The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1870-02-10
FARMERS COLUMN.

successive cultivator, contributes the
following suggestions on this subject:
The value of lime or plaster as
manure, depends upon the component
parts of the soil to which ii is applied.
All land has more or less sulphuric a.
cid in it, caused by the decompos-
ton of iron pyrUes. The presence OF
this acid may generally be known by
the appearance of the soil, and partic-
ularly of the stones. If there is any l.
ron rust or oxide of iron in the soil,
or in the stones. or on the top of
the water that filtrates through the
soil, or ifthe water is hard, it indicates
the presence of sulphuric acid.
Ifland on which grass seed is sown is
t'slow to catch" or sod over, or catches
in patches, it indicates the presence of
sulphuric acid.
Ifthe roots of clover and herd grass
in the spring stand two or three inches
out of the g'ound, and in detached
parcels, with bare ground between,
it is the work of suiphurie acid. On
such land plaster is positive injury.
Ifcoyer and tame grasses die out,
and are succeeded by wire grass, sorrel
or sour dock, it is caused by sulphuric
acid. Put on lime and keep off plas-
ter.
The reason why plaster should not
be used on land charged with sulphur
ric acid is, that plaster is composed of
lime and sulphur, and applying that is
adding more of that with which the
land isalready overeharged. On such
land apply lime which unites with the
suIphuric acid, and forms plaster
The lime thus neutralizes the acid;
and the acid thus neutralizes the lime,
and forms compound nutriment for
vegetation.
The reason why the groand appears
so hard where the earth is charged
with sulphuric acid, is that the old
stubbIe has been eaten up by the acid.
The sulphuric acid in plaster, applied
TO land not overeharged by that sub
stances decomposes vegetation, and fits
it for nourishing the living plants
When there is an excess of the acid it
eats up the vegetation, both dead and
living. This is the reason why soils o.
vercharged with acid are always de-
ticient in vegetable matter. And soils
free from it have an excess of vegeta-
BILE matter in decompOsed state.
The presence of this acid is the
cause of sorrel and sour dock and sour
grass. The land is literally sour and
Nature is trying to throw it from her
stomach through these excreseenees.
The rule then is, if your land has
too much sulphuric acid, or is sour give
it good coat of lime, if destitute of a
cid, apply plaster.
Hints 10 Farmers. dressing your
fields, cut your coat according to the
cloth-that is, don't run in debt for
fertilizers.
When your sheep are fleeced, don't
let the wool-dealers pull the wool over
youreyes as regards its value.
Never take to bed in your house
in the daytime, while there are plenty
of beds in your garden that require at
tention.
The first investment of ali farmers
should be in plow-shares. Nothing
pays surer dividend, yet not always
large; but it is certain.
When you feel like currying flvors,
go into your stable and curry your
horses and other stock. That pays
best.
Do not, as money brokers do with
stock, sell your stock off "short.n It
is better to have several tons left over
till another season.
The time to shear sheep is, when you
throw off your own evercoat for the
season.
When a farmer hears a sermon on
mending ones day, he should look to
his lanes and bridges, and see if all
safe for loaded teams.
Gardens should always be put under
picket guard, or his fowls will come up
to the scratch, if he does not.
The only kind of stakes that a far
mer should hold are fence stakes.
After raising the best crops you can,
the next best thing to raise is the mort
gage on your farm. When this is
"taken up" a farmer feels first-rate.
Never harrow the feelings of people
by uncovering old evils; but harrow
your fields as much as you please, and
nobody will find fault.
Rainy days may be well spent in
practicing dentistry on rakes and har-
rows.
If a farmer feels like travelling, let
him plant hops, and he can then go
from pole to pole without much ex-
pense.
The farmer who can't do without his
lager beer, few years finds another
kind of6ier necessary.
No farmers wife should crow over
her chickens till they are grown up,
as many little brood has disappeared,
one by one, the work of rats.
Yorkshire Biscuits. Three pounds of
flour, one gill of yeast, quarter of
pound of butter, three eggs, milk e.
nough to form dough. Rub the but
ter and -four together. Beat the eggs
and add them, then the yeast and milk
to form a dough. Stand it away to
rise, when light make it into biscuits,
butter your tins, place the biscuits on
them, let them rise again and bake