The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-04-05
FARM AND FIRESIDE.

Va OuVuu1Bh OOuuty, gives tuo OOuWuy
Gentleman the following report of his ex-
pertinent in sowing salt on spring wheat.
1t is evident that his success comes
mainly from the power of the salt to
attract and retain the moisture of the at
mosphere. He says: For over twenty
five years farming on soil too hot and
dry for spring wheat to fill well Tin the
usual manner of cultivation), it proved
q very uncertain crop. Becoming nearly
discouraged in trying to raise 1t, began
four years ago sowing salt. The first
year three bushels was scattered on the
ground just as the wheat was fairly up
and the ground was dry. Twenty-Five
bushels per acre was the first years yield.
The second year four bushels of salt was
s0wn, and twenty-nine bushels OF plump
wheat was raised to the acre. The third
experiment was four bushels of salt, and
thirty of wheat to the acre. For the past
summer in Onondaga County the Their
mometer marked eighty degrees and up
ward for thirty-eight days, fifteen of
which were over ninety degrees, and it
was scorching time for spring grain.
For the last trial drilled, on six acres
of corn stubble ground, one and three
fourths bushels of wheat, and sowed six
bushels of wheat broadcast to the acre. A
strip was left without any salt, which
was very light. On this ground the
dew dried off quicker, and the wheat
headed out two days later, with the
straw darker colored and badly crinkled
down. The yield this year was twenty
ak bushels per acre.
TRIMMING PLANTS WHILE GROWING
Every one admires beautiful form in
plant-an evenness of growth in the va
rious branches 70 give fine balance to it.
There are some plants whose habits are
naturally straggly and uncouth. While
they are growing, little nipping back
of the leading branches with the fingers,
or with pair of shears, will hold them
in check, while other branches will be
encouraged to grow to the same size.
We will cite, for instance, the lemon YER
bena. This seldom makes a slightly
shrub, when left to itself, although it is
a favorite owing to its sweet scent and
delicate green. By pruning back the
leading branches it will soon grow into
a well-rounded and closely formed shrub.
If you wish it to grow tree-shaped, en-
courage it to grow tall by nipping back
the ends of side limbs till it has acquired
the right height, then, to prevent growing
one-sided, and to make it well formed,
nip back all the shoots that are out of
balance. This came system can be ap-
piled to roses, geraniums, and, in fact,
any plants that are desired to grow into
better shape. 1t is not at all necessary to
cut branches off close to the stalk, in fact
it is better not to do 80. But little
nipping back of the ends of growing
shoots is all that is required.
GROWING CORN IN DRY SEASONS
On this subject Jacob II. Bruner, OF
GAINESVILLE, Indiana, writes as follows
I will tell you how / made fifty bushels
of corn per acre on an upland field some
years ago, where there was scarcely any
rain the entire season through. I first
broke the ground with a two-horse pillow
in the spring; this was sod ground.
Then crOss-plowed it and gave it a few
good, genuine borrowings with an iron
tooth harrow. l do not remember how
often plowed and narrowed the ground
before planting, but l kept up the pro.
cess of blowing and narrowing until the
ground was we'll pulverized and much
resembled an ash bed in appearance
and then il was planted. Scarcely 9
dop of rain came until the corn was up
then / plowed it while dry, and in 8
short time plowed it again in the dry.
The weather remained dry, scarcely &
drop of rain falling. So gave my corr
another good blowing while dry weather
continued.
Invent through it, believe, the fourth
time, while the ground was scorchinl
hot, then laid it by to rest and fight il
own way the remainder of the season
alone.
After the last blowing my corn twisted
and shriveled up at fearful rate an(
looked like dying, for the ground wa
extremely hot and dry, and the sun sen
down its burning rays day after day will
mighty power and great heat. But be
fore my corn ceased to live there came ,
refreshing rain, and the corn put on new
life, and the kinks came out of it, and i
grew with new vigor.
At gathering time it yielded abou
fifty bushels per acre, and all because TIT
ground was put in good condition befor'
planting, and then because it was wei
titled during the dry weather which
followed through the summer. The corr
was ready to silk and tassel when tn,
first rain of the season came, of mucl
Importance. hence demonstrated tn,
fact that it pays well to tend your corr
all the same, or more 80, If possible
when the season is dry.
This corn was not MANFRED, and thu
ground was only moderately good ant
productive in common seasons. Had
not properly prepared the ground befor'
planting, and then had / not given my
corn proper cultivation during the DIR,
weather which ensued, l certainly would
not have raised half a crop: But we fine
by experiment that good cultivation
generally, if not always, pays best. Their
we say to farmers and gardeners to SCI
that your ground is well plowed ant
narrowed and put in proper condition
for growth of crops of all kinds befor,
your seed goes into the ground. Ger
, tainly half the battle is fought befor,
you SOW and plant your crops. For whel
your ground is we'll pulverized belor'
the seed goes into it it saves vas
amount of trouble and hard labor after
wards.
When ground is finely pulverized be
fore planting, it enables the young an(
tiny roots to lay hold of the soil with
mi UGH more ease, and with greater vigol
soon after termination, than when your
ground is rough, lumpy, and cloddy
When it is well prepared before sowing
or planting the power of capillary attrac
ton is greatly increased in your soil, anc
hence it remains in moist condition
much longer time after rain thar
when in bad state of cultivation.
Household Helps.
PoT ROAST Take any piece of fresh