, 1873-05-28
THE FARM and GARDEN

a Question in Ikcgnrd to tho Vnlrlo OF
rluwing--IQOSvp Plants Arc Eed--1nn-
nttrinE om tho Surfncu.-sllnl1Osv
Plosving--Tho Hest xyintcr Apple--
The Plum, with some Suggestions
: in Regard TO Improved Varieties,
and n Collection OF tho Native Fruit
..IfOw the Ernpo 11Ra Been I'm.
provcds
From. Our Agricultural Correspondent.
CHAMPAIGN, ILL.,, May a3, 1879.
There have been some experiments made by
onr broom-corn growers, that 60 to show TINT
plowing, either dcop or shallow, aa q propara-
tory operation for tho
PLANTING OF nnooa-ooRN,
is work Of much loss yaluo than Is generally
supposed. Tho test has beon made during tho
past two Boasons, and will DO continued through
tho proscnt ono: Tho result Is, that simply har--
rowing tho soil nnd planting have produced an
equally good crop.
THO past two soasons have boon dry and high
ly favorable to this plan, on account OF the ab-
soncoofwesdaa and the vigorous growth Of tho corn,
and 1t is possible that tho present changed con-
dition OF tho soil and weather may not be as
satisfactory; but 1t will be of interest to know
what that may be. II NC can save the labor Of
deep plowing, 1t will DO no small item deducted
from the total cost Of culture.
There are many people who contend that
DEEP-pLow1Na
is not at oil essential to good crops, and that al
wo Mood In thiB direction is tho opening Of the
surface 20 az to admit air, moisture, and heat I;
and that tho mir and moisture carry tho plant
food, TINT iB 40 abundant In the atmosphere, to
the roots Of plants for tholr uBo that this
heat, and MR. and moisture indaoe chemical
change that's in some way aid tho growth Of
plants. or servo to build up their sold tlssuos
No doubt there is much in this, and that our
deep-plowing is ofton damage rather than d
benefit. It is not probable that any absolute
rule can DO laid down, but the farmer must at
all timcs exercise a Hound discretion In tho
motto,
It was not long since that, to spread
MANURE
On the surface, and harrow 1t In, WAS considered
| heterodo1; but to-day 1t has become sound doc
trine and the old. tedious proccas of competing,
! rotting, and pulverizing has become obsolete,
and now doctrine is taught in its place. We
| hago found that manure acts o two-told part,-
ono in supplying plant-tood direct to tho soil,
hG e ttss S IN 3 3hsn@Ds @ RG I 5asbs as ba: eS
tho plant-food that is prepared" in that great
chemical laboratory, tho atmosphere. II ne
hayo learned all this from observation, In spite
Of od h11e @ and od ,s4n s9hng + t not b
10 the soil and ita relation to plant-growth7
Wo know that tillago compacts tho Hoil
while, laying 1t down to grass, 1t soon bocomeE
friablo, soft, and finely commlnuted. And in
thiB we have the lesson OF q
TRUE NOTAT1oN,-
not OF one kind Of grain nfter anokher, but ol
any kind of grain with tho grasses aud clover.
We have been making np too many medical pre-,
VIC may do good thing to look o little moro
carefully into its mechanical condition, and sec
whit changes can bo mado for tho better
| We arc not long in boing convinced THAT water
| nnd this loads to ltndor-dralnH md to surface
drainage as d necessity. L have no doubt
that We shall soon bo able to obtain
| ANNUAL onops OF CORN,
in gcasons both wot aud dry,--for we nhall have
our soil In that condition that 1t can be planted
without reducing 1t to a bed Of mortar by the
uso Of pillow and The tra1nping of tho team.
II SHALLOW pLOW1Na
is Just as good aa deep plowinG, or oven better
VIC Bllal have gained an important fact for wot
poriod liko the preaont,- for overy farmer knows
thas to turn n worry shallow furrow whom the lanl
s VET VI" eb tt oardd so9ag da4ue o. set
crop crop moro or loss. Shallow plowin{
turns tho rubbish untlor tho soil, where it vii
soon rot and bo cut Of tho way aud Il also de-
grains worry early In tho spring, thoir growtl
Rmothors out tho wooaa :; or, In oauo Of failuro
the weeds smother ont the crop. And thia
| TEACHES US TWO TiIlEos,
First, to SOW early and, in tho second place
to put III sufficient aoal to occupy all the BUR
face 30 that tho weeds will hayo little chance t.
grow, and lhat tue surface bo kopt shaded, thu
preventing too rapid evaporation, and to keel
tho surface opon to tho air, tho heat, and th
moisture.
We now put In tho carly spring crop with tn
harrow and oultiyator, mud Insure q bettor yiold
md at Q much less cost, over tho old plan. W
not got to the bottom yot,-for, In addition +
tho ehoaponing OF tho annual outlay OF labor, "
must look to steady annual yield
IN THE UNAVOIDABLE
Ra we'll az favorable seaHons. Corn Ia the groa
staple OF the farm. and IL moro the uaeasug