Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-12-08
AGRICULTURAL

WHEAT AFTER fO1A1OES.-W mere po-
tatoes are grown extensively it has be-
come q common and very good practice
to have few acres Of early potatoes
ready to clear of and to sow to wheat.
This can readily be done with Early
Rose, and sometimes with early planted
later varieties. 1t is best however not
to try to get out large field of potatoes
in time for wheat, as the labor ID so
great that it is apt to delay wheat SOW
ing till late i'm the season. Wherever
ground can be fitted for sowing by the
25th of September, potato crop makes
an excellent preparation for wheat.
The ground is in the best possible me-
chanical condition from previous cul-
tivatiOn, and if the soil is rich enough
good crop is apt to result. With the
complete pulverization of the soil, as
hoeing, cultivating, and digging, little
after preparation is necessary TO fit it
for wheat. The old-fashiOned way,
both on corn and potato ground was TO
lightly cultivate, and sometimes only
to drag the surface sowing the wheat
broadcast and covering with the drag.
This was reckoned slipshod and lazy
prrctice, and therefore abandoned, but
we remember very. well that some extra
large crops were grown in this way,
and il is quite certain that the deeper
cultivation which has become fashiona-
BILE has not been so generally success
full. Wherein is the advantage of plow-
ing potato ground for wheat? If prop
erly cultivated during the summer
there will be few or no weeds in po-
tatoes at digging time, and light cul-
tivation, or even dragging to level sur
face is all that is needed-much better
we suspect, than a deeper plowing
which turns the finely pulyerized sur
face soil to the bottom of the furrow.
On land not deficient in potash there Is
always a good clover catch with wheat
after potatoes. If the clover falls on
potato ground the probability is that
potash is wanting, and hard wood
ashes should be sown. If these cannot
be obtained the German potash salts
are a good substitute, and may be profit
ably used ON such land.
CARE OF DRIED FRUT.-From the last
years crop of fruit there are tons of
dried apples stored away in the farmers
garrets in boxes, chests and bags, wait
ing and ready to supply the family
tables whenever they shall be needed.
The careful housewife will give such
stores an occasional examination, to
see that nothing is wasted from the~ef-
fects of damp weather, insects or ver-
min. After apples are thoroughly
cured, probably there is nothing better
for storing them than tight, clean
boxes or barrels. If flour barrels are
used, they should first be washed en-
tirely clean, as flour adheriDg to the
sides or heads is liable to mold and in
jure the quality of the fruit within.
Tight barrels or boxes are best, because
they shut out the damp air in stormy
weather, and also exclude those insects
which are always seeking to deposit
their eggs, and from which hatch the
worms or maggots which injure so
much of the dried fruit which is care
lessly cared for. If stored in bags, the
bags should be fine and clean, and tied
tightly, so as to exclude all insects
which might cause injury to the fruit.
We have had smarting evidence of the
ease with which mosquitoes can thrust
their bills through the fabric even of
our best and finest clothes, and those
insects which deposit the eggs of the
apple worm have the ability to put
their eggs through pretty small holes
if necessity requires. If convenient to
do so, bags of dried fruit should be
hung in the open air af an upper room,
where the air can circulate freely, and
prevent injury, from mold and damp
ness. Housekeepers on farm find this
busy time of year with fruit to dry
and to can, pickles to preserve, and
catsup and other relishes to prepare,
and it is all too hard work to have such
labor lost for want of little watching
and timely care during the changing
weather of summer and fall. The dog
day weather is past now, and our
houses should have a good airing and
the family stores a thorough summing
or scalding, as necessity requires. Don't
let mold and decay spoil the results of
hard toll, for the want of little timely
forethought and care.
| RUSSIAN APPIEs.-The Department
Of Agriculture did good thing when
it imported from Russia a number of