Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-04-08


they are covered with clover, and
much clover seed is raised for the
market.
1t is gratifying to know that the
examples OF rational aud recuperative
agriculture is increasing and making
inroads upon the destructive and ir.
rational modes SO generally prevail
ent. That much progress has been
made towards better agriculture, is
an augury of progress in the future.
IL we ever expect TO gain compel
ency as farmers. we must improve
upon the past to our own beneft,and
adopt the labor saving implements of
our time and keep up with the prog
ress of the age. Our farmers are
cultivating not soil alone but brains,
and, through the Grange organiza-
ton, more progress has been made
in the last FIVE years than in any ten
that preceded it. 1t is a duty we
owe to ourselves and to posterity to
get out OF the ruts worn deep into
the soil by the pioneers all over this
western country, and to bequeath TO
those who come after us, and who
must depend on our common mother
earth for a subsistence, soil unim-
paired in its fertility.
PREPARATION OF GROUND.
Before we can plant the seed we
must prepare the ground, and before
we can do this we must inquire: Has
the ground been properly prepared?
We say Yes,if properly plowed, when
not too wet, and thoroughly pulver-
lied by cultivator and harrow, and
most emphatically No, if these con-
ditions have not been fulfilled. A
light, warm, rich, loose soil requires
level culture, because that mode ex-
poses less surface to the drying influ.
ence of sun and air.
CORN.
We will give our system of plant
ing corn. Stubble ground should be
plowed in the fall, and clover sowed
just before planting, as grubs and
cut worms work much less upon the
corn, the green grass roots furnish
ing them food to live upon, In all
cases cultivate and harrow until you
have good seed bed to plant on.
Plant deep enough, so that you can
harrow the ground thoroughly with.
out moving the corn. If the harrow
teeth do not strike the roots you will
not injure by narrowing. 1t kills
millions of weeds in thor first stages
of growth, and the after cultivation
is comparatively easy, and you can
have clean ground and good crop.
The last two times do not cultivate
deep enough to cut the roots of the
corn. Always select your seed corn
in the fall, before freezing weather,
and dry by fire or in a smoke house
by smoke.
WHEAT.
For wheat, one of our most uncer.
tain crops, too much care cannot be
taken that there be proper prepare
ton of soil to receive the seed. Bet
ter manure for corn and oats to be
followed by wheat on our black
prairie soils. Plow clover sod in
September for wheat next spring.
Sow as early as the ground will ad-
NIT, but never niue it in in fact,
never work your ground when it is
so wet that it will bake. Sow from
one and one.half to two bushels per
acre according to kind.
OATS.
In the raising of oats there are
many opinions. Most of US sow oats
on corn ground. When you can,
We say fall pillow by all means. Sow
early. On fall blowing they stand
up better and tiller out a great deal
better than those sown late or on
spring blowing do. Amount of seed
two aud one half bushels per acre.
GRASS.
As grass is the next staple in the
catalogue we have an opinion Of
our own. | would never sow timo-
thy alone for hay or pasture. If dry
weather sets in the pasture will dis
appear like the morning dew. Sow
clover four quarts and the same
amount OF timothy seed to the acre.
There is one.third more intrinsic
value in clover than there is in any
of the other grasses that are grown
in this country, not only for its value
by way of hay, seed and pasture, but
for its untold value as a fertilizer, to
which timothy can bear no compari
son. If rotation is adopted that
will bring in clover at least once in
three years on our ridge land, or in
five years on our prairie soils, then no
failure need be anticipated, but on
the other hand, good and profitable
crops will follow.
POTATOES.
For potatoes use the best qualities
if they do not yield as many bushels
per acre as some that are very pro.
life. Manure heavy with green
horse manure, and pillow in the fall
Manure applied IN the spring should
be as free from weeds as possible.
Furrow with small pillow 8 / feet
apart, aud plant in drills one or two
pieces, according to number Of eyes,
every IS or 30 inches apart aud turn
two burrows with small pillow on them.
Plant FIVE inches deep, and about the
time that they FIRST appear above the
ground harrow the ground down
level; by these means you kill the
weeds and put the ground in fine
condition. Plow with your corn
sulky, and when the blossoms begin
10 appear throw the dirt to the DO
tstoes and LAY by Potatoes plant
ed FIVE inches deep will yield better
aud stand dry weather much
better than those planted shallow or
on top of ground. When planted,
the search OF the potato is converted
into sugar, which furnishes supply
Of sap for the nourishmeut and
growth OF. the bad or eye. A large