Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-07-10

Of New England have hal during the
25S seasons which have passed since
the landing of the Pilgrims on Ply.
mouth Rock, ought 70 have so thor
oughly settled all questions relating
to this subject that nothing more
need TO be said upon it; but he who
has travelled among the farmers and
observed their different methods OF
cultivation cannot help feeling that
there are many who ought to read and
think more upon the subject OF cultivs-
ting the soil. in their gardens and
fields, than they ever yet have.
What is the object of cultivation
Large numbers declare it is 10 kill the
grass and weeds, and really believe
that this is the sole object. and SO
work entirely for this end but intell-
gent and careful observing farmers
are convinced that there is another
advantage gained, by cultivaiing the
soil, quite as important, if not more SO,
than the killing of weeds.
The soil TO be in the best condition
for growing crops must be well pull.
perized and the surface frequently
stirred, until the growing crop shades
the land when We neglect TO stir the
soil that is exposed to the rays of the
sun. but one or two showers are me-
cessary TO settle the top OF the soil
together so that the hot sun bakes it
and makes a hard crust, which con,in-
ues 10 grow thicker until disturbed by
the hoe. or some other pulverizing
implement. While this crust renal rs
the growth Of the crop is retarded,
and If in season of drouth, i, dries
up very much faster than il an inch
or so of the top Of the soil is kept
loose and well pulverized by frequen,
stirring. Our grandfsthers had no,
learned this fact. and so would no,
stir the soil in dry weather; ss they
hoed simply TO check the growth OF
grass and kill the weeds, they billed
the corn believing this 10 be the hes,
way 10 accomplish their object. Large
numbers OF farmers having acquired
in their boyhood. the habit OF killing.
they do not seem TO be able 10 throw
1t OF. II is So eviden; 10 every inielli-
gent cultivator OF the soil who has
given the subject any attention, that
level culture is the best, that i, NAV
be thought out Of place to occupy any
space with arguments in its favor, vet
the subject is so important, tina, i,
should be agitated until the billing
process is abandoned by every iiller
Of the soil
Those who pretend to advocate the
practice Of killing, give as a reason;
that IT Is less work, and in the cult
walton Of corn that il keeps il from
blowing down If il be potatoes, tina,
1t keeps them from growing out OF
ground. The first reason is no, a good
one, for those who have practiced
both ways find that level culture is the
cheapest. The reason given for
killing corn Is not correct a. carefully
tried experiments have proved ,ha,
more corn blows down by the killing
process than by level culture, and the
assertion that it keeps potatoes from
growing out Of ground has no weight
with Us. as We have grown at the rate
Of AS bushels 10 the acre without
having them grow out of ground.
In dry seasons the killing process
reduces the crop one-third and often
one-half. One experiment with po-
tatoes in very dry season resulted
in fair crop by level culture, while
those by the side of them that were
billed we're not worth digging.
Potatoes that are not TO be billed
should be planted good depth tina,
they may have room to grow below
ground.
BY level culture the land is always
IN 8 condition 10 cultivate, bu, when
hills are made it is very Difficult, to
cultivate, and as all OF the well pull.
'ered soil is heaped up around the
plants the space between the hills
soon becomes hard and dry; while the
hills are 40 exposed to the sun and
Air it soon dries through; when once
dry no ordinary rain will wet i, again,
IS 1t runs of into the hollovs between
the bills. II the season should he
very wet 80 as TO keep the hills moist
nature tries TO overcome the unna,ur.
81 condition which man has made by
billing, aud throws out another set Of
roots above those that we're intended
- the upper roots.
No farmer should be satisfied that
any practice is best because long con-
tinued, and every progressive farmer
should not fail 70 every year try diff.
ferent methods, side by side, that be
may by his own experience and obser-
vation better understand how TO ap.
ply both labor and material, to Ais
own farm, TO the best advantage