Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-05-21

known strawberry growers to have the
soil for strawberry plantations spaded
two feet deep, and to apply one hun
dred twO-hOrse wagon loads of good
stable manure per acre before q plant
was put out. Then during the first
season the soil between the rows was
stirred at least every two weeks, and in
the fall the entire ground and plants
were entirely covered with bog hay.
which protect them in winter, and
this mulch was left on the following
season, not only to keep the berries
clean but also to keep the soil moist
underneath. Slaughter house manure
of the rankest kind is also used for this
purposesand the growth of vine which
follows and the size of fruit would GER
talnly astOnish any man who was not in
the secret as to how the thing was done.
This is the way In which new sorts are
treated by professionals who expect to
make a show of their pets at exhibit
tons Or elsewhere.
CLovERING LANDRY clovering land,
hundreds of WORKOUT farmers have
been rescued from dilapidation and
ruin. 1t is an accepted truism that as
"clover will CATCH" the farm can soon
be restored to paying fertility, and by
good rotation is even getting more pro-
ductive and profitable; for after some
years of such treatment the land will
bear harder farming; that is, two or
three crops may succeed q good coat Of
clover before laying down to clover
again. Rough new land should be sub
| IN, l,u no Of 10
English) clover. Nothing SO efectually
rots out stumps and kills weeds and
sprouts, and prepares the land for the
pillow and good paying crops. Wild,
new lands should always have it sown
on the first grain crop down. 1t saves
a vast amount of labor, for in few
years it SO tames the ground and clears
it of enemies to the pillow that it works
like old ground, and is good for full
crops. One great error is often fallen
into; and that is following the old ira
dition tllf a bushel Of clover seed will
do Tor eight acres. That may have
been enough to clover land partially
when it was new, but whoever aims at
getting up his land in speedy and
profitable way should SOW a bushel on
four acres, SO that his land may be
thoroughly shaded.
PREPARING THE SEED BED.-Perhaps
there is not one thing in which the Or
binary farmer loses so much as in the
failure to reduce his land to the proper
condition for seeding. Any portion of
the soil which is not open to the effects
OF the air, moisture and sunshine, offers
no nourishm ent to the growing plant.
The roots only seek their food where it
is in soluble condition and most easy
Of access. If they meet dry clod in
their search after nutriment. they are
at once turned into another direction.
Dor will secure food, but they may be
SO exhausted in the effort as to be bad
ly dwarfed in the struggle. Our meth
DDS in gardening, both as to manure
and culture, are well worthy of adoption
for our field crops, and would pay as
well in proportion. With such ma
chlnery as we have at command, this
is not 50 difficult as many imagine. A
good team, a good pillow, and good
plowman, at the right time, will pre-
pare the soil for the seed; or will at least,
prepare it for the drag and roller, and
tl.cse again for the pillow, so that by per
sistence the field may be finally prepar-
ed most thoroughly for the seed and the
labor not more than an abundant crop
will repay. The great curse of most
farmers is q lack Of thoroughness in
what is to be done. 1t is the neglect of
that solid maxim which teaches that
what is worth doing is worth doing WE'LL
The results Of this practice are account
ed for on the score luck Much OF
this so-called luck is Of character that
few can afford. 1t will ruin its recipient
sooner Or later, and in the end will
keep his nose to the grindstone.' 1t
must be avoided as one would avoid
pestilence, and it's path lies all the time
over the cloddy fields, and through the
undrained sloughs that are trod by the
farmer who is casting forth seed. A
crop we'll put in is we'll started; crop
we'll started is half made. A crop poor
ly started is always in the wake of its
adversaries, and takes what they leave.
1t can not thrive on such fare. Prepare
the seed bed and occupy it promptly.
Let the planter follow closely upon
thorough preparation.--Douenport IooOa)
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