Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-04-26
suggestions for the Season.
, ~pIAcNosIs' OF TIE CROPS.

when called 10 see a patient IS 10
make a careful diagnosis, OF the
case. that is. to examine all sources
and causes eff the allment lis mani
testations, etc. and ;ben decide
what is to be done Every one
having a field of wheat, rye, grass
of any crop In the ground over
winter-should now make a dag
sosis of the condition OF every part
of each field. Ii the growing crop
OF grain or grass it good in every
part, that will be a satisfaction
II any fields, or parts OF helds'
make a sicl,ly or siuntcd Show
the trouble most likely comes iiOm
OF. two causes: plants may nave
wet icet, or they may be starving
In the tolmer case surgery Is need
ed: in the latter. 'ood, OF medicine
IN tie form OF a top'dressing Oh
fertilizers.
FEEDING PLANTS AT TIE SURFACE
TOP DRESSING.
fthe 'diagnosia, referred TO N
tie above paragraph, shows thai it
winter grains. meadows, pastures
or lawns need artificial food, or
stiu uants. we must resort to top
dressing. since we cannot now DIS
turb the soil. Well rotted YARD
manure seattle ed finely over grow
ing gan and grass. uniformly, or
more or poorer portions aud less on
vigorous portions, go as TO even OIL
the tield. will always tell well, eS-
recially if this be done in time
fot tie rains 10 wash the manure
mo the soil. Ilmay he done at
any tine while the grass Or gam
plants aie small. but the carrier
the better, so as to receive more
washing in showers. Guano has a
similar eject, but being cansnc II
should lie finely divided and well
scattered. and ii possible be oppli
ed lust before coming rain. HE
same of unleachsd ashes, or Ger
man potash salts. The amount OF
manure per acre, OF OF Guano %
TO 200 pounds per acre., Will de'
uend uron tie wants Of the soil,
and lie available supply Of ies'lh~
zers. Oh ashes. use 70 TO 10
bushels per acre as needed y
mixture OF guano with fine bone
dust, or superpllos pha'e and potash
salts, is a good top dressing tor
grain or glass, especially tie fol-
mer: 100 10 290 pounds per acre
accO, ding TO the poverty OF the soil.
Some leading manufactures pre-
pare and advertise special mixtures
tor different crops. Application o.
any of the above top dressings on
auy but the richest soil, will ge"-
orally bring back TAI more than
tie cost the first season. aid con-
tribute much 10 the future fertility
of the soil. AVOID killing grain
or gass plants with causno ma
nures.
CROPS SUFFER FROM ''wET FEET.
Next TO lack Of nourishment
(plant food, in the soil, both gain
and grass, and other cultivated
crops, i'll field and garden, trees and
flowers included, all suffer from