The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-04-05
FARMERS COLUMN.
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Lectures n, Ohio state Univcrsiiy.
ROOT cRor-pR. rowSsBEvp.

this country thot II has in the Old World,
where itserms to form almost the basis Of
their agriculture. As long ago as the seven
ieeuth century the farmers Of the Old World
thought they could do nothing without q
fsllow. Jehu Tull. in 1880, first claimed
that this fallow could bo used by some root
crop and not destroy its effects for other crops.
AT first farmers were slow to accept this new
theory, but now what is called root lallow
is generally adopted. In England the root
crop, consisting Of beets, turnips and potatoes,
is of great Importance. This crop is Of less
importance to us ON account Of the chcapncss
Of corn. The potato is a native of Chill and
was taken to Ireland in ljlj by John IIuw-
kins, slave merchant From thence it was
almost Immediately taken to Belgium. and
from one ofthcse countries was taken to Eng
land by Sir Walter Raleigh, in 1000. The
potato grows in almost any temperature, and
perhaps best in Northern New England. 1t
is valuable on account Of the large amour,
of starch it contains. The starch is used
largely in the arts, and that used in calico
printing is made from the potato. In France,
from hectare (about two and one halfacres
our measureJ were grown in successive years,
Of wheat, 3,4OO pounds rye, $500 pounds;
peas, 1880 pounds; and potatoes, SO 900
pounds. AS to planting whole or cut pota-
toes, it depends much on season and soil as
rule it would be best to use large seed and
cut. Deep or shal ow planting depends also
much on soil and climate. The roots prob
ably get most nourishment from near the
surface, and it is best 10 plant shallow and
Garth up MS needed, but would not hill up
much, as the tuber grows on the horizontal
and not on the vertical roots. Turnips are
not an important crop in this country. In
Europe they are grown in large quantities
and fed in the straw yard where the stock is
kept eating and tramping over the straw
that is thrown round every day or so. In
the spring this is thrown up in piles and rots
very rapidly. OF bcels there are several va
rieties. They are used the same as turnirs.
In England and Scotland they are cultivated
largely for stock. They are much better to
feed cows than turnips, as they give no un-
pleasant flavor to the milk. They cause an
abundant flow, but the milk is not as rich as
that from grass. They are both good ratten-
ing crops. Turnips contain eight per ceutum
OF sugar; beets twelve per ccntum. France
obtains all her sugar from beets.
GRASSES AND PAsTuRE-DR. TowNsuEyp.
Grass, we might say, is only another
name for beef, mutton, clothing etc. Sin
clair says, "There is no tribe of vegetables
more numerous or useful" In Early times
in England the want of grass was felt so
much that fine was imposed for breaking
up a pasture. The use of grass to any ex-
int was begun within century. The first
Improvement to grass we owe tn the Duke
oi Bedford and nis garden r. wi o by anal, =
SIS and experiment ascertained their value.
In 1878 we exported in animal products,
$l23,GOOOOO. We do not grow enough wo,
IN this country, but have to impart for our
own USE There are grasses that grow on
every soil, and all we need do is TO find ont
what is best adapted to a particular soil. The
best grass lands are those with good clay
sub'oil covered with vegetable mould. The
climate of England is favorable to the growth
OF grasses and they remain green nearly the
whole year. Underdrainng is beneficial tc
grass lands because it changes the character
of the grass-the water grasses die out and
are replaced by those swcetcr and more nu.
tritlous. Stock is more healthy on drained
lands, as damp lands furnish home fol
ptrasltee which effect the health of the ami.
mails. Murran is more common on damn
lands. Sheep also suffer from what is called
pelt'rot. This disease prevailed In England
oi disappeared after the land was drained
1 'ere are many weeds that trouble pastures
and although it has never been discovered
exactly what causes milk sicRness, it is som,
plant which grows on damp lands, as nev.
er knew ease ofthis disease on underdr,iu.
ed pastures. How can we renovatc old pas
lures ? LIST, if wet, drain them. 2nd, if yer,
dry, drain them. Sd, use fertilizers. Un
leached ashes are good. | used to sell m,
ashes at from eight to ten cents a bushel
but have learned that they are worth NOR,
for iertilizing. 4th, salt we have found val
liable on the college farm put on from on,
TO two bushels per acre. 5th, barnyard ma
nure, and this is best of ALL 1t is possibl,
to have pasture ST spoiled by weeds all,
trampng that manure will not restore /
without breaking and reseeding.
DRAINAGE-DR. TOwxsuEyD.
We have records which show that drain
age was practced by the Romans, but tn
first notice we had Of it in modern times wa
in 1920. Oliver was the original in Eng
land, having drained some bogs for sauitar,
purposes. The early drains ware made O
stones. brush and straw. In ISC3 the mol
plough was first used in England. In IsI
an act was passed by the British parliameu
authorizing the loaning of money to farmer
to drain their lands As tn, lands in Eng
land were mostly drained before this, thi
act was intended to benefit Ireland. In lS3
John johnson began tile draining with ham
made tile, md in 1913, tile machine wa
imported to this country In 1880, Dl
Townshend, (being then boy) suggeste,
drains TO furnish stock water, aud the pa
was a success and many farmers adopted il
In 1852 or 1888 he bought machine an
began u make tile AMI most of the drain
laid at that time are still good. Why shoul
We drain? 1t deepens the soil; if the subso
is saturated with water it is not productiy,
but il We drain, frost and air will deepen j
Drainage prevents the damage from stanC
ing water which kills out the best grass
and brings in selge. Draining makes Il
land moister in dry weather. for the soil
made more mellow and capable of retai.,ir
moisture. The soil is also made mu,
warmer BY draining, Our annual rainf.
averages about thirty-six inches. Now.
this water must pass of 10y evaporation.
reduces the temperature Of the soil. IT
texture Of the sui is much improved