Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-05-27

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but on the other hand, if the top of the soil
is kept loose, it prevents evaporation and ab-
serbs all the dampness that may be in the at
mosphere. A wise farmer will keep out Of
his fields when the ground is wet; but he will
never stop work simply on account Of dry
weather.
WORK FAST.
One reason why some farmers are not as
successful in raising large crops as others is,
that the former work fast, and the latter work
slow. 1t cannot be said that these slow work.
ers are lazy; they simply move slowly. They
work out, as it is called, their crops we'll, and
keep the grass out of their fields, but the work
is done too late. They conclude that there is
no use in working the crop, provided there is
no grass in the field. According to their no.
tions, the only use there is in plowing is to
kill grass and weeds. This is not the case
The great object of blowing is to keep the
ground mellow, so as to allow the roots of the
crop to penetrate it freely. The cheapest, and,
in our country, the most effective way Of keep
ing the ground loose is by plowiug it. Unless
there is large amount of vegetable matter
in the land, it will become hard after every
rain. A hard crust will form on the top,
which acts as an evaporator, and greatly re-
tards the growth of all kinds of crops To
prevent this crust forming, or to break it very
soon after it is formed, so that it will not
check the growth of the crop, requires quick
work. That farmer who rushes over his crop
as soon as possible after a rain, receives the
greatest advantage from the rain.
1t is evident that the agricultural imple-
ments Of our country are, in some respects,
very deficient. We need an implement which,
for want of better name, we will call o rake.
plow. With an implement combining the
properties of plow and rake, in old land,
where there are few stumps, vast amount Of
profitable work could be performed in very
short time. Two burrows in each corn row
would break the crust, mash up the cods and
completely pulverize the ground. If the
ground was properly prepared before planting,
and the grass not suffered to get too great
start, this mode of culture would be far supe-
rior to the ordinary mode of throwing the dirt
up to the corn with a twisted shovel plow.
The great advantage would be that it would
keep the ground level, and, consequently, it
would be better prepared to stand drought.
AS good corn as we ever saw grow in South
Carolina, never had plow or hoe in it after
it was planted. The ground was thoroughly
plowed, with two mules, before planting.
The corn was planted in the usual way, with
this exception, that after planting the corn the
ground was raked over, leaving it as level as
possible. So soon as the corn came up, the
ground was raked again. This killed the first
crop of grass. After every rain the ground
was raked over as soon as it was in proper
condition to plow The grass was killed just
as it came up, and the corn grew rapidly and
made, by actual measurement, more than 6f-
ty bushels to the acre. Now with rake, so
constructed that it could be attached to an
ordinary plow stock, vast amount Of corn
could be raked over in day. Cotton re-
quires quick work as we'll as corn, and the
same implement might be so constructed as
to be capable of being used in cultivating
both corn and cotton.
VALUE OF POULTRY on THE FARM.
Mr.. Mech, an eminent English agrcultu-
rst, speaks as follows with regard to poultry
on the farm:
"No one item on a farm pays so we'll as a
good stock of poultry, properly managed
With them everything is turned to account
Not kernel, wild seed, or insect escapes their
scrutinizing eyes. Their industrious claws are
ever at work, uncovering ready for appro-
priation, every hidden but consumable sub
stance
"Fowls must have access to chalk or lime
for the shells Of their eggs, and grit or gravel
to grind the food in their gizzards. They
luxuriate on grass or clover, which is neces
sity for them. In winter they like mangolds
and smedes. They must have access to plen-
ty of pure water. The quality of the eggs
depends upon the quality of the food. They,
like ourselves, like shade in summer, and
warm, sheltered corners in winter. They
must have some access to shelter in wet wealth
er. Fowls will not be long healthy on the
same ground or yards. The earth gets. taint-
ed. Therefore, to prevent disease, lime and
salt your yards and their usual pasture once a
year-say in the autumn, when the rains will
wash it we'll in and sweeten the surface.
"Broods of chickens never do better with
US than on the grassy brows or patches abut-
ting upon the growing crops, either of corn or
pulse, into which they run either for insects or
for shelter. The roof of the coop should be
water-tight, and the coop should often be re-
moved, having only the natural ground for
the floor. The ground soon gets tainted un-
less you remove the coop. You can hardly
make some people good managers OF poultry
if they lack observation and judgment. These
are especially necessary in the breeding of
poultry. Your male birds should be often
changed-say at least once in two years; and
they should be young and vigorous Breed
ing in-and.in will not do, any more than 1T
will with other animals. l consider winged
game-poultry and birds-the farmers friend.
Nv poultry have access, at all times, to my
fields. Fowls are very useful in cleaning off
flies. 1 have often been amused at seeing the
neat and quick manner of their taking flies
from reposing bullocks and sheep, much to
their comfort.
Hy- 1t is not necessary to kill fowls to get
rid of lice Clean out the house and white
wash it thoroughly. Grease the roosting-
With n,ivtura of la ri and kerOsne oil and
renew when worn of. The lice will soon dis
appear. A little of the grease rubbed be-
meath the wings will also add to it's effect.