The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-04-28
for the .farnlrr.
SUGGESTIONS OF AND FOR THE SEA
som

The active work of the year has now begun
over a large part Of the country. The pillow is
already in thousands Of fields. and would be in
many more were il not for the sodden soil. Never
turn the soil when wet that ii will bake into
hard Jumps The soil is too wet to he piowed
whenever the mold-bOard is smearcd, does BOt
keep clean and bright while passing through the
furrow. 4 soil that is late in becoming dry
enough for the plOw, needs draining The sue
cess of a crop largely depends n,t0ii the proper
preparation of the see.i-besls. The soil mast not
only lie loose, deep and mellow, but il should
contain all the essential elements of plant food,
and these in an available form. This requires
thorough tillage-plowing narrowing etc.-and
a good supply of well-rott-d manure or its equiv
alcnt in some other form. Ii is folly to expect
good crops from poorly prepared soil, and one
lacking the food upon which the plants can feed.
There are two general kinds Of farming, with
all gratations between-thc extensive and the
intensive. The former term is applied 10 that
style of farming in which large area of soil is
expected TO produce 4 Medium crop. The farms
are large, and the attention given 20 any single
acre is small. both as to tiilage and manure.
This kind of farming includes much of that at
| present practiced in the Western and far Western
States. IL may be the best-at least most prof.
table for the present-but in time the soil will
| become appreciably exhausted, and n new kind
Of dealing with the soil will be imperative. In
tensiye farming is where large amount of pro-
ducts is obtained FROM small area; the attention
| to each acre in manure and tillage being CON-
paratiyely great. This is sometimes yled "hish
farming" but by this in meant. strictly, the
greatest gains for the least outlay and il may Ice
either extensive or intensive. Both have their
place in our agriculture, each pays in its
proper place.
The first grain crop TO he put into the ground
| is spring wheat, and this should he sown 50 soon
as the ground can he made ready. Ont of its
proper district, marked by climate, il il Of no
| use to grow spring wheat. There other crops
that are sure and give much better returns.
n.8a
in time Of sowing. Success with oats in our hot
climate largely depends upon early sowing. The
cooler climate of Canada and New brunswick is
more favorable for oats, where they are plumper
and much heavier than those grown in most
parts of the United States. BY using seed from
the northern localities above mentioned we can
grow heavier and better oats than when our own
| seed is sown. The aim should he to harvest fifty
/ to sixty bushels per acre. This can Ice obtained
| by having the soil rich and in good condition
and sown with about three bushels of the best
seed. Oats a successful crop in the far South
| ern States they can be sown aud make their
| growth in winter, and the crop kept out of the
way of hot weather.
| Barley under favorable conditions is relia-
BILE and profitable crop, and SHOULD not be
sidered simply as material for brewing. There
| is no better grain to feed to horses, and when
| ground with corn it makes most excellent feed
| for cattle and growing swine. The twO-rOwed
varieties yield more than the six-rowed, but
brings somewhat less in the market The grain
should lie sown thickly, y bushels per acre.
| Barley will succeed in any good, well-prepared
soil, but il prefers mellow clay Ioam in good
| filth.
| Corn planting comes later in the spring. as it
requires a warm soil for the grain TO terminate,
and suffers from late frosts. The time of plant
| ing of course varies with the locality. and the
| soil can be prepared in readiness for the coming
warm, settled weather Sod turned under, not
| too deeply, is considered the best for corn,
| but excellent crops can be grown upon stubble,
| provided there is a good supply of manure
| given to take the place of the vegetable matter
| of the rOtting grass etc, of the turned sod.
Beets, including mangels, need to be in very
| early. There is much difference of opinion TO
| the advantage of soaking and sproutng the seeds
before sowing them. Drying with fine gypsum
| (land plaster) will make the sowing easy. This
| treatment will insure quick termination, and
the young plants will get the start Of the weeds.
As soon as the plants are up sufficiently for the
| rows to he seen, run n hand cutivatOr between
| them and within an inch of the plants.
