The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1867-05-03
The Season and It's Demands.

.
Within the last fortnight most salts
factory change has taken place in the con-
dition of agricultural affairs. The earth.
which for some weeks had been so saturat-
ed with water as to have been almost a mass
of mud, has now completely settled. and
plOughing, hauling out manure, and other
farming operations, have commenced in
earnest. This favorable condition of af-
fairs gives promise that. should the fine
weather continue fortnight longer, all
summer crops will be got in safely in that
period, with the exception of corn, which
may be planted the first, or even the second
or third week in May. But the work of
preparation must be accomplished by the
month, that there may be no delay when the
right time comes. Let it be considered
that due preparation of the ground now
is not only much better for the crop, but
saves a great deal Of summer work, when
time is more precious, and work more op-
pressive There is no fact better establish
ed than the value of completing the work
of the corn field much earlier than is done
in our common practice. If we only turn
the sod, and then make our marks for
planting, very large portion of the prop
err work of pre- paration is left for the time
in which the working of the crop should
be accomplished, and this is necessarily
carried so late into the summer, that the
crop is damaged by the very means we take
to make it. This valuable crop is so ac-
commodating, that 1t admits of having lib
critics taken with.it and we commit it to
the ground on degree Of preparation
which tobacco and other crops would by
no means admit Of To do this ample jus
tice, turn the sod veil, and roll and harrow
till there is good seed bed Then laying
off and crossing is done without disturb
ing the bed. and the after working is com
pleted before the caring begins, instead of
being carried into and beyond the wheat
harvest. To be able to plant close enough
to make full crop, early working, and
early laying by, are. essential
We observe disposition among farm
ers to plant their late potatoes somewhat
earlier this season than has been Che prac-
tce formerly. There can be scarcely
doubt as to this being the preferable mode,
as when planted early the vines have the
advantal of the early summer rains, and
are not so liable to be injured by. excessive
heat. Another advantage, also, is the ex
emption from the ravages of the potato bug,
which In some seasons is very destructive.
The potato is a very accommodating crop
as to the time of planting, as it can be put
into the ground any time from May to July.
The best varieties aud Of large size should
be selected for seed.
Every farmer should set apart a small
field near the homestead for the production
of vegetables. In this field, which should
consist of from three to Eve acres. ParsniPs,
carrots, beets, rutabages. etc, can be rails
ed in drills and titled by horse labor. All
the produce Of this field that is not needed
in the house win be exceedingly useful for
hogs and cattle. Cabbages should be rails
ed extensively on every farm when prop
erly managed they produce. enormously,
and are excellent food for milch cows IT,
fall wheh' grass is scarce. Pigs thrive well
on cabbages chapped fbe and mixed with
milk. Parsnips and carrots are nutricious
food for cattle and hogs. In this vegeIa-
bic garden rotation might be established,
in which red clover aud rye for soilipg
should form part, also early corn. Maa-
aged IN this way, only portion Of The
field would require manure every year, and
even this part might beSayiched by liquid
manure, SCOT ashes, bones and other ma
nurial substances which sge suffered TO g