Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-05-18
Sowing Germ Fudder-Driil!:s-Deep
Flowing.


any good" though . trite provert;is ctten
verified in the experience of the .f;irmer.
We believe it will be found true, as re-
CARDS the effects of the late very severe
winter on our moving and pasture fields,
the alternatious Of which froU. mid to
extreme cold, together with the small
amount of snow fallen, acting as prstec;
tive covering to the ground, have appa:
sently killed out the grass, especially in
fields recently seeded down. Roots Of
both grass and wheat may be seen in many
farms of eastern Pennsylsani. laying on
the surface of the ground, heaved up BY
the frost, entirely dead and this, too, at
time when wheat Is worth $3.50 per
bushel, and beef and butter higher than
for many years. There are two or th-ce
practical infererees suggested by these
facts which We wish to call attention to.
We say facts, because they are plain AID
Obvious to every farmer on his own farm;
and may prove, if wisely reflected upon
and digested, mo-e valuable than many
pages Of reading.
1st. We hare kao,an, this spring, deids
of wheat apparently almost killed ut,wiih
Tie roots lying on the surface, the seed
having been sown broadcast, adjoining
other fields looking green aud healthy
where the seed ta! been driiiied, no roots
in the latter, comparatively, having been
heaved up by the frost. This we consider
strong argument in flsor Of drilling,
which puts The seed in deeper, With more
regularity and ereaness, the small ridges
between the rows moulderirg down during
the winter and covering the wheat as re-
quired for protection. Here is one prac:
tiral deduction Of great value.
Cd 1t has also been found that on
those fields where the ground was deeply
p.owed jr subsoiled to the depth of eight
to twelve inches, these effects cf aever5
winter, which vii! shorten the hay AMI
pasture crcp ct least one third, and in
some cases probably half, have hot
been observed tc the same extent as on
ctiers. This we consider second prac-
teal deduction of great importance.
Tie 81 point we have to make is a
renied. fer this state of things fortunately
within reach, and which Will SO far to
make up tie less viz. where the grass
has been ohserted to be thus killed out,
rlcw up the fields Immediately, and sow
corn for tod1er: 1t has beon fully proven
that nothing will turn of SO much agrcea-
bic provender, nutricious and palatable to
stock, as sovr fodier; by successive
sowings supply can be kept up the whole
season, and for cows, when fed green, it il
fully equal to the best pasture, and will
make as much ard as rich milk and butter.
We have frequently urged upon our
readers the importance OF the corn fodder
crop, and as the presen, is most oppor-
tune period for the experiment., &e hope
they viii give it a trial. There are two
methods of putting in the crop, by drill
ing in rows and by broadcastiug We
prefer the former, and would rc-orl-ehd.
after the ground he's been well plowed AMI
thoroughly pulverizcd, rows should be
struck out one way, two and half or
three feet apart, and the corn siFcwca
along at the rate Of about three bushels ii
the acre. TIE seed my readily be cov-
cred with cultivator or harrow passing
parallel with the rows. When the corn
is abou. foot high, run the cul'iva;or
along once or twice to clean out the
weeds. and no farther attention will bs
required, as the ground will soon be COW
cred and yield product Of ten OF twclso
tons to the acre, and more, depending on
the strength of the soil.
The above is substantially the plan re-
by J. j. Thomas, and We be-
Iieve to be the best. George Walker, Of
Susquehanna county, however, prefers tho
broadcasting system. II the SOL is not id
good condition, it will pay veil to spread
hree hundred pounds OF guauo to the
acre previous to plowing; Much OF tns
'odder crop may be got of in time to seso
-hs.. re., fall If desired r, fa-rIs'