The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-07-01

good health and length of days. But
hard work is not the whole secret of
successful farming. Two ignorant men
may be strong enough to lift a log upon
n sled, but man of intelligence will do
the same work alone with very little
effort. IF the land is properly prepar-
ed in the spring the labor Of hoeing Will
be comparatively easy. Well do we
remember the slow and discouraging
work In our boyhood days. of hoeing in
soddy ground, where the blowing was
only half done, and all the narrowing
with tho three cornered implement
with eleven teeth only served to tear
up the sods and make q bad matter
worse. There are those In these later
days who have not proflted by the mis-
takes Of their fathers, but continue to
follow the old methods greatly to their
disadvantage. With the improved
plows, harrows and cultlvators, almost
al our tlllable land may be so prepared
as TO render the hoelng al easy and
rapid process. But In order TO do this,
the harrow and cultlvator must be
made to do much of the work which
formerly was done, If at all, with the
hoe. On this subject the New England
Farmer of last week says;
To have easy hoelng and clean fields
at hoeing time. requires little fore
thought and good management early in
the season. / does not matter much
whether the blowing was done last fall,
early in the spring, or in May. just be-
fore planting, provided 1t Is well done.
For several reasons we prefer fall plow-
ing but land may he turned over late in
the spring and be so handled that the
hoeing will not he difficult. Too many
farmers spoil their work by -plow-
ing their fields in the fall, and then,
fearing they cannot get the manure In
deep enough by narrowing, they re.
pillow, and for the next few weeks have
field Of sods aud turf 10 contend with.
The soil is so coarse and rough that the
crops are slow in coming forward and
the labor required in tending them is
really discouraging.
Plow field 10 good depth with a
good plow, and then follow the plow
with pulverizing harrow that will
gradually mellow the surface inch after
inch nearly to the depth to which the
plow can run without hauling the turf
back again, and one can have as easy
hoeing as upon old ground, but replow
The field and the soil is left in square
blocks ni tough sward which no amount
of narrowing can make fine, until they
dccompose under the Influence oil the
hot weather of IL whole summer. Easy
hoeing in June requires a start in the
right direction in April or May. 60
have easy hoeius we must plow well
and then follow the plow with a suita.
BILE harrow, aud to have clean fields all
summer, we must start the cultivator
and hoe carly, and Use them frequently
| till Tie crop is grown. Whatever may
be the condition OF the weather or the
crop, the cultivator should 90 through
the rows as soon rs the weeds start. II
will DO Il twolold work-will kill the
weeds, and help pulverize the soil ant
mix up the fertilizers with il, and has
ten the development Of plant food il
both the soil and the manure. But IL
q rough, cloddy field, one breads t
start the cnltivator early, for fear o
tearing up or covering up the crol
planted, and this affords one Of thu
strongest arguments in favor of perform
ing all the preliminary work In thor
ough and correct manner A helC
properly plowed narrowed and plante'
Is ready for the cultivator or horse-ho
Lciween the rows the next day, if de
sirable. We frequently cultivate pota
toes before they break the ground, an
also any other crops which may re
quire IT, With good steel tooth Guilt
vator or q horse hoe, with outside teet
reversible, one may do st least nine
teutLs Of he work with the horse, If
is properly handled-but it must l.
properly handled. 1t will not do to le
, 1t remain in the tool house until tn
land il swarded over by grass and weed
. it must be used often aud little. Tw
cultlvatings, day or two apart, al
worth nearly twice as much as If mad
a the same day, and never Use the he
upon field crops until the cultivate
f has been through several times. The
; when the hoe IL used, we know Jul
4. where 10 use 1t. and no time Is waste
a In doing what the horse and cultivate
+. can do Jus, rs well, or even better. III
Z hand hoe should be used only whel
q the horse cannot do the work
= Some may think that it will be ne
n essary to follow the cultivation immed
l. aIely, TO uncover hills and reset plan
Q that the Cultivaior has disturbed.
o II would, If the surface were all clo'
s. and turf, but where all the previo'
d work has been done n it should be, til
d will not be the ease, aud the field ms
! be cultivated out half n dozen tim
10 if desirable, before The hand touches
Of Then the work Of the hoe will only
l. to cat ont the weeds immediate
Il around or between the plants. and the
ST ii left where the cultivator viii cate
Il them the next lime il Is used, will
to sure TO be destroyed, even ifthey ale |,
to there in bad Weather, when many pc
~ pie would lhiuk il too wet TO hoe. v
ut dislike to end 50 much fault with 4
! common meihoGs ct doing farm wor
n. fol it can hardly Ice pleasant readi
nt for our patrons. lat when We see
ar ,,,,,L hunfriin., Il,tIor;,,,. .,,..,l a.