Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-06-20
Hints About Work.
From the American Agriculturist.


and hurrying spring, and much land in
tended for corn is not yet planted. An
early variety of corn will sometimes
ripen planted as late as the first or even
the second week in June. But as
general rule it is better to substitute
some other crop, such as beans, or tur-
nips, or buckwheat. When the ground
is moist and mellow, if the corn is
soaked for 25 hours in soft weter, it will
come up quickly.
Beans.-We have had a good crop of
beans planted the last week of June,
but as rule it is better to plant as soon
after you are through planting corn as
possible. Beans are usually very profit
able crop, when the soil, culture, and
harvesting are all favorable. Our own
practice is to plant them with corn
or bean planter) in row. % feet apart,
and drop four or five beans in hills Is
inches apart in the row. A larger yield
can perhaps be obtained by drilling the
seed in continuous row, dropping the
beans about two inches apart; but the
former plan gives better opportunity
for hoeing. In either case be careful to
go over the field with hoe, and cover
any beans that are exposed. Do this
especially if a heavy rain occurs soon
efter planting. Cultivate the first mo-
ment that the rows can be distinguished,
and frequently afterwards. The French
cultivator is one of the best for beans,
as it can be run close without covering
the plant. Hoe, if necessary. Not
weed should be left in the field. Weeds
ing the crop difficult to cure damage the
quality, and render pulling slow,
costly, and unpleasant business. If you
have reason to believe that your land is
full of weeds, do not plant it to beans.
Better summer-fallow it. On rich land
planted early, the Marrow is more profit
able than the small or medium
white bean. The price is higher, and
the bean straw is much more valuable.
The only objection to them is that they
are apt to split in thrashing.
Potatoes.-It will save much labor in
hoeing, just as the potatoes are break
ing the crust to harrow the ground. We
have repeatedly done this with COM
mon harrow, with marked advantage,
1t will pull up a few hills, but the dam
age is nothing in comparison with the
benefits derived from stirring the soil
and killing the young weeds. Thomas
harrow will, unless the ground is very
hard, do the work more effectively, and
without pulling up any of the potatoes.
Afterwards keep the cultivator at work
between the rows as long as it will not
| break the stems which produce the
tubers. At first we go twice in a row, and
run the cultivator as near as possible to
| the plants. This should be done two or
| three times, at intervals of FIVE or six
days, or more frequently if necessary,
| to keep the weeds from starting. When
the stems begin to run, set the cultiva-
tor narrower, and put on wings, to
throw little soil towards the plants.
| Repeat this two or three times, at inter
walls of a few days, and thus make a
broad hill. If the land is tolerably clean,
and the harrow was used freely, the cul-
tivator will kill and keep down the
weeds with a little aid from the hoe.
Any weeds that escape, should be pulled
out of the hills by hand. A weedy po-
tato-field is a!disgrace. The weeds retard
the growth of the plants, and greatly
increase the cost of digging. AS a rule
farmers make mistake in not planting
their potatoes earlier. But fair crop oi
some early variety may be obtained
when planted the first week in June.
Cultivating Corn.-This is the most inn
portant work of the month. Great i'm
provements are yet to be made in oul
methods of cultivating. But whatever
method is adopted, the great point is tc
mellow the soil and kill every weed. L
is no exaggeration to say that, taking
the country through, the weeds rob u
of half the profits of our corn crops
Study to kill the weeds in the most ez
peditious and least costly manner-bu
kill them. Do not wait for them t
grow above the ground. The best tim
, to kill weeds is as soon as the seeds be
begin to germinate. Use harrow, cult
| oil rrI
fer-only use it early and frequently
, Our hot sun will kill the young plant
. by the million in a few hours. Weed
are like fire, easily controlled if take
in time, but if they get the start of l
it is difficult to subdue them. s
aSpinach.-The New Zealand is til
# best for summer use, and should
|, planted in hills feet apart, with thrt
e or four plants to the hill. Ordinal
+ spinach runs to seed soon during tt
r, summer.
d Horses.-Give the horses some gree
d clover at noon, and cut it with mo-
/, ing machine, and rake it up with
4 horse-rake. 1t is little trouble, and
\. hay is scarce and high, it will pay.
of is great mistake to suppose that hors
y will not eat hay if they are allowed al
d green food. We have an object in a
D. vising you to cut it with the machln
lie You will then have your machine
he readiness for haying.
le Ceeos.-If the pastures are scant,
;" the grass too succulent, it is good pli
IN to allow the COWS all the hay they W
it. eat at night. And if cut, moistene
ul and a little bran or corn-meal mix
I'd with it, SO much the better.
81 81 Sheep.-It is good time to weed @
old and poor-bred sheep from the fioc
If in fair condition, they can be sold
the butchers at good prices.
pf iS,oine.-If possible, let all the pi
-. old and young, have the run of clio,
"a "a or grass pasture. Breeding sows ot
70, good breed will keep plenty fat enou
Us on clover alone; but young, growi
II stock should have some corn every d.
- - in addition to the clover. See tt
NJ they have an abundant supply of fire
w water, and let them have access te
-, mixture of salt, ashes, charcoal a
~ sulphur. Get a good, thorough bl
ae ne boar now for next winters use. Ma
VI VI farmers who intend to do SO put it
until it is too late. Order at once. I
~, best thoroughbreds can now be had
nI9 500 or $25 each, and they will pay
n their cost ten tirneS over