This will leave a strip next TO the rows to be
| treated with hand-hOes. Use a horseshoe for
| most of the later cultivation. The manufacture
| of beet sugar promises success, provided enough
| roots are grown in any one locality to make it
| profitable to erect the necessary buildings and
| machinery for extracting the sugar. This needs
| cooperation among the farmers themselves, and
| between them and the manufacturers: upon this
| the success of beet sugar making in our country
| depends
Farmers have thoroughly learned how to
manage the pOtatO-beetle that it is not necessary
| to plant early with view to escape its ravages.
But il is well to plant early, especially if the
| crop is to be sold and there is ready market.
| The earliest pays the best, and the one who is
| first gets the cream of the market. The early
rose still holds its rank amongth the most desirable
| varieties
1 The most essential crop upon n farm is grass.
The better the system of farming the more i'm
portant will grass become, both in itsown value
and the good effect il has upon the soil and the
/ crops that are to follow it. Our farmers have
not given proper attention to the study of the
different grasses and the soils best fitted for
1 each Meadows and pastures, to do their best,
often need a little stimulating fertilizer. Two
4 hundred pounds of guanO, or of nitrate of soda,
| often more than double the crop, and returns
1 large profit on the cost. Improved grass lands
means more milk, cheese butter and beef. and
/ farm with a rich, never-failing permanent pas
tnre is one where live stock will thrive, and the
4 owner of it is very sure to DE prosperous. Look
well to the grass land.
| Cows with calf should receive special care
both as to feed and handling. Good hay is the
best feed; overlooking must be avoided, with
| high-bred cows, especially, there is danger of
milk fever or garget. Light feeding before c:llv-
| ing is the best preventive of this, followed by
mild laxative after the calf is dropped. The I'D
der should be watched closely, and upon the first
appearance of hardness and heat bath with cold
water to reduce the inflammation. 1t is well TO
let the calf suck the COW if there is any trouble
cows, and thus constantly improve the stock. A
poor COW is an improbable animal, and should
he fattened and ''turned off," leaving no progeny
| in the herd. Calves, with care in feeding, may
/ be raised skim milk by replacing the cream
with little oil-cake meal.
| As the days grow warmer the ticks will in
crease upon the sheep, and become more trouble
| some. strong decoctiOn of tobacco in water,
| used as dip, or poured along the back, will
destroy them. There several sheep dips adj
| columns. lpsp eff nd
| safe, and ready for Use. As the lambs increase
] in size the dams suffer, and the lambs must
| either lie fed some meal daily, or the ewes must
| be given an abundance of rich food. Lambs
| begin to eat at four or five weeks, and thus
/ lieve the ewes.
| Pigs need n clean place, and breeding
| should he by themselves, with abundance of
cut straw or chatf for litter
| Horses that have good care will come out in
the spring in good trim for the seasons work.
As the coat begins to loosen the skin isirritated:
| an ounce of equal parts each of sulphur and
| cream of tartar, given with the food for a few
| days, will correct this. Good grooming with n
soft brush should not beneglected. Ground feed,
| mixed with cut hay, is an excellent food in the
spring for working horses. Three quartso Of equal
parts of corn and rye Tor oats), mixed with n
| pailful of moist cnt hay, is enough for meal.
| An occasional feed of cut beets or potatoes is
| useful. With many horsemen an occasional feed
of half peck of potatoes is regarded as n remedy
| for worms in horses. However this may be, they
| improve the general condition of the animal in
most positive manner. The main point is, to
keep the horses in good health and strength. for
on them deyolves great part of the spring work.
| As foaling time approaches, brood mares should
be turned loose in box stall and receive the
most gentle treatment, as the temper aud dispo-
sition of the colt is thought to depend much upon
| this.
The poultry will now get much of their food
| by foraging; feed of grain in the morning and
| ut night will be sufficient TO keep them in a good
| laying condition. Sitting hens need good, clean
| and quiet nests Water and food should be near
| at hand. Young fowls need to be fed at frequent
| intervals with caution not TO over-feed.
There is good deal of work comprehended in
| the general term of clearing up that must he
done. Any accumulation of rubbish. ashes, etc,
| made during the winter should he taken away,
| for sake of both looks and health. Rake the
| yards and make the surroundings of house and
outbuildings assume a tidy and pleasing appear
ance. The rainy days-and there are good