Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-11-05

fall or during winter, evenly spread,
and narrowed in the spring as early as
the ground will allow, to be followed
Immediately by sowing grass seed and
clover, the seed brushed in. This in
yigorates the old grass, which should be
cut early, ere fully grown, to give the
young grass and clover q chance, The
whole yielding another and good crop
toward the close of the season. In such
case the manure must be clean, or weeds
will form part of the crop. Especially
is the plan good one to renew parts of
a held, or spots that have run out. As
the drouth the past season has worked
mischief with dry knobs and light soils,
there is all the more demand for such
work, which will keep the meadows
perfect; otherwise there will be great
breaking up of meadow land, or, il left,
the certainty of light yield, and in case
of drouth a dead loss.
Some farmers raise their potatoes on
the same ground year after year. With
good soil properly cultivated and kept
enriched, fair to good crops are raised.
Unless careful and long continued cult
walton is given, weeds will be trouble
some and take up much of the strength
of the soil. The best ground for pota-
toes is sod, and the heavier the sod the
better the crop. If clay, pillow in the
fall, and If not rich enough give coat
OF manure. Plow as deep as the soil
VIII admit to allow of deep planting, a
little raw soil brought up not doing any
harm if manure isapplied. In the spring
work the soil well and as deep as il will
bear without much disturbing the sod
below, which is wanted Us bed for the
roots to work in and keep moist and
cool, while the superimposing body of
line soil, kept stirred, will protect
against the seVerest drouth. If the soil
is light and drainage good the sod may
be turned in the spring.
AS wheat has proved to be successful
here, and particularly heavy crop was
raised tho present year, considerable
land has been put in wheat, some early,
some late, and some on Indifferent soil
in consequence of the difficulty of plow-
ing the land and putting in order, ow-
ing to the drouth. The grain, there
fore, as a whole, is not so well advanced
us IS desired, in some cases lacking fer
tility. This can be remedied to large
extent, ifnot entirely, by applying ma
nure, either now or during the winter,
the sooner the better, as it aids the
growth for the better protection through
winter. OF course the manure must be
evenly spread when applied. | have
known fields which were considered
sure for failure, thus treated, to turn
out handsomely, the thin set stoolinc
ont with large, heavy heads. There is
no excuse for not securing similar sue
cess, as manure may be applied at les-
IRE late in the fall or winter If not on
hand now, cart from the stables as
made. In spring, as early as the land
vii admit, harrow the field, which af-
lords an excellent chance to SOW grass
or clover seed. Particularly is this treat
ment fayorably to rye, which is a rank
feeder. Poor soil that will not produce
ten bushels per acre can be made to
yield highly profitable crop of straw
and grain, and fair yield of clover the
same season Seeded early in the spring.,
no grain fayoring seediag so much as
rye. If plaster is now applied, two good
crops may be taken the next year, and
the land, without manure, plowed and
put to grain with success. Here the in
come is great, and the expense small,
while the land is improved.
Fine manure applied now to lawn and
door-yard will increase the growth and
establish nice green M to winter. the
appearance being more vivid and
marked on account of the bleached sur
roundings. Spread evenly and rake
well, which will largely hide the ma
nure. In spring the grass will start
early. Especially on new lawns or
dooryards should this be done, and par
5icularly if clay soil, the vegetable ma
Jure OF the manure answering a good
purpose. On old sod that needs recruit
ing, like bone manure, which should
also be applied in the fall or early spring.
1t is readily done, leaves no unsightly
appearance like manure, and has a uni
form effect, not over-strong, but lasting
for years. This is what is wanted for
lawn.
Let us have clean work and full bene.
lit, with little increase of labor. The
farmer can not well have too much fine
vegetable material on hand to use when
he wants it. Remember, in itself it is a
benefit to the land, of more worth than
it costs to secure and apply it. Our land
is constantly crying for it, to have its
texture improved, its capacity for
moisture in our drouthy climate in
creased, its color deepened, and some
fertility added, This occurs especially
with leaf mold and muck, the former
Of which can be secured at almost any
time.
1t is a good plan sometimes to select
new ground for garden, where the old
site has become weedy from long use
md neglected culture, or harsh from
unreasonable workings. If convenient
spot can be had that is well drained and
covered with thick old sod, pillow care
fully, and follow with a good coat of
rich, clean manure. After the sod is
rotted in the spring pillow and mix sod
and manure. Work and mix thorough
Iy. If necessary, loosen the undersoil,
but without bringing it up to the sur
flce. 1t will be benefited during the
season by some of the strength of the
manure working down from the over
lying soil. This may be done as late as
The 18th or goth of May, about corn
planting time, when the ground will be
warm. The seeds sown then will push
forward rapidly at once, without any
harm frHr' ro 9ferlE hi nj 'g;rontb and ~