established a jews five times received I forty to keep out rain from the feed. The chain of fortified posts to maintain stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten box may be divided in the middle and!order' f\nd 'nc/.ud^d ln Tthem' °" the j with rods, once was I stoned, thrice a trough constructed at each side if ^?Hh£ w W^Pa^ 15 suffered shipwreck, * night and a desired to use two kinds of feed ?6 u^'-fu S- 3 h,stor> Joms An |day have I been in'the deep; in jour-desired to use two kinds of feed tloch wlth Pisidia. | neyings often, in perils of rivers, in 1-7. In Iconium. This city, now! perjis of robbers, in'perils from my called Komch, lay some ninety miles ; countrymen, in perils from the Gen-southeast of Antioch of Pisidia. To it j tiles, in perils in the city in perils in Paul and Barnabas came, when forced j the wilderness, in perils i'n the sea, in by the hostility of the Jews to leave ; pel.;is among faife brethren; in labor Antioch. Here they met with friends, j and travail, in watchings often, in onej>f whom, by name Onesiphorous, j hunger and thirst, in fastings often, cold and nakedness." Out of such i the hopper. Care of Live-Stock. $15,000. In exemplification of what can be accomplished by the proper care and management of live stock it is perhaps impossible to find a better illustration than that quoted by the Dominion Minister of Agriculture, Hon. S. F. Tolmie, before the Select Standing Committee of the House of Co.m-tnons on Agriculture. Mr. Tolmie's as to the fact that a Hol-with a record of 32,000 lbs. i a' year had been sold for 3he was a ten-year-old with heifer calf by her side, the value of which based on the selling price of the previous year's calf $1,000. This cow was originally sold as--a calf for $150 or just one hundredth part of what care and attention in her upraising had made her worth. Mr. Tolmie pointed out that had that cow received scrub treatment, had she been permitted to winter on the sunny side of a straw stack and had she been turned into a sheep pasture in would still have been a $100 ; she had given over 30,000 lbs. of milk annually for five succes-years. Exactly similar results cannot be promised in every or in but it is sure and certain that proper mating in the first instance and care in feeding and general treatment afterwards will usually bring satisfactory results. Water is not the only need of live itock during the hot weather; they should have a supply cf salt before them. The Welfare of the Home The Twilight Story Hour--By Nella Gardner White. There is, to my mind, nothing more potent for discipline or for creating confidence between a mother and her child than a "twilight story hour." A daily story time may sound like romance but it is very practical and mplishes more good than a thousand scoldings. There is a story somewhere for every phase of character growth, and any librarian will help a her to find these stories. If there to library available, there can be better investment for the character-building of your child than the purchase of a few good story books. The child lives in a world of fiction. Do not deprive him of your companionship in that legitimate, fascinating There come in every day, small exations, irritations because a child does not comprehend grown-up standards or is mischievous or wilful. er let your boy or girl go to bed with the day's tangle unsoothed. I have heard mothers say, "I'm too] tired when night comes!" or "I'm go-g out to-night,--I can't be bother-1." The one who "can't be bothered" perhaps does not realize that a man i woman with breadth of vision an imagination to accomplish great things may be in the making during that few minutes of every ing. The mother who is "too tired,"--and there are so many of them,--perhaps does not know what blessed restfulness it is to have the children on her la* or about the fire vith her, quiet after the day's ex-•itement, listening with wide eyes to :he twilight story. It is as soothing to the mother as to the children, and there is an intimacy growing out of that time which never ceases to be a blessing in after years. You may say you have not the )uld reading heroic effort the church was born, i by such patient labor and suffering was the gospel carried abroad. ft-28. They returned again, revisiting those whom they had led to faith Christ, exhorting and encouraging story caMed "The Acts of Paul and Thecla." The Jews of Iconium, like those of Antioch, resented the preaching of Paul and Barnabas to the Gentiles. The salvation they looked for was the revival and restored power.and glory j J^m to 'eontinue In the faith, of their own race and natior,' a?d*, helping them to organize themselves \aS^ eTabif.5™„rt Z"™™tL^f t int° churches that they might carry should be Proclaiined the com ng of a | Qn tfa WQrk when th' t,eg had r gHW J^n n H'ffi t IJJ i eo™- " is interesting to note that Gentiles as.well. It is difficult for us ,*h fi t ordained leaders in the to realize how intensely and passion- churches of Paul were called elder3j t^&Sl^ttJiJll"™^^!* title which was also borne in those days by village magistrates and coun- therefore, how bitterly they opposed '( Paul's gospel with its universal ap- The unbelieving Jews stirred up trouble, and the multitude of the city was divided. However, it was pos- i sible for them to continue a long time ] to speak boldly, preaching and teach- 1 ing before they were driven from the 1 .city by a combined attack of hostile £ Jews and Gentiles. They went southward and eastward to the cities of Lystra and Derbe. 8-20. At Lystra. The healing of t this man, a cripple from his birth, t was certainly very wonderful. There ( is no adequate natural explanation of l such an event. When the people saw 1 what Paul had done they were so i startled and amazed that they trude themselve thought he and his companion must be . honor our Master. gods. Paul had used the Greek lan- once said, "Many a prophet has been , guage which they all understood, but spoiled by going out to dinner." Paul they in their excitement broke out in i and Barnabas meant to put God first, exclamations in their own native Ly- and would not accept any popularity caonian speech which the apostles did | which would hide the real purpose of not understand. There was a story their preaching. . Application. A true servant of Jesus Christ will seek no horror, and will accept no popularity at the expense of his Lord. When these people wished to honor Paul and Barnabas by sacrifice, the apostles rent their clothes and restrained them. The true servant of God wants to see God glorified, and is ' ft thinking of himself. It is said th .t Rapael, the great artist, wa3 in t A habit of wearing a candle in his that no shadow of himself the canvas while We have to be selfish desires ob-and we forget to « Campbell Morgar might fall : he was paintin careful lest PROFIT IN RAISING GUINEAS to learn stories: them <k> as well ? reasons it would not. Jf you are really desirous of the best for your children and are looking for some, way to make a beautiful harmony out of your lives together, you will find the time. It does not take more than a few minutes to read a story, and you can go over it in your mind while you are washing the dishes or preparing the vegetables for dinner. Perhaps the longest time required is in choosing the right story to tell at the right There is a brisk demand for Guinea-fowls, and were it possible to obtain an adequate supply, the leading hotels would serve them regularly. Guinea-fowls usually sell in pairs, like squabs, bringing from $1.50 at ten weeks to twice that in early fall pair weighs about four pounds. Since wild game is no longer procurable in any great quantity, Guineas, the nearest substitute, are becoming more popular. They are very active, feed largely on insects, and the flesh is dark and savory like that of the grouse and other game birds. Of the three varieties of Guinea, the color is the only distinguishing mark. The pearl is by far the most common variety, though there are to be found throughout the country many fowls of the white variety, and As you study these stories, you will a few 0f the lavender, which closely find that your own character is ex- { resembles the pearl, pandmg too. There is a lesson fori Guineas are nervous, noisy crea-grown-ups in all the old fairy tales j tures and require plenty of room and in many of the new ones. The, where there are trees and brush, story hour will keep your imagina-! However, they can, though at less tion from becoming dulled, it will j proflt, be reared in pens and coops quicken your sense of humor, it will| iike oth.er, poultry. In the wild state make you young with your children, they mate in pairs, but under do-enter into every j mestic conditions it " and better i nook and cranny cf their child life. Do not think that this method of disciplining is too indirect, that the moral of the story will be lost in the interest of the story itself. It has been proved repeatedly that this is not true, even when it may seem so at first. Be consistent in the story-telling if you undertake it. Do not do it one night and neglect it the next. Make it a part of every day and it will soon come to be the sweetest, most restful and helpful time both to yourself and your children. keep only one male for four females. Guineas are prolific layers through the late spring and summer, and begin to lay as early as April. They can not, however, compete with the ordinary hen in egg production. They usually hollow out a place in the ground for their nest which they make every effort to conceal. They frequently lay twenty or thirty eggs before becoming broody. If the eggs are removed from the nest, they will continue to lay until late in the season. As many as three or four nest-eggs should be left at all times; but the practice of raking the eggs out or removing them with a spoon in order to keep the hand from leaving any scent is a useless waste of time. To prevent Guineas from hiding their nests, they should be kept, during the forenoon, in an encloure where nests are provided for t-- un. A bottomless box set on the bare ground makes Guinea-hen. Guinea-hens c do they make ordinary her ideal nest for rell. as good mothei A Guinea will cover fourteen of her own eggs, while an ordinary hen will cover eighteen, for the average size of Guinea eggs is considerably less than that of hen eggs. Incubators, however, have been used successfully. The period of in- twenty-eight days, of turkey or duck eggs, urkey-hen a Guinea is apt her young ones around in and dew. Moreover, sha hunt shelter at night, but the ground wherever in the case Like a t to drag through ra will never will roost she happens to be when night c For these reasons it will be much better to put the young Guineas in charge of a chicken hen. A hen that is inclined to vange afield, like the Leghorn hens, will make the best mother for young Guineas. A coop should be placed in a field or wood-lot at a distance from the house, a.id the hen made to stay there at night until the young Guineas are old enough to roost in trees or on a perch. This they will do when they are six weeks old. Oatmeal is the best feed f;,r young Guineas. After- they are ten days old they will thrive on kafir-corn, choprv d wreat or corn, millet and the like. They are great foragers, roaming through the fields ir. search of bugs and worms. Hawks will get very few Guineas, since Gu:ueas dart to cover at the slightest alarm, and warn other fowls by their loud chattering. Keep all water troughs filled.