Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-09-23
September Work.

ScpttmDer Work.
Ifwheat and rye have not already been
sown, no time should be lost in com,o;t
| ting the seed to the ground Crops which
are early sown or planted, either fail or
| spring, on an average, are much better
| than when put in late for the season
Wheat, especially, should have abundance
OF time to take root and throw nm
sufficient top to protect it we'll during
the freezing and thawing OF winter and
spring. 1t is true that some late-sown
wheat does well, owing to some favorinc
circumstances, but this is the exception
not the general rule. Rye, wherever if is
cultivated, being more hardy, NAV be
sown later with good success. To secure
the wheat crop during winter a mulch Of
decompOsed manure strewn evenly over
it will not only protect the roots but
will add greatly to the fertility of the
the soil.
| Northern corn, where the stalks are fed
out in the winter to stock, should be cnt
up and well tied up in shocks before the
frost kills it. Two advantages are realized
by this timely process; the corn is of bet.
ter quality on account of the retention of
the juices in their natural state within the
stalks, which aids in protecting the ripen-
ing process and makes the husking more
easy and pleasant; the stalks are far more
valuable for feed if cut before the frost. AZ
the juices are retained in the stalks and
leaves, and when dried add very much to
the nutritive value of the provender. Most
farmers neglect the corn fodder both be.
fore husking and after; but the stalks on
an acre OF heavy corn when cut up an inch
long with power cutter are worth as
much as an acre of good hay and should
be as carefully taken care Of
Potato digging is very often deferred
until the ground is likely to freeze up,
under the mistaken notion that the tubers
are as good if not better by remaining in
the ground as long as there is no danger
from the cold weather. But we think
this is bad practice, for the following
reasons Before large amount of rain
has fallen and the potatoes are lifted from
the ground they will be found to be dry
and clean; but after the rains have sat
urated the ground the tubers will come
out wet and "a large amount of dirt adj
herring to them, while the soil is packed
with the falling water, and the work of
digging is very considerably increased
The quality is less desirable with late
digging. Potatoes, after harvesting, should
be protected from the action of the light
and atmosphere.
RoQt crops, such as carrots, beets ruta-
bagas and flat turnips, should be kept
free from weeds, and those that are not
too far advanced should be cultivated, and
fresh dirt drawn around the plants. These
crops are very productive, and make
profitable feed for stock. On an acre of
suitable ground a much greater amount of
nutritive substance can be produced by
root crops than by hay or grain. And
the cultivation Of these can be secured at
a moderate expense when the mode of
culture is well understood. A knowledge
of the best mode of cultivation can be OBJ
tanned only by practice added to theory
Roots for winter use may be protected
from freezing by digging pits four feet
wide and any length, on high ground, and
well covered. Begin at one end to take
| them out.
Cutting and threshing buckwheat is
work for this month. The buckwheat
crop is becoming very popular one, and
in most cases is a profitable one. One evil
resulting from leaving it on the ground
until considerable of the seed is shelled
out is not only the loss of grain, but the
seeding Of the ground SO that twill spring
up the following season so as greatly tom
Jure the subsequent crop. 1t should be
| handled in such a manner as to leave the
least possible quantity upon the ground.
If it is cut MS soon as ripe enough, imme-
diately raked, stood up and bound at the
top until sufficiently dry and then
threshed, without much rain upon it, the
grain will make more and better flour
than when il is left long exposed to the
weather, wasting and iniuring it.
| During this month all kinds of stock in
tended for the butcher should be pushed
forward with all possible energy The
pasture is usually luyuriant during this
and the coming month, and, with the adj
dition of roots or grain, stock will lay on
| fat at one-h half the expense that will be re-
! CURED to produce the same weight during
December and January, This practice
| should be adopted in the case of beet,
mutton or pork, 1t is true that the price
may be lower early than late, but the
| longer good stock are kept, as a general
| rule, the better rate per cent they will pay
upon the outlay. Moreover, the more
mature and thoroughly fattened animals
| are, the more ready the sale at any time.
Good meat is always in demand, while IN
| teriOr is not wanted. Ohio Farmer.
New Publications.