The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-01-06
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD
Labor i'm Farming.

THH farmer has got to acOrk himselfrich.
There is no getting away from this; mere
calculation will not do it, though it is the
necessary forerunner.
The land must be worked not only mel
low, but continued to be worked, stirred
as much as may be, the more the better.
This hits two birds with one stone; 1T mel
lows the ground and enriches it; and
what is best perhaps of all, it costs moth
ing whence it cOmes-frOm the atmos-
phere, where it is free for all.
This stirring takes it in, mixes the air
with the soil, and the soil at once takes up
its fertility This continued, there is a
continual increase of fertility; hence the
more it is stirred the better.
Besides, when the soil is made loose,
porous the air will get in it of its own &C
cord, the ground lying undisturbed, but
porous enough to admit it, and the rains
wash down the fertility which hey car
ried from the atmosphere the soil is mel
low enough to do this, not having the
water standing on it dead without any
use, souring the soil, which is hurtful.
Hence the doctrine Of frequent stirring
the soil. We know by special experience
that this is true. We have tried it in field
and in garden, but particularly in the lat
ter, one season, using no manure, and re-
! lying wholly upon the atmosphere by stir
ring the soil. Though the soil had been
exhausted, the garden proved an unusually
| good one Since then we cannot too
much favor working in the garden and
cultivating hoed crops, and always with
| the same results.
We have not mentioned the moisture
which is produced in the operation. This
is considerable, and in drOuth indispcn
sable Our garden was worked in drOuth
This is labor; and it is gratifying tC
know that the more that we dO the moro
we get benefited-that the benefit is in
proportion to the labor.
Each farmer should therefore direct his
farm operations to this effect, so as tn get
a chdnce to work, not to run over his land
to get the work done.
The effort to save and apply manure is
another branch of labor. Nothing pay:
better than this. Save all; take pains tC
make it; and to prevent it from being los
after it is made; and then apply it prop
erly. All these things are important ant
when taken together very important.
This much for the land, which, howev
er, has other claims upon our labor; bu
the two mentioned are the main ones.
Next COMES inc great StoCh department.
Here we can employ labor with profit tC
Il large extent, labor first and most i'm
pOrtant, in securing the fodder properly
Unless this is done the stock cannot b;
well kept. Pains must be taken to secure
hay and the straw of grain early and in
tender condition, properly cured. Effor
must go to secure this, care as well as labor
Then, warm quarters provided, ther
must be attention given. The stable
must be kept clean and Dry; this by usin!
litter saw dust, straw, leaves, dried muck
, &c, and daily seen to, daily comfort givei
to the sensitive family at the barn Fee
carefully, plentifully, and curry you
, stock; it pays. Cut your fodder mostly
, This is helping to masticate it for you
stock. Cook it, steam it, or scald it, w
know this is discontinued by many tha
once engaged in it; but iC is on acc Jun
, OF the ldb0r. See to it then that you max
use of ii.
} To sum up, it should be the object {
the farmer to seek 10 get labor rather tina
to do as little possible, for this is the leve
: that lifts him along. 1t is the profit on tn
5 labor invested that is the principle {
farming.-Prairie Fdrmer.