The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-06-11
FARM AND GARDEN.
EARLY Or LATE PLANTING.

Is 1t best to plant as early as possible,
or to defer this work as long as ca be
safely done? This is a question in
which all farmers are interested, and to
which each year they are practically
obliged to reply. While there are many
advocates for each of these extremes, I
think there is a "golden mean which
will lead to much better results. Either
of the extremes are open to grave obiec-
tiOns, which do not lie against time
half way between. It is true, as the
advocates OF early planting claim, that
if the seed is got into the ground very
early, the work is done and out of the
way of other things which then need
attention. But the objections to this
course are that the ground and weather
are so cold early in the season that the
seed either rots in the ground or else is
long time coming up; often falls
prey to wire-wOrms the plants, if
any appear, are tender and grow very
slowly, while the weeds, which are
more hardy, at once go in and possess
the land. Late planting is not open to
these objections, but it is open to some
which are quite serious. If the season
is backward, and the planting is put off
as late as possible, the plants are not
large enough to he hoed more than
once before haying time, and there is
danger that the crop will not be fully
matured before the autumn frOsts. I
think the best way is to begin the prepa-
ration of the land quite early, pillow,
and get it nearly fitted to r, ceive the
seed. Keep blowing and fitting, but do
not put in the seed until both ground
and weather are warm. Then go over
the land with a harrow, in order to de-
stroy the weeds which have started up,
and also to make a fine bed for the
seed, and do the planting as soon as
possible. Then the crop will get as
good n start as the weeds, grow rapidly,
be ready for the second or third hOeiDg
before the time for getting the hay, and
have abundant time in which to get
perfectly ripe - Country Gentleman.
LICE IN Fowls For lice upon fowls
the best thing is, prevent by cleanliness
generally. Not too many birds In one
hennery. Should lice make their APP
pearance the best application is, train
or other oil one pint, arsenic one
drachm. we'll incorporated, and rubbed
under the wings a little at time also
upon the back and head. One or two
applications will be sufficient to kill all
lice Then wash off the filth with warm
sOapsuds.
We find in the Colorado Agricultural
and Stock journal the following Stats
tics concerning hay and grass, which
are worth the careful attention OF
those land owners in this section who
are in the habit of renting their land
every year for the purpose of raising
corn, oats, and other crops for, besides
the injury done those lands by the care
less cultivation of a majority of renters,
the immediate profit TO the owner is
greater, particularly when he can afford
to Craze his own stock: The hay crop
in the United States for the last year is
reported at over $4,000, 600 tons cured.
This at $50 per ton is about $500, 600,
GOO, and does not include that what was
eaten but not cured. The live stock oil
the United States was worth 81, 525,
900. 900. These had to get their living
out of grass. The value of animals
slaughtered for food in that year was
5000, 900, 900. The butter crop was
about 514, 000, 900 pounds. This al
came from grass. There were produced
235, 900, GOO gallons OF milks, wortl
S25, 900, 900. This, too. came from
grass. Next, 100, 900, 900 pounds o
wool, at S25, OOO. 900. This got its liv
ing from era S. Next, 80. 600, 90!
Add all these items together, aud tn,
grass product of 1874 of the United
States was no less than 81, 292 OGO 600
The total value of all agricultural pro
ducts in the United States was 81, 447,
53S, sos. In other words, the gras
crop of the United States can pay OF
the national debt IN two years.
EVAPORATION OF MOISTURE FROM SOIL
An important consideration at thi
season of the year is to prevent, so ia
as possible, the evaporation of mOistur
from the soil. Ore means of doing thu
is TO frequently stir the surface. An
other is shade for the ground. Tn
last is best obtained by mulching-tha
is, by covering the soil between tn
rows and closely around the plants wit
hay, straw, half-rotted leaves, pine
straw, or any cOnvenient vegetabi
trash. This mulch should be severa
inches in thickness, and will not onl,
prevent the rapid evaporation of mois
ture and the reflected heat from tb
ground, but also the close packing ant
baking of the soil, from the beating
rains and the hot sunshine which gen
orally follows them. This mulchlnl
should be done while the soil is still
moist. With heavy mulching the Iris
potato crop may be saved, and csn b
dug as wanted, far into the summer
and the earliest planted tomatoes ofte
kent Ia bearing nearly the Who'll
season. l. may be applied with prof
To nearly all the crops, but especial
TO those most liable TO be injured D
heat and drought.
Tomatoes should be tied up to stake
or trellises and we'll mulched. See