The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-04-27


/ EARLY SowING.-The advantages of early
sowing are numerous and important. By
! putting the crop out earIy-with the first
mellow soil-it will get the benefit of the
| winter moisture which in case of an early
drouth tand we have these drouths quite fire.
| quentlyl. will start and advance the crop.
Ii the soil IS good, the ground will soon be
occupied by the young grain, thus preventing
the sun and wind from striking and driving
the land. What dews and slight rains occur
VIII greatly aid the young crop, which with
asparse growth would rapidly evaporate and
| be oflittle use.
| Early sowing also favors seeding down to
grass and clover. This is of consequence.
A failure to secure good catch may be con-
sldered total failure, as it will necessitate re-
plowing and re-seeding the land. A grass
or clover crop is good only when it has a close
set; plaster and other fertilizers win do the
rest where the ground is not sufficiently rich
IL Is important to start a-forage crop well, as
II is to last for years. To SOW late in an early
drouth, or after the drouth has well set in
and the ground become dry, is almost certain
to result in failure.
Another advantage iu the early sowing of
gram is the Improvement in quality. There
Will be brighter straw and plumper berry.
This hardly ever fails enhancing the price and
increasing the weight and quantity. 1t also
advances the harvest, thus distributing the
work OH the farm, as well as avoiding the sum-
mer drouth, which usually sets in about the
time the early crop natures, and favors its
harvesting so that the early sown crop has
the advantage all through.
Our spring grains are hardy, and will bear
early putting out. Oats in particular will bear
rough weather; barley is not tar behind it;
and the pea, should it be cut eff by the frost,
will put out again anG grow vigorously in a
good soil. But it is important that the
ground be dry, not only at the surface but
drained below, so as to pass off the cold rains
that may occur, or bring up moisture in
drouth. A well-drained rich soil is a warm
soil, absorbing readily the little warmth of the
sun early in the season, so that the seed given
It is safe in its keeping. 1t is different where
the soil is cold clay, and more or less moist.
Such land it will only do to sow later Yet,
I drained and plowed late in the fall, it may
be put in early in the spring.
Ii the first opportunity of sowing mellow
| soil is neglected, the next NAV occur late
| The ground is sure then to be less mellow and
more packed, and grass may have started up.
| 10 sow now IS dlscouraging. have tested
this thing so often and seen so much of it
that l cannot sufficiently urge early sowing.
| 1t Is customary with our farmers to seed
down land to grass and clover that has been
| run down, thus making it difficult to secure n
| good catch; this especially when the seed is
| sown with grain. In such case the grain
crop should be omitted, and forage crop
raised the same season instead OF the light
crop of grain. But whether one or both
crops are put out. the land, before it is sown,
should be treated to a coat of manure, ap.
plled as long before sowing as possible, so as
to give chance for the rains to wash out the
soluble parts, thus enriching the top soil.
and preparing it well for the reception of the
seed. Afser the grain has been narrowed in,
sow the forage seed, and harrow or brush in.
Treated in this way, the land can be put in as
early as the season will admt-which is gen
orally quite early-securing thus a good catch
and a good growth, even though there is a
severe drouth. Without the manure this
cannot be expected; though early sowing on
q dry soil is always better than a late putting
out of the seed on the same land without
other preparation.