The Lincoln County herald., 1871-05-11

Crsp Prospect for 1871.


vet in many parts Of the West; SO much
so IN some localities that corn enough
was not raised to feed the ordinary farm
stock. The season Of 1870 vas marked
by one Of the most serious and persistent
drouths that has ever visited tho northern
portions Of the continent. Notwithstand.
ing this 'fsct, crops were generally lair in
the West, especially corn. One reason
for this fact. was that the dry spring
enabled the farmer to get 10 his corn 10
good season, and the continued dry
weather enabled him to cultivate it thor
oughly aud we'll, and this thorough cult.
vation and consequent exemption from
weeds, together with tho fact that no
losses we're sustained by the drowning
tout Of the crop, enabled him TO harvest .
full average crop; one also never before
realized for soundness since the settle
ment Of the West, thus, again verifying
this adsge that 1t il water that destrsys
the hopes of the farmer. tits also said
that drouth Of one season usually brings
large crops the succeeding one, aud this
Is owing to the fact that the farmer 10
thereby enabled to bring his land into
proper mechanical condition for increased
production; and there is far more 10 the
mechanical condition Of the soil than
most farmers are apt to suppose. 10
fact. the state of disintegration and fria-
bility, to which all good soils are brought,
is the measure of their fertility. A soil,
however rich, which has been badly
plowed, or plowed while too wet, and con.
sequently left a mere mass Of Jumps,
large and small, is far more unfit for the
successful production Of crops Of any
kind, than one poorer, yet friable and
pormeable to atmospheric and other In
Aucnces. This fact should be steadily
borne in mind by the farmer, and his
soil having been once more brought into
condition by nature. he should be careful
to keep it so by every means in his power.
One Of the principal mean. is, never to
plow It while wet, super saturated with
water, and it is always 80 when upon
squeezing it together 10 the hand it may
not thereafter be readily crumbled.
There is every indication apparent SO
far in the present season, that it will be
o bountiful one. So far it is one of The
earliest ever known. The warmth Of
spring, extending as it does over large
surfaces Of the West-and no serious
storms of rain to interfere with the pros
. ecution of faru work, the previous season
I having enabled the farmer to keep vel
, up with his work, unless IN exceptional
!, cases -he ought to be enabled to plan
and SOW larger areas Of crops. A con.
tiuuauce Of good weather will enable hin
Q to get it we'll nnder way, SO that in cas-,
of later rains, his crops will be able t
take care, of themselves for timo. Oul
J advice is, to use every endeavor 10 get il
8 IS large crops as can be cultivated we'll
b and as early as possible.
j. Much time is lost by many farmers, il
, waiting for tho season, especially will
5 orn-the great money crop, directly o.
: indirectly, in the West. The experience
i of the best farmers is, that they hav,
Q oftener had success with this crop, par
4 ticularly in Northern Illinois, upon yer,
early planting Cater April or carly May
than when they have waited until nearl
the 6rst of June; and yet there is NOR
G corn planted in this region early in Jun
. than carly IN may. .L s..l
A mistake, too often made by farmers
is too deep planting. One to one and
half inches Is deep enough upon ofdinar
prairie soils. In Central Illinois an
/. corresponding ATTITUDES, corn plantin
should be commenced If possible il
II April. 1t is true it sometimes fails I
+ germinste, and sometimes it is touche
. by frost, but it is seldom killed, an
$ shoots again readily from the heart.
Q sometimes looks yellow and puny, but
all the time making root. Sometimes
:. does not make SO great growth Of stal
as the later planted, but usually mature
heavy crops If it fails to germinate,
le is only question o. replanting-a lgh
4 job 10 these days Of improved machinery
If it does not grow, it is just go Far ahead
y and our experience is, that il is % ceytai
to grow as later planted corn, upon a
=, land not liable to over .saturation wit
:, water. III ia,ai IL
y. One Of the great needs Of our prairi
y soils is thorough drainage. The drout
II of the last season has proved this, and
Y is one of the most valuable lessons eve
! given to the farmers in tho West. Sha
= We profit by it. and thereby enhance II
So crop prospect Of 1871, and subsequer
:. seasous?. or shall We 80 on in the ol
u routine, tsking things as they come
.o The earth we have just a. It came irG,
!. tie hands of nature. Man has reaso1
" % an aid, to help him work. Nature b,
given uslsssoas without Number; is col
tiuually giving them shall We profit b
10 them for our own good2 Are We doin
., for our soil that which is best for II
of present and future +? Are We doin
- everything that We may to ensure II
- realization of the present crop prospe'
for 1917 ''''s' ~
= The fall crops seoms to have un
~ versally wintered we'll. Wheat, esp,
70 eislly, 10 very 6ue. and forward. Th
- aM~tA ~ "A L., Al A.