The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-07-23

trimming or the vines anu leaves VIII ,
expose it to the sun. But a good frame /
will pay well in the end.-New lor@ ,
Observer.
Stirring the Soil.
There are many farmers and garden
ers who seldom stir the soil about their
plants except when it is absolutely nee
essary for the purpose OF destroying
weeds Aeration, or exposure OF the
soil to the action of the air, is often OF
much Importance, in order to secure a
full development Of all cultivated plants;
and this is3as much part of cultivation
as the subdQing of weeds. The nus
bandman is not satisfied even with q
natural growth of cultivated plants, but
seeks an .abnormsl growth in the vhP'e I
or in those parts of plants Designed H
his use or that of his ami Rk Held6ese
not, strictly speaking, fol1o1gAature, but
endeavors to improve upon er ways OF
doing things; consequent yNhe plows'
sows. cultivates, and h3c6 plants to
make an abnormal growth We have
known farmers who appead to think
that the less blowing, hoeing, and stir
RING the soil about plants the better,
pr divided a fair return was~secured tor
their labor. But such men are usually
satisfied with what others would con-
slider a half crop, and it is needless to
say that they find farming poor bust
ness. II
The best and most thorough farmers
do not stir the soil too much or too often,
either in preparing it for the reception
of the crops or .afterward. A single
! blowing for wheat or other small grains
Is not enough in order to break up and
thoroughly pulverize the soil, and al,
though a fair yield may be obtained
under such systems, far betteg gee,
would be secured if the grou1ds VS.
turned over two or three times, and az
ter each blowing thoroughly narrowed.
The old system of summer following
land, when thoroughly carried out, can
scarcely be improved upon in preparing
land for either winter or spring wheat.
! By blowing two or three times during
the summer, and narrowing after each
: turning, not only is the soil mixed and
pulverized, but the weeds also are de-
stroyed which usually spring up when
i, the fresh soil, With its seeds is brought
to the surface. OF course, land
may be constantly cropped without rest
! provided it be. Kept 4ich by the addition
i of fertilizers, but there are few formers
who can supply these in sufficient aoun'
% dance to preserve the fertility, and fol
L this. rotation of crops must be prac'iced
or the land rested. Whatever system
of cultivation is practiced, the farmer
II should manage to keep up tho fertility
g of his land, and whenever he tlnds nj
y crops failing he may rest assured that
}. change IS necessary, Sometimes deepe
I ploNing,willI produce psrked improve
., iment in fertility, but the subsol!,
II brought to the surface, needs TO be iuil!
9 aeratet and pulverized bsfore 1t wlll o
~ in q good condition for the reception 0
seeds.
q: In the cultivation Of, CORN, potatoe
10 and similar crops, stirring the so
=. among the plants can scarcely be re
It pested too frequently during the earl
II part Of the season; in fact, these oPer:
IS tons may be continued until the crop
No. ven on tow3r6 mstusieY. Every tim
60 the provs or culteator is run throug
70. 4 tha rows Z inall Weeds are destroyed
lumps bpken up, and air and its -
lal companying mAsture admitted. III
ground NAV be 100 wessior blowing
70 stirrmEwith cuativatorspr hoes, put
ng is never too drys because the more IT
ay ouently these tmplemS1(s are used II
dy more moisture viii the dbil absorb fro
2 the sir. If ai1 ofrouH readers dou
ad' this. let them TIA, smaH plat Of grour
as: during dry weather, stirring the sou 9
OF ery dsy, and leave an adjoining plat y
get disturbed. The first will remain moi
lea and spors e!like long after the other
too al drv a. dust. The same effect is pr
md duced in tho frequently cultivated COZ
De' field. and q good crop can often
ny. made in a dry season by the consta
R En use Of the pillow and cultivator. when
we they are not used the plants would G.
.nI tsinly perish.
lse. '16Snv aniou1is e,goanOns could be CIV
dlslk 4 'addit,on SO ~ te for stirring
~ puiverizise ~ IN Ut they all invo
ned tha ona sim6 fnt Eat stirring it I
70 ouently5 aud Moroa&hly is !akYep
y. ~. benefcialto the ere growing tng =
lan, Jpee how bng orSs)e thefarme sho
, I. ]. coftinss The Soukigation Of his corn
~, noiAtS1 sis q mates for him to decl
diy. hat rs ueed have no fear OF doing 81