The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-04-09
;Earml-@arnen -NousebolD
FROM ALLEN.
EAfneIn9 InfeHesfa

Farmers' Interesta.
Aessrs. Edtors.-I receive your valuable pa
Per and see that you devote considerable space
to subjects of Immediate interest to the farmer.
AND a. am one of that large, hard working.
tax-eurdened class desire to say word
through the columns of the FREE TRADER to
the farmers.
We must be more progressive throw down
prejudice against every innovation upon the old
time method of tilling the soil,-those practiced
by our fathers century ago. We must initiate
the merchant, the banker and the mechanic, and
progress with the times. Let US encourage every.
thing tending to increase crops and reduce the
labor. We must SOW me best varieties Of grain,
such as cluster or barley oats and every reliable
quality Of ali other cereals and vegetables and
we must be especially careful to use only ripe and
sound seed In this matter alone is . great cause
Of poor crops. The farmer too often allows him.
self to be frightened by triaing cost from oh.
tanning good seed, conteAtin2 himself with SOW.
ing doubtful quality, and after summers toll,
seaping only half a crop Of wheat, or a full
crop of weeds. Always get the very best,-ii
you know Of any, even hundred miles away,
that you know is the best-snd yours is even
middling or fair. Cast the doubts and middling
seed away together, and send for wheat you can
depend upon. Seed carefully gathered in the
fall, before the frost comes, and hung up where
it is dry is surest to be good
When, after having been planted by one of
the several good horse corn planters-and this
method is always better because the corn is drop.
ped and covered evenly as to the number Of
grains in each hill, and far more uniform ~ to
the depth OF coverng-your corn is up fit for
blowing, &c, the best combined cultivator, either
walking or riding, and you will do your work
we'll
Think OF the time when the old single shovel
pillow WAS the 2lon.
Some of my neyhbors were so much prejudised
against my frs. double cul,ivator that they call.
ed me .crazy' and "lszy." But when they dis.
covered that did more work and saved three.
fourths Of the labor. they changed their views
and soon followed my example, and were glad to
become both as "lazy' and crazy" as myself.
When l began to use the combinsd riding and
walking p!ow pretty much the same cry was
raised. aud yet | have had the best crops ever
raised IN my town, and my neighbor acknowl.
edge they have neither beaten me in quantity
per acre nor in quality, and have done il with
ease to myself, and less labor to my help, besides
saving my strength. Ny limbs are not full OF
wind.pu.fs otter long day work: am not
worn out after hot iay'- labor, bu. in the even.
ing, not sweated TO death, come home to my
family cheerful and happy; I'm no longer a
'clod hopper"
Horse flesh j. far cheaper than men. Equine
flesh sinew, muscle and bone were made for IN q q
to labor Tor hi, use-aud it is his province 70
always use them gently and kindly. even
humanely
Think OF the contrast between the work of the
farmer years aeo compared with that of to-day.
Formerly cutting hi wheat with u cradle rak.
ing it by hand moving his hay and raking it
by hand thte.hiry his grain by hand, everything
done by hand; and now machinery for nearly
everything. Now the wise farmer rides like .
prince on his reaper mower, plow or hay.rake,
even stacks his grain by horse power. Let US
pa'roni2e good machinery for everything; use
good seed from the best varieties OF grain, fruits
and vegetables: raise from blooded stock aud
keep up with the times
More next week PLUCK.