Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-07-31
Culture of Growing Crops.

The two great objects in the cultiva'
ton of growing crops, are
/. The destruction of weeds, or the
prevention of all growth but that of the
crop itself.
g Keeping the soil in the most fa-
vorable condition for the support Of
plants.
Weeds are hurtfu in various ways
In their early growth they take little
but water from the soil, but that may be
needed by the growing crop. Soon they
demand more precious elements, using
up the stores of plant food the soil may
contain. A thrifty weed takes as mnch
nutriment as thrifty corn plant, and
both cannot at the same time employ the
same elements. When it is remember
ed that nothing grows without feeding
the Importance OF feeding nothing worth
less will at once be seen.
Weeds are injurious in crowding the
crop, depriving it of needed exposure to
the light and air. Imperfect growth is
always the result of too great closeness
Of the plants, whether caused by weeds,
or the crop itseIS. The plants shoot up
slender and weak in their struggle for
light and air, and the product cannot be
what it would under more favorable cir
cumstances.
1t is important therefore, to prevent
the growth of weeds, as far as may be,
by hinderiDg their termination, or de-
stroying them as soon as they appear
In the culture of all "hoad crops" it is
not necessary to wait for weeds to get up
above ground before commencing the
war against them. At first they have
but single root, which can be broken
very easily, and to the death of the plant.
1t is rot much labor to hoe corn, or
roots thus early, but neglect it, and it
will require ten times the digging, pick
ing, and pulling, at a later day.
The implements Of culture-the pillow,
horseshoe, harrow, and so on, will do
much of this work. Straight rows, seas
enable labor, and constant vigilance, will
make light work of what otherwise will
seem an interminable piece of labor
After Il few weeks the crop will SO get
the start" of the weeds, as to hinder
their growth, and then we may "lay by"
our soil-stirrers and weed cutters, and
wait for the harvest without fear of more
than one crop, and that the one we have
planted or sown.
2. That the soil be kept in the most
favorable condition, as 10 its mechanical
relations, for the growth of plants is
equally important. The soil if not nat
urally mellow must be made so, that the
roots may be able to penetrate the same
and that the nutriment it contains may
be put, by air and moisture, in state to
lie taken up by the roots, which are the
mouths Of plants.
All heavy soils are benefited in sew
eral ways by frequent cultivation. One
has already been stated in the preced-
ing paragraph. Another benefit is the
breaking up ofthe crust which forms as
the soil dries after rains, preventing the
ascent of moisture from beneath, or its
absorption from the atmosphere. A
deep and mellow, soil will bear far more
rain without injury than u shallow and
hard one. 1t will also much b EFT e
withstand the effect of dry weather, and
it is often proved that culture goes as far
as manure in perfecting the crop.
This cultivation, as in the case of de-
stroying weeds, should be most frequent,
and thorough, while the crop is in its
first stages. AS its growth advances,
the roots of the plants extend, and will
be injured by any very extensive stir
ing Of the soil. Nor will it be as need
full as the first, from the fact that the
permeating roots tend to keep the soil
mellow, as also does the shade of the
growing crops. Sufficient working
should be given however, to prevent
weeds from perfecting their seeds, and
thus preparing neeedlessly for the ever
continued labors of the farmer in their
determination.
COAL OIL EoR FRUIT TREEs.-A
gentleman formerly connected with coal
oil business in this city, tells us that sew