Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-04-03
5mItuIturaI pgayiMeat.
Hints to Farm improvements.

Hunts TO Farm improvements
Farmers are generally anxious to improve
4heir farms, or at least to reap the results Of
such improvement in better crops and greater
profits, but very many Of them haze yet TO
learn the most direct road TO prosperous asri'
culture 1t lies rather through careful manage
ment of abundant labor and capital, than IN
stintiug these 10 the lowest possible amount
the saving is in the prudent use of every means
of progress rather than in he miserly neglect
Of all which seem to be indirect aids, but which
are really the trides which ensure that increase
above the cost of production which alone counts
as profit.
Let US look at one of the simplest axioms of
the better farming, There is no way" says
John Johnston, that land can be 50 profita-
bly, improved as by grass kept in vigorous
state of growth" To grow large crops Of grass
we must have rich, drained land naturally
fertile or enriched by manure and thorough
culture before seeding down and by frequent
top-dreSsing afterwards. 1t must be drained
land-artiicaly drained subject to sfagnant
water-or the best graS -es cannot be grown,
nor can it be brought into pgoitable rotation
with the grain crops 1t must be thoroughly
seeded-econcny in grass seed "Saves at the
spigot to lose at the bang 10 the less quantity
and poorer quality Of the product. And it
must not be oyerStocked The best pasture
land especially while young, can be ruined by
feeding too closely and unseasouably y-Iate in
autumn aGd early in spring time.
But farm Improvement by this method re-
quires labor and care. Autuma topdressng
comes at busy season, and requires previous
attenton to provide The requisite compOsted
manrfe. Hence too many neglect II, even
Though convinced Of lis Importance and OF The
zreately Increased crops which follow the prac-
,iee Ger better farmers 10 not practice
economy Of ia5or, striving to gel along with as
little as possible. They have found that plenty
of help for all he operations on the farm IS
the only way Of productive and profitable farm
management.
A hint or two on getting better grass from
our meadows and pastures next season. Let
no mild weather tempt Us 10 allow hOQf up.
on them during the winter. Better buy ad-
ditonal forage for our stock. Where mixture
0f clover prevails we should give q top dressing
OF plaster in the early spring time, 1t has
been found profitable 10 mix ashes with plaster
FOR this purpose, Gud we should never sell
bushel CT ashes from the farm, but rather buy
instead. If intended for pasture, let the grass
get good start before turning on stock the
product viii be much larger than when fed
closely during the whole season. Low land
pastures may be fed early with less loss, aud
especially any containing swamp grasses. We
have found it good policy TO change pastures
quite frequently, beaeitt!ng both the pasture
and grazing animals Farm so situated that /
they may be irrigated at small expense should /
enjoy this great means Of euhauced productive /
ness. Meadows should be t6pdressed with |
fine manure after having certainly whenever I
the crop falls heloR two tons per acrs. If the /
grass land is to be pIowed up for tiliage anoth 1
er year, top-dreSsng in autnun viii be found 4
slhe best means Of applying manure for the /
fata:e product. Bot We need not extend these 1
hats further ia this connecti0G-We have dwelt |
apou them freely heretofore.
The farmer, anxious for Improvement, is /
never ata loss for employment, npon his farm
in winter. There ere thousand thDgs he can
do to iuhance the comfort and thrift Of his
stock, and to increase the amount and value OF
MS manure. And it should not be forgotten
That the richer and better our stock are fed,
the asQre rapid and Profitable there growth, |
aud toe far greater yaIEe lheir mauure
Preparations tor the 4bor5 .of the coming
seed tine can be largely mGde-fences, tools, !
seed ,aLd no less important plans for the work
can be got readiness 10 this time OF compare.
tive leasure. Toe many are engaged off their |
farms at this season--ia work, perhaps bring !
ing in more ready money-but practically OF
FAR less advantage TO themselves as farmers -
Others Idle away the winter to gruBble at bad
crops and the hurry Of farm lie during the
summer and autumn. With the new year there
is room for all to turn over q new leaf = 10
the volume Of progress Country GeHt1Wqn. |