The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-03-25
fa,rn a,lo 6ousebol0.
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 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 a 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
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 a wet or good growing season is
not a drawback on early planting. In a
drOrlth land 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 we'll get them out too early
The past few years have demonstrated
this, but particularly the past season We
have noticed with good deal of interest
! the early putting out of grain. Oats that
were sOwn on the first mellow soil-gen-
| orally the mellOwest-were, uniformly, a
good crop, early, bright, and good berry.
| The late sOwn were uniformly failure.
Rust struck them, there was light straw,
and light berry The drOuth did this, as
it was very severe, commencing when the
late oats were sOwn and continuing pretty
much 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, GOodricbs, California Reds,
Prince Alberts and all were a success
We never saw any better potatoes than
such medley Ofthem 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
\ Viz ~ tAdI OIu lit
| drouth could not be more severe, and il
| 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 case so clear that it cannot be
misunderstood.
AS to the grass, that was very fine the
| fore part of the season, in consequence oil
| the long, warm rain, which developed the
latent germs, and gave us a fine stand oil
! grass. 1t so covered the ground, shaded
1t, 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 thick, heavy CrOp-not coarse
| but rather fine, dense and erect. 1t was
| cut quite early, and continued it's 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
there still were tufts putting forth. Then
the rains taking hold, there was seen, Oct
| II, the densest and richest covering, not
only of clover, but of all the grasses TIL,
drouth only held back, or checked for 8
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 good
start and later planting is required to
| give it this. But most of the grains, tu
bers and root crops, should be put on,
as early as the season will allow. Much
can be done to secure this if we so think
and arrange accordingly. Late fall OF
winter blowing will prepare the ground
| for this, and if the soil is dry or well
drained, as it should be, there is do diff
Guilty IN getting out our crops in time
| Prairie Farmer.