The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-04-08
M'lt Hat,w.
GOOD FLOWING.

The pillow is the most important I'M
plement Of husbandry. Good blowing
lies at the foundation of all successful
culture. The American farmer is not
as rule good plowman. How much,
not how we'll, is too apt to be his motto.
But few take pride in their work none
that | have ever seen excel. The best
work that ever came under my obser-
walton was done by foreigners ; men
who bad served an apprenticeship at
the business, and took great pride in
their smooth, even burrows, which to
the observer does not vary in depth or
or width in the least throughout their
entire length.
1t is doubtful, if in taking the country
through, any teamwork is more imper-
fectly done. Ignorance and indiffer-
ence are the chief causes of this
Many have no definite idea of what
constitutes good work, and it would be
mere chance if it were done in the best
manner. Others are in haste to get
the job done, and cannot spare time to
do it well. The saving expected in
this manner is poor economy The
after-culture is made much more difficult,
and the yield materially decreased in
consequence. Any other work con-
nected with growing crops may be
sighted with less damage than this
1t is not from want of proper i'm
plements that the work is not better
done. Inventive genius has been freely
employed in this direction. We have
a great varity of patterns, suited to all
kinds of work, each doing good work
in its proper place. Although great
improvement has been made, those
which would do good work have existed
for long time. At our county fair, a
few years ago, the best work was done
by an old pillow which had been in use
fifty years before The pillow should
b, drawn by strong, steady team.
If there are many instructions, oxen
are preferable to horses Much loss
resulted during the dry seasons, few
years since, by using weak team
The ground was not stirred properly
and made fine to proper depth, as it
should have been to withstand the hard
drought which followed. During those
years there was very marked contrast
between the yield of those fields pro-
perly and improperly plowed. Nor is
the effect confined to dry years. In
any season the advantage is always in
favor of well-plowed land.
The soil should be in suitable condi-
ton to work Not too wet, as it will
cause the earth to became dry and hard
during the entire season. 1t is of little
use to work land in which there is a
surplus of water Both labor and
manure are wasted in the cultivation
of such lands. Drainage should pre-
coed the plow A large percent, of the
land worked in this country is too wet
for successful cultivation. When taken
in the aggregate, the loss from such
cultivation is very great. 1t is time
there was reform in this respect.
As a people we are too much in a
hurry. We attempt to make quicker
progress by emitting the detail in our
business We have but few good work
men in any department of industry,
because few can afford the time to learn
their trades. They ignore the position
of journeymen they demand to become
master-workmen at once. The effect of
this is visible in all kinds of mechani,
cal work, and we are often reminded of
it at our cost 1t is so upon the farm
we cannot afford to do much of our
work properly, and in consequence are
compelled to submit to great loss
Neglect with the pillow probably subjects
US to more loss than that of any other
implement used ON the farm. Let there
be a reform in this, and one condition
which is favorable to hard times will
be removed.
Germantown Telegraph.