Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-12-05
FARM AND FIRE SIDE
Mn. EpIToR
/ am efattned 70 see the


I am eratshed % see the.
HERALD devoting SO much space in the
interest of AaRIcuLTURE. I turn to
the fourth page Of the paper, with no
little pleasure because ! generally find
much that ia useful and valuable to the
farmer. BY the way, letme call atten-
ton to the fact, that the FARM AND
PRESIDE department Of the HERALD
furnishes almost az much reading matter
as most of the Agricultural Monthlies,
and more articles that are Of practical
use to our farmers. Why is it that my
brethren of the pillow do not furnish you
with more original articles! Surely we
have those among US Yho have the
time and the ability to give us the bene-
fit of their knowledge Of farming. know
ledge derived from experience. Permit
me to give you chapter Of my exper-
lence, which hope may be the means
of inducing others to give your readers
the benefit Of their experience and
knowledge. Ihave been called by some
a book farmer, be it so, I believe in
getting information from every source
and thus be able to till the soil intelli-
gently and proitably. How often do
you meet farmer who can give you no
other reason for his mode of farming
than-''My father did 500 But 1 am
DEPRESSING. A few years ago, l purchas-
ed small farm with Indifferent fencing
aud without improvements. The soil
was SO poor that my friends gave it the
name of s'Killdse," because they said
nothing but Killdees could live on it !;
indeed, tradition has it that it was twice
sold or traded for a calf. l commenced
on the poorest field by spreading from
IS to 100 bushels of lime to the acre on
1t, and then planted it In corn, which
yielded Is bushels per acre. This was
in 1875. The following Spring 1 plow-
ed the same field, turning under coarse
manure, straw and ccrn stalks, and
again planted 1t in corn, using a small
quantity of Ober's phosphate, dropped
IN the hill. The corn was thoroughly
farmed, using cultivator, which 1 re-
gard as superior to the old double shovel
pillow. The field yielded 40 bushels per
acre OF excellent corn.
After cutting up the corn, the ground
was well narrowed with "MCGINHIs
HARROW" which in my judgment has
no superior among harrows in prepar-
ing land for the reception Of seed. The
wheat was drilled in using 200 lbs. Of
Phosphate to the acre. The field aver
aged III bushels OF wheat, per acre,
weighing "a lbs. to the bushels. My
entire wheat crop this year was 625
bushels which weighed "a lbs. to the
bushel. raised on 40 acres, an average
of l64 bushels to the acre. Ny fertili-
zers cost me s155.25, most ofwhlch was
the Alkaline mixed with hen manure
and small quantity Of plaster.
1 would say to my brethren Of the
pillow, come on. Neighbor VIM.
Thompson, who raised 800 bushels of
wheat on farm regarded by many as
poor and worn out, and myself will add
up or measure up with any Of our breth-
ern in all of the departments Of the farm.
If the Investment be made the basis Of
calculation, we VIII lock horns with our
river farmers. a9 q e. > - - &C.
What we need and ought to have in
this neighborhood is FAKMER's CLUB.
Will you not give us your valuable
assistance and advice r.
- .Joel."
1t gives.us great pleasure to publish
the interesting communication from our
esteemed friend Joel. His experience
fully demonstrates what intelligent and
thorough cultivation will accomplish.
We are well acquainted with Killdee
and poorer piece Of land could scarce
ly have been found in this vicinity when
our friend purchased it. We agree with
our correspondent in relation to a
FARMERS CLUB. We see no reason
why one should not be organized, In
this neighborhood, and we hope vigor-
Gus steps will at once be taken in that