Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-05-17
ROME,

For the TELEGRAPH-by Uncle Tim.
For the past two weeks we have had rain
nearly every day, making it too wet on our
flat lands for plowing, causing delay in
finishing the sowing of oats and preparing
grounds for planting. Wheat and grass
has come forward rapidly. Wheat in many
cases is becoming badly lodged. Early
sowed oats are looking finely. Grass seed
meyer had better catch. Potatoes are
nearly all planted. Many fields are up
and ready for the bug, Who attack them
with great feroeity, and are being picked
up by the nimble fingers in large numbers.
To those who have prophssied frosts about
this time, we can say that their prophesy
Is fulfilled to the letter. Friday opened
cold with frequent showers of hail, snow
and sleet, Saturday cold with snow flakes
flying. Overcoats and mittens were freely
brought into use and were found comfort
able. Sunday morning opened up showing
us hard black frost, Sunday cool and
bracing This Monday morning, the frost
is still greater than yesterday. Coverlids
that were spread over strawberry plants,
are found stiff with frost. As our garden
vegetables subject to injury by frost were
under cover we can't say what is the effect
on those that were exposed to the frost.
From many other places we learn that the
Saturday night frost was far more severe
than in this location. Don't yet know the
effect it may have on fruit, but hope for
the best. In referring back to our diary
of 1858 we find first strawberry in blossom
May 8. At this time we have the green
berry in large profusion and many OF them
as large as fair sized hickory nut. Most
kinds Of vegetables far in advance of for
mer season. From the latest reports from
other places we find that we have suffered
less by frost than in many other localities.
Many believe fruit badly injured if not
wholly destroyed.
Many Of our farmers who are desirous
of improving their farms and farm crops,
are naturally inquiring it pay to buy
fertilizer, and if so, what is the best kind
to buy? In many cases land plaster has
been freely used and in every case with no
preceptible benefit 20 the crops. Some we
know have used as high as tons in sea
sons, on different soils and different crops
and proved it an entire failure. Many
others have done likewise with similar re-
suits. There is no doubt but pure bone
dust is good fertilizer but it has risen in
price above its value. Manufactured fer
tilizer may do for one crop but it is said
by many who have used them to prove in
furious to the soil. The late Col. Harris
who is high authority, when asked his
opinion as to the value of the manufac-
tured fertilizers of the present day, would
invarible shake his head and refer you to
the woods and swamps for better article.
And now comes to the front, some dealer
in wheat bran and recommends it as a land
fertilizer. This is only equaled as fertil-
izer by sawdust which in its raw state IS
worthless as manure. Wheat bran may
be fed to milch COWS at $10a ton but all
paid above that is money thrown away.
This we know from actual experience.
We know of no fertilizer as good and cheap
as to plow under the dew from Heaven.
This if done a few times will bring cur poor
est lands to high state of perfection, thus
the old proverb, plow deep whilst the slug
gard sleeps.
Nav 13 1879