The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-04-17
SUEDRY MATTERS.

terms and ccsspools. Provide heap
of absorbents for the kitchen slops, and
make in doors and out clean and sweet
with lime and whitewash.
PROVISION AGAINST DROUTH.
From the Country Gentleman.
Drouths are getting to be tie rule
there is hardly season without them.
We cannot foretell when they will occur.
For the past few years we have had
drouth early in the season, and now in
the Fall, though usually in midsummer.
Though there is hardly year that we
are not afflicted in this way; yet we
seem to be careless about it, expecting,
hoping for a good season. We decide
on running our chances, and so do not
provide as we should against their
occurrence.
But can we successfully provide in
this way, not onl y to take advantage of
the drouth, but without mourning ex-
penses that will lessen the profit? This
is nice point, and if practicable, is of
Importance, for the loss by drouth, as
the seasons run, is one of many millions
yearly in our State alone, and it is even
worse in other States, particularly in
the West. The thing can be done, and
is done, and in various ways. Irrigation
is one But we will waive that and go
to the common means which are in the
reach of every one Luckily they occur
in the ordinary course of farming, having
their basis in the general Improvement
of the land.
A moderate drouth is not seriously
hurtful to grain indeed, where the land
is rich it is a benefit, as an excess of
straw and lodging will be prevented. l
have known some of the best crops so
grown. So with corn, and | may say
with most of the hoed crops. Deep
cultivation and stirring the soil will
always insure good crop in moderate
drouth, if the land is not poor Where
there is deep cultivation, deep wealth
Of soil and thorough drainage, as in our
! best river bottoms, and the cultivation
is what it should be, and the ground is
constantly stirred till growth forbids,
almost any drouth can be defed in the
worst cases fair crop is realized. But
the soil in such case must be deeply
rich and deeply porous The subsoil
pillow will aid largely here. The same
soil and treatmen. are also required
for grain in drouth
Are we then to provide, as rule,
against drouth? Is our land for grain
and hoed crops always to be prepared
in this way? This is simply improving
land, taking the chances with the
drouth. And is this requiring too
much? The drouth is met, which is
almost always of yearly occurrence
If there should be little or no drouth,
the hoed crops will flourish all the bet
ter, but the grain will be apt to suffer,
and it is the only item of objection.
But it is well known that harm from
lodged grain, or overgrowth, is of less
occurrence than lack of growth, as in
the case of poor soil Better run the
risk of some lodged grain than the all
but total failure of crop on poor land
in drouth. To the general farmer,
then, his security against the drouth is
in the condition of his soil His only
hope is, aside from irrigation, in a deep,
rich, porous soil, kept well stirred
There is nothing new about this-it is
only what the best farmers do more or
less
But we have yet the most important
point to considerable dairy, or grazing.
Here we find new relations to the drouth.
Grass land cannot be cultivated like
that of hoed crops, and must be left to
run its chance; yet much can be done
by preparation of the soil and the
establishment Of the crop. Land pre-
pared as for grain or hoed crops will
answer exactly the purpose of forage
growth, clover especially so also for
corn; and the grasses will flourish on
such land. There will not only be the
growth, but the close set-a necessity
in drouth, shading the ground as it
does. This close set is secured by thick
sowing on an even, well-pulverized sur
face, and the seed covered to ensure it
against drouth at the time or immcdi-
ately after The time of sowing is to
be early in the Fall or Spring-n the
Spring it is better, as it gets the Winter
moisture to start it. Late sowing is
always risky. Your crop started, the
good, forcing SOIL aided by top fertil-
izers, will soon establish it so that it
will protect itself against the sun and
the driving winds, and, if clover, push
on to at least fair crop in a pretty
severe drouth. 1t is the richness and
good condition of the soil that are
required to start crop in dry time,
and close set in addition to continue
the crop. When struggling, the plant
will find it difficult to survive a hot,
dry period, however strong the ground.
Yet, notwithstanding all this precau-
ton, severe drouth will tell. There
will be less feed the allotted pasture
will in general not be sufficient; and
when the feed once gets short double
evil will result There will be shrink
age in milk and flesh of the cows, and |
the roots of the heritage will be exposed
to the sun and the drying air, which |
will make short work of pasture, almost
ruin it; and unless other remedy is
provided, the animal will equally suffer.
This is the effect on good land well
prepared and the crop well established.
1t is the great evil in drouth, to expose
the roots of vegetation. TO aggravate
the evil, it occurs at time when the
feed is most needed. But to save the
grass 1T must not be fed off too close.
Hence the dressing, the absolute neces-
slty of resorting to other feed which
experience has proved can easily be
furnished. In an early drouth the
Winter moisture on good land will give
you fair growth of rye. Glover may
follow for later difficulty; and that in
r.