Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-05-21
farm, Garden & Aplasehola.
GROWING ROOT CROPS.

To GROW root crops 10 good advantage,
r;cb niece of ground, free from weeds, should
he seleoted-one in which the manure ap'
piled to previous crops is not exhausted, IS
better than heavy application OF coarse
manure 10 the present crop. Coarse manure
not finely spread, as is often the case, IS very
likely to induce branching, scraggy growth
of the roots. Fine manure well spread does
better; and if put on in the fall, so the
strength may be difused through the soil,
It does still better. A good clover sod that
has had good dressing of fine manure the
previous fall, makes an excellent prePara-
ton. The large tap-rcots Of clover wedge
apart and loosen up the soil more and deep
er than other crops, and render the fine cul-
tiyation much easier and more certain, and
at the same time add 20 the available plant
food near the surface
The land should be well and finely work
ed. making not merely fine seed bed on
the surface, but it should be made fine about
as deep as it is plowed. 4 clean clover sod
that will soon rot and crumble down fine at
the bottom ofthe furrow, it may not be best
to disturb, but only make good seed bed
on the furrow. But in most other cases it is
best to plow two or three times, and fre-
ouentlyu use the harrow and roller besides
a good way is to plow and work the land
early in the spring. then let it lie until the
weeds are well started, when another thor
ough working viii destroy one crop of
weeds, and put the land in fine condition
for the seed. If this can be done without
another plowiug, the worst crop Of weeds Of
the season will be destroyed, and not ls-
tie labor 10 tending be saved. A rather
slight ridgipg is preferred; the seed is drill
ed on these ridges. By making the rows p
feet apart and very straight, most of the la
Dor in tending may be done with horse.
Carrots, Sugar beets and Mangold WurZeis
may be sswn at any time in May when the
land is in good condition to secure a quick
termination and growth, so the crop may
get the start Of the weeds. Soaking aud
sprouiing the seed has been practiced,
and sometimes with the best results. But
is not always sure: if the land and wealth
er are all favorable when the seed IS ready,
It win DO well; but if storms and bad wealth
er prevent sowing al the proper time on the
one hand or dry weather makes the soil so
dry that it draws the moisture out Of the
soaked seed, on the other, failure may be
the result When the weather and condi-
ton Of the land can be foretold for a few
days, It is good plan TO soak the seed; then
with plenty of seed, so that if one is lost
another may be sown, there is little risk and
may be considerable gain, in starting the
crop. While from May 1st to 2Oth is the
best time to sow carrots and beets, very good
crops have been grown by sewing early in
June. Seed turuips are always sown in
June-ths Goth Is the usual time, but it may
be questioned whether It is not better to sow
earlier.
ANY soil that viii produce good corn ought
to grow roots. The main point is sufficient
fertility aud pulverization. A sandy loan is
generally preferred, because the latter is more
readily secured and with much less labor
It is also sooner dry after a rain aud ready to
work at odd spells, when something to do is
wanted to GIL up the time. On such soils it
is easier and more pleasant harvesting roots,
while they come out cleaner, and after a lit
tie drying, most Of the adheriug soil win rat
tie of in handling. Sandy loans are thought
more suited to tarnips and carrots, while
heavier loans are preferred for beets and
maHgolds. Indeed any fertile, finely worked
clay loan viii grow the latter, also good car
rots; and so good crops Of both have been
grown on a sandy loan.
Where only few hundred bushels are
grown, or even a few acres, it is a good plan
to SOW near the buildings, where they viii be
handy TO work in a: odd spells and on broken
days. A good deal Of L0eiug and working
may be done in this way without feeling the
loss of the time; indeed most Of the work NAV
be clear gain.
The first hoeing should be as soon as the
third or rough leaf appears. With a sharp
new hoe, the corners standing out well, the
rows may be heed very close, leaving only
half to ihree-fouril Of an inch space for the
plants, and no thick punches; then there will
be much less labor in thinning out. If the
first hoeiug is thus done when they are small,
and the second when some two inches high,
nearly all the thinning out may be done with
q sharp -eornered hoe, taking out surplus
plants the same as weeds. seldom use my
fingers in wedding root crops. Practice has
shown that there are SO many ways in which
the corner Of a hoe can be used to take weed.
ont Of row, that l find it much easier and
quicker to do it with hoe. Hoeing often {.
easier, cheaper, better for the crop, and NOR,
certain to kill the weeds Then the weed!
don't have time to injure the crop, or to b.
much in the way; nor does the land hay,
time to get hard. 1t is less work to hos
twice-each time before the weeds get an
inch, than once after they are four inches
high, while in the latter case the growth Of
the crop will be checked by the weeds, and in
the former, increased by the frequent hoeing.
The same rule applies to working with 8
horse, with this difference, that while the
cultivator or horse hoe viii kill all, or very
nearly all the small weeds, many Of the lar
ger ones that have been left until four or five
inches high, will again take root aud grow
Cor. Country Gentleman
A N~TN-rEr