Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-04-19

A crying need of the day is early
sowing and planting. There are
failures sometimes, or at least par
tial failures. We have heard them
reported, but we do not know that
we have ever seen decided case.
We have seen land prepared badly,
when wet and undrained, and bad
results following; but these results
we expected to see. We have yet
to see land sown, ever SO early,when
the ground was dry and mellow and
we'll drained, and the crop fail in
consequence of being put out early.
Do farmers know that the Spring
grains are in general tardy, and
will stand a good deal of cold, wet
weather-not water to drown them?
A drained soil will pass off the wa
ter as it falls, or nearly as fast
And what then? There is only
moisture, and air is admitted; and
the land is seldom SO constantly
cold and wet that no progress Of
the seed is made; and once begun,
it will stand a good deal, protected
as it is by the soil. Trust your land,
if it is drained, either naturally or
otherwise, especially if there is con-
siderable fertility, and the soil is
dry and mellow at the time of SOW
ing. Fertility has warming effect.
At least this is our experience and
the experience of those around US.
Early grain is pretty sure to have
clean stem and a plump berry,
Late sowing, almost as rule, has
more or less Of rust and lighter
berry. Sometimes q later sowing
will yield the most straw. This
used to be the case more than it is
now. The drouths have increased,
and the straw grows less; there is
more heat in Summer of late; early
sowing seems to yield the most
heavily, both straw and grain, and
both improved. And this improve
mcnt is considerable. The grain
will weigh more, will feed better,
and command more in market. If
cut in due time, when the berry is
in the dough,-which will further
improve the berry,-the straw,
which is yet somewhat green,
will have the quality and worth Of
ordinary hay.
Besides, early sowing will be
done when there is little other work
to do, making less to do when the
usual sowing time occurs. And a
point of considerable Importance
there will not be that crowd when
harvest comes. The first sowing
can be got out of the way by the
time the next arrives, which is, or
should be immediatly upon its
heels. Begin with the driest, and, if
possible, the best land. Sow it the
first time it gets dry enough, remem-
bering always that every rain that
follows pelts it harder; and the rains
may put it off quite late. The first
mellow soil, left as the frost left it.,
is always the mellowest. Then you
have the advantage also of putting
out early grass seed or clover if you
wish to seed down. This cannot be
put out too early.
Potatoes are included here; you
cannot we'll get them out too early,
especially the Early Rose, which
seems to thrive in bad weather, out
stripping all other sorts. That is
our experience. Plant deep as well
as early, five or six inches at least,
and let the ground be rich, or bet
ter, use ashes and some hen dung
or guauo or bone dust in the hill
The Early Rose will bear forcing.
Peas also, may be put out early, as
we'll as oats, barley and wheat. But
corn wants the warm weather to
start it and to keep it thriving.-E
g., IN Utica Herald.