Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-03-26
Garm an0 6otsebol6.
Early Sowing a Means Of Escaping the
DrOUth.

IT begins to be understood, now more
fully than ever, that early planting Is the
way to take advantage of a drouth, The
drouth usually occurs in summer, mostly
midsummer, and the early rains Will SO
advance the crop that it will occupy and
shade the ground, and form sufficient
growth to reach maturity. If, in addition,
the ground is made mellow deeply, but
especially on the surface, and if the soil is
well drained, there can be little doubt OF
a fair yield in good soil. This is so with
the grains and the early clover early plas-
tered, and with potatoes and root crops.
Potatoes cannot well be planted too early.
No fear of frost while in the ground, as
they are put in deep, or should be, say six
inches, the frost not being able to pene-
trate that depth at that time, and if it
does, is not likely to hurt the tuber, as the
frost will gradually draw out and thus
save it. There is difference in seasons |;
but even wet or good growing season is
not drawback on early planting. In a
drouth (and that is the rule) it certainly is
an advantage, and it is sometimes the only
means in severe dry weather IN summer
TO save crop. Potatoes, oats and barley,
you cannot well get them out too early:
The past few years have demonstrated
THIS, but particularly the past season. we
nave noticed with a good deal OF interest
the early putting out of grain. Oats that
were sown On the first mellow soll-gen-
orally the mellowest-wcre, uniformly, a
good crop, early, bright, and good berry.
The late sown were uniformly a failure.
Rust struck them, there was light straw,
and light berry The drouth did this, as
1t was very severe, commencing when the
late oats were soWn and continuing pretty
auch till they were cut.
SO it was with barley, and so with po-
tatoes. The late growth of the Garnet
and Peachblow was sometimes owing to
the late rains and late growing of these
roots. as they will grow the whole season
through. The early Goodrich was fair
crop. The few planted late were failure.
The very earliest planted Peachblows,
Garnets, Goodrichs, california Reds"
Prince Alberts and all were a success.
We never saw any better potatoes than
such medley of them planted on the first
bare soil when dry enough, the first of any
planted. We were surprised to see the
load after load that was drawn from the
field, and all sound, and most of them
large.
Now here we have an example. 1t was
the early planting that did this. The
drouth could not be more severe, and it
began early, soon after spring sowing
was done, catching some of the laggards.
On the other hand we have noticed
specially, that late planting of the early
sorts was uniformly failure
Here is q case so clear that it cannot be
misunderstood.
as to the grass, that was very fine the
fore part of the season, in consequence Of
the long, warm rain, which developed the
latent germs, and gave us a fine stand OF
grass. 1t so covered the ground, shaded
it, that the growth was not much arrested
by the drouth, the grass drawing all the
while from the deep fountains of the great
rain OF the spring; SO it seemed.
1t was the clover, however, that did the
best. This grew unimpeded to maturity
and was q thick, heavy crop-not coarse
but rather fine, dense and erect. 1t was
cut quite early, and continued its second
crop uninterruptedly. This the grass did
not but the clover did. In all directions
we could see this. The tufts rose, and
continued to rise till they occupied the
ground for second crop. This removed
biiCtC StII WC1O Iult5 pulling 1OIbu. Ell
the rains taking hold, there was seen, Oct
II, the densest and richest covering, MOI
only of clover, but of all the grasses The
drouth only held back, or checked for 6
while the crop, the rain taking up the
growth of the early moisture, continued
it; and then we have the result.
We think we cannot sufficiently draw
attention to this early putting out of the
crops, corn excepted. That needs a goot
start; and later planting is required to
give it this. But most of the grains, tn
bers and root crops, should be put ou
as early as the season will allow. Mucl
can be done to secure this if we so thinl
and arrange accordingly. Late fall o.
winter blowing will prepare the GROUND
for this, and if the soil is dry or wei
| drained, as it should be, there is do diff
Guilty IN getting out cur crops in time
Prairie Farmer.