The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-05-03
AGRICULTURE.

ON PLOWlNG.-AlWays have your
plow sharp. Never go to the field with
an instrument which is not in condi-
tion to do good work. A good work
man may be thwarted by bad tools, and
dull tools are good indication of a
lazy farmer. Remember that to plow
we'll does not mean to turn over a clean
furrow; to do that may be well, but
that is not all. Good plowlng Is the
thorough pulverization of the soil, and
he who can dissolve an acre of ground
into the finest particles Is the best
plowman, for he exposes the most sur
face to the seed which shall be sown.
The ground cannot be too finely ground
up. Here lies the secret Of fine crops,
so far as mechanical agency Is con-
cerned. Plow an inch or so deeper
each year, and thus deepen your seed
bed and bring the subsoil into contact
with light and air for chemical opera
tions. You can never 60 too deep pro-
vlded you go slowly. Meyer be in a
hurry at this kind of work. If you
have not the time to do your work
right, just make the time. One acre
we'll plowed Is worth two acres half
way done. Look out for those hard
places where the Instrument tries to
jump out. Stop; here Is an enemy
neglect it. These spots determine the
real from the artificial workmen. TRY
1t over again. If 4 rock, or root, or
any other obstruction Is in your way,
stop and get rid of it entirely. If 1t is
Il rock, put it into sink-hole. Never
let 1t bother you again. Dispose of it
at once. DO not ride on your plow
handles. Your team has draught
enough to overcome without your la
illness adding fifty pounds. Riding on
the plow handles never does good work.
Stand square between the plow han
dies, arms so stiff that you must be
lifted Off your feet before the plow can
yeer from Its course. Then lift little
on the handles, and you will do better
work and lightcn the draught by twen-
ty-tlve or fifty pounds. Keep your eye
ahead Of your team and turn every
inch. a bad workman covers, and
grain Is lost. When done, take your
plow and clean it well anl put it UNI
der cover out of the way of wet moist
ure, which, like rot, soon destroys a
valuable implement.
CHECKING THE PorATO DIsEASE.-
AN English farmer in an English jour-
nal OF horticulture, who has given the
potato disease considerable attention,
says that 1t Is owing to the destructive
action Of two kinds of mildew, and it
starts afresh every year from seeds, or
spores, us they are called, which have
rested during the previous autumn and
winter either in the ground or In the
potato tubcrs or the manure heap. He
also offers the following suggestions,
with the full belief that if they are
carefully followed results will be Oh
tanned which will far more than repay
the trouble. Burn the haulm and all
Waste potatoes, parings, etc., not in
tended for the animals, soon as possible
after the crop has been raised. Unless
this Is dene the decaying haulm and
waste potatoes nay fiji the ground with
the seeds Of the destroying mildcws.
DO not throw tho haulm and waste DO
tatoes upon The manure heap, because
the mildcw seeds will gain In strength
Dy resting IN tho manure, and this
manure will help to spread the potato
disease next season. Boil for long
time all diseased and even apparently
sound potatoes before you feed animals
with them. 1t Is highly probable that
the seeds of the potato mildcws gain
strength by passing through the stDm-
ach Of an animal-thc pig. for instance.
The manure Of animals fed on raw
diseased potatoes and potato parlngs
may, Tor the above reason. become a
powerful means Of spreading the pota-
to disease. DO not grow potatoes OH
the same piece Of land two years in sue
cession. Any mildew seeds which may
rest In the ground from the years po-
tato crop will begin to grow about the
middle of May, but they will quickly
perish IT they cannot find potato plants
at hand to nurse them. Be sure the
seeds are quito FREQ from disease when
planted. potato. does not always
show the disease upon the outside ;
therefore 1t will be necessary to cut
the sets, In order that tho condition of
each one may be seen. a few diseased
plants will serve to infect acres OF pota-
toes In wet, warm season. Use chem
ical manures In preference to any
others for the potato crop. Ordinary
manures may, especially If brought
from a distance, contain the mildew
seeds. A potato crop may generally be
saved by pulling up the haulm through
out the whole crop rs completely as
possible directly the disease spots an
pear on tho leaves Of any one of the
plants. or course tho tubcrs will not
grow any larger after the leaves and
stalks have been removed. They will.
however, ripen In tho ground, more or
less, according to the season, and
though they may not be very good
will be fit for use. TO insure success.
al the potato growers of a uelghbor-
1ood should follow the above plan.
One plot of diseased potatoes may fur.
nish seeds enough In July to destroy
the SNrrOundinU o. notnto orc,,