Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-05-02
AND PRESIDE.
Talks on Farm Crops.---No. l.

Talks on Farm Crops.---No. l.
s'Where are; you going to plant pota-
toes this year," asked Charley, who is
beginning to take quite an interest in
the management of the farm.
II had thought of planting about 4
acres on No. l. where. we had mangels
last year and acres on No. 5, where
we areAgoing to plant corn."s SO g &
No. is in prime condition. 1t was
MANFRED last spring for mangles, and
the hoelng und frequent cultivation be-
tween the rows, leftit tolerably clean,
and as mellow as garden. 1t is good,
strong land, and after the mangles were
gathered last autumn, we plowed it
with three-horse pillow, and L never
saw land turn up better. The land is
on gentle slope, facing the south, and
it would seem to be just the place to
put in crop of potatoes. But l have
been recently studying the results of
Mr.. Lawes' experiments on beets, and
have come to the conclusion that unless
we can use some artificial manure for
the potatoes, we can not expect very
large crop. The beets do not leave
much manure where the potatoes can
get hold oft. Instead Of planting po-
tatoes, it would be better to SOW barley
and seed down with clover. We might
reasonably expect agoodcrop of barley,
an good crop Of clover afterwards.
AID then, after the clover, especially If
,Epstured, we might plant potatoes, with
sfair prospect of getting good crop.
''Well,n said Charley; No. is a
lover sod.'' '.' VS.
True, but unfortunately the land has
lot been MANFRED for dozen years
indI question if it has ever been ma
hured since it was first cleared of the
original forest, half century ago. But
& should not care much for that, provi-
ded the land had been thoroughly work
ed, SOFAS to. develop the talent plant
food in the soil. Had such been the
case, We should have had large crop of
clover, together with the droppings of
the Sheep, which would have furnished
liberal supply of plant-food for the
potatoes: and we might have reason
able hope Of getting a good crop.
One thing i certain, we can not get a
great growth; of potatoes, unless we
have rich surface son. We can often
get big crop of clover when the sur
face soil is comparatively poor provided
the lower soil is rich from previous ma
nuring, or from thorough cultivation.
But this is not the case with patatoes.
The surface soil must be rich in availa-
bic plant-food.A clover sod turned
under !sa1good foundation to work
upon.
Yes said the Deacon, "a sod of
any kind is good. 1t keeps the ground
loose and moist, and the potatoes like
to bury themselves in it. 1t is a real
pleasure to strike hook into a hill,
and pull upa dozen smooth, good-shed
potatoes out of the decayed or decaying
sod. 3sssG F# $50.
The Deacon Is right. But in order to
secure such a pleasure, we must look
well to all the conditions. We want
frst--land that's free from stagnant
water. 1.-THE land needs draining, it is
vain to expect good crop. Second
We want fine, free, mellow soil. In
saying tMs,I do notmean any special
description of land. Good crops of po-
tatoes can be gromn On great variety
OF soils, ranging from a black much to
heavyclay loan. Or a blowing sand.
But in order to raise good crops of po-
tatoes on clayey land, it is necessary to
get 1t into a fine mellow condition.
Ihlrd.-We must plant early. And
weat is Of still greater Importance, we
must keep the crop clean by thorough
cultivation between the rows, and the
occasional use of the hoe in drawing the
soil around the growing plants. killing
the weeds at the same time.
90 --AE
Manure for pototoes should be rich
and well rotted. Horse or sheep ma
nure that has been used as bedding for
well-fed pigs, is excellent. If the ma
nure is not rich---in other words. if the
animals have not been well fed
you can make up the deficiency, by
putting tablespoonful of nitrate of soda
to each hill Of potatoes. This will 90
far toward making poor manure into
rich manure, and instead Of getting 100
bushelsof potatoes per acre, you NAV
expect 200 bushels.
"But suppose you do not use any ma
nure," said the Deacon, ''would nitrate
Oh soda then do good ?"---I think it
would. For you must recollect that
whether We draw manure on to the land
or hots~s newer plant potatoes without
manure Of some Skind.---''It is not one
year in ten" said the Deacon, that I
manure my potatoes. "---You mean. -,
said that you do not draw out any
manure from the Abarn-yard for your
potatoes. But pasture your land, and
the droppings of the animals furnish ms
nure,sapd you t.afn under sod, which
rots and furnishes manure, and the slow
decomposition Of the soil itselffurnishes
Hlandfe.'sa - A. en- .1 f,..s-tl1- j u.
Now in this case, as in the other, the
manure is generally poor in quality. It
is not rich enough. and as 1 said before
nitrade Of soda, or any substance fur.
nishng available nitrogen, will 90 far