The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-04-24
FARMING OPERATIONS.


WV" UNIV WV ~ htS''p wv I'h I''N
DO not wait to finish the field. We
know there is time lost in chang
ing work 50 often, but it is nothing
compared with the extra time anc
labor required to prepare plowot
land that has been exposed to heavy
rains, and then had to lie for sevcra
days until the surface was crustel
over before il was dry enough t.
harrow. Our springs are SC shor'
and the weather so uncertain, tina.
our rule should be never to leave
the field until all the land that ha.
been plowed is narrowed and sown
Sod land can be plowcd after Il
soaking rain earlier than fall-plow-
oil or stubbles. And II steel pillow
will make u clean furrowslico where
IL caSt-iron pillow will clog. But it is
doubtful whether it is or is not ad-
visablo to avail ourselves OF these
fncts. sod land is just as wet rs
the stuble land, and if one would
be injured by blowing, it is not easy
to understand why tho sod land
would not be injured also. 1t is
one those points, however, on which
we need moro light. Our own prac-
tIco is based on the practical fact
that we have Il good deaI Of plow-
ing TO do and little time to do it in,
rather than on any theoretical con-
sidorations rs to what is tho abso-
lutcly best condition for the soil to
De in when it is plowed, A far
mcr must not be "ono-idea" man.
lie has many things to take i'll con-
sidcrntion, and he has noed of TX
perienco and good judgment. A
safe rulo il to avoid running *
trcmcs.
Barley is with us the first crop
That we aim to SOW in the spring.
We say "aim" because, in point Of
fact, it not uniroqucntly happens
that We are able to pillow II clover
sod, and drill in peas or oats, before
we can plowa corn-stubble and
prepare it for barley. But when
tho weather is favorable we should
get in tho barley at the earliest
timo possible. SO good a farmer as
John Johnston, however, differs
with NE on this point. With him,
later sown barley hus frequently
proved n heavier crop than that
s)wn earlier. And in our own ex.
pcrionco we havo sown part OF n
field of barley the last day Of March,
and the remainder Of the field IL
week or ten days later, and tho one
was us good MS the other. But in
this case both were sown early"
We have had two crops of barley i'll
different years, II OF which was
I'VE 50 bushels per acre, and the
othor - bushels, and one was sown
two or three weeks earlier than the
other, but both were sown IA early
as possible. We have noyor Ind u
good crop Of barley That was not
sown carly.
Oa's can be Rown On groat range
Of soils; from IL black muck to tho
heaviest cIuys. OF all the small
grains they wolf stand the greatest
neglect, but we'll ropoy good cult
wLtIon. They arc often sOwn ON
new pIowod sod land, and occasion-
ally do we'll enough to induce far
mcrs to continue the practice, not
withdrawing the fact that in nine
ctacs ont Of ton tho result is any
thing but satisfactory. Boitorplant
corn on tho sod land, and SOW oats
after corn. We hayo scon groat
crops raised where the land is rich
by fall-plowing II corn stubble
ond then sowing rs carly as tho
land could be narrowed in the Gping
and when tho frost was not guili-
cicntly ont Of tho groun! to pillow.
Sod lnnd plowcd lutte in the fall may
be got into fair condition for oats
by the uso Off Shares or Nishwitz
harrow, when tho sod is not suili-
cionly rottod in tho spring to admit
of croBs-plowing. Whom the sod was
plowod carly, shy in August or Sop
tcmbcr, and tho land was what we
called "flll-followcd," thosOdshould
be well rotted and when plowed in
the spring would be in oxcellont
condition for oats, and if the land
is rich enough IL great crop may be
expected. From "a to 81 bushels
per acre il the proper quantity OF
sood, according to the condition
and fertility of the soil--tho richer
the soil, tho less seed is required.
AS II rule, We do not SOW oats thick
enough, or makot the soil sufficiently
fine and mellow. When sown with
II drill, which is by FIR tho better
plan, harrow the land thoroughly
and then SOW before drilling, and if
there aro still any sods, roll again
aftor tho drill.
Peas in many sections are so
much affected by tho pea-bootle, or
what is properly called "tho bug"
TINT their culture is almost entirely
abandoned. There is Mt present no
remedy. Getting seed en-
free from bugs, or dipping
tho seed for II minute in boiling ,
nro popular remedies, but
are not based on any satisfactory
reason. Late sowing is to n GER
tain extent n remedy, but the crop
almost invariably a poor one.
SOW rs early US possible, and 1
Try to raise II great crop, and feed .
out the crop to pigs before the bug ,
Eats much of the substance of tho !
peas. This is killing the bugs and
converting them into pork Mt the
same time. II generally adopted,
and our seed obtained from Sec !