Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-07-18
agricultural.
HOEING.

Scarcely Is the hoe laid up after COW
ering the seeds in our gardens and fields,
before it must be taken down again TO
begin the annual warfare against the weeds
which contest the right Of possession, not
only Of the soil, but also Of the fertilizers
which at a great expense, we have applied
to it.
As We occasionally ride through the
country, at this season Of the year, whether
in our own neighborhood or in distant
towns or States, We see little that I'M
presses US more strongly or more sadly
than the ignorance manifested by the
majority Of country farmers regarding
the management of cultivated fields dur
Ing the growing season. We say lgnOr-
ance. because we believe that Is the right
word. Ii is not lazineSs, for our farmers
are not lazy. Their hard hands and
sweaty shirts are a sufficient reiutation Of
any such charge. But they are unmis-
taka5ly ignorant Of the easy methods for
doing many of the ordinary kinds OF
work required upon every tarm, and in
no particular more 50 than in that of hoe
ing.
We find men who pride themselves up
on their skill in training steers, and who
can "set out land" without 4 driver,
with precision almost equal to the work
Of civil engineer; who can "turn a
doubler." or trim a hay cock with the
skill Of an artist, but who, somehow get
terribly beaten when they attempt I
match with a crop OF weeds in the garden
or corn6eld; and the reason Is, simply
and only, because they don't know how.
They remind one Of the blunderS Of 4
mechanic who has never learned his trade
by regular apprenticeship under com
peteut master. Such mechanics are al
ways measuring n stick two or three times
over, and are forever running 10 aud from
the bench to Try It in 10 see If it will ut,
while the finished carpenter begins his job
at the right end, aud sees the way through
from the beginning.
Now, It seems as if the majority OF cur
farmers are like the carpenter who has
taken up his trade and Is learning it with
out master. They don't seem to see
their way through a piece Of work, when
they begin it. It they did would they
20 on year after year only half plough
inc their cultivated fields? Would they
use tools 50 badly worn, or out of date
that 1t would be money in pocket to have
them burned, or borrowed and never
brought back? Would they leave a Job
that needs doing now, for tomorrow or
next week, when it will require double,
treble, or, perhaps, ten times the amount
Of labor to accomplish 1t, as if done to-
day ? When We sec farmers doing their
work IN such awkward and improbable
ways, We are almost lcd 20 think that it
Is not the want Of college or a book
education that the majority of Us need to
make Us good, practical farmers, 50 much
as a thorough apprenticeship TO the trade
We are following, and that the Professors
IN our agricultural colleges have a. much
reason 10 complain OF the farmers for not
exhibiting better knowledge and UNDER
standing Of the practical and manual
portion Of their occupation, as the farmers
have to complain Of the Professors for
not turning out more farmers from their
classes Of farmers sons. Ii Is not 10 be
expected that every farmer will be very
familiar with the nomenclature of the
chemist, or that he should have a very
clear idea Of those substances which he
has never seen or handled, but il does
seem no more than reasonable to suppose
that he should know most of the short
cuts in the labor department Of his oc.
cupation. But sorry as it NAV seem.
such Is not the fact, or else we are 4 moor
observer, for every year We see farmers
tugglng and sweating over the hoeing and
the wedding, when, by a little better
knowledge Of some Of the conditions IN.
der which they are laboring, very large
portion Of their strength might be saved
OF used IN more profitable directions.
10 have easy hoeing and clean fields at
hoelng time. requires little forethought
ana good management early in the season.
II does not matter much whether the
pioughing was done last fall, early in the
spring, or in May, Just before planting
provided 1t was well done. For several
reasons We prefer fall ploughing, but land
may be turned over late in the spring and
be 80 handled that the hoeing will
not De difficult. Too many farmers spoil
their work by cross plOughing their green
sWard IN the spring They plough their
heids IN the fall, and then, fearing they
cannot get the manure in deep enough By
narrowing, they re-plough, and for the
next few weeks have a field of sods and
turf to contend with. The soil is 50
coarse and rough that the crops are slow
IN coming forward and the labor required
IN tending them is really diseouraging.
Plough field to a good depth with
good plough, aud then follow the plough
with puIverizing harrow that will grad. |
ually mellow the surface inch after inch
nearly to the depth to which the plough
run without hauling the turf back again |
and one can have as easy hoeing as upon
old ground, but re-plOugh the field and .
the soll Is left in square blocks Of tough F..
sward which no amount Of narrowing can
make hne, until they decOmpose under the
in1unee Of the not weather of a whole
summer. Easy hoeing in June requires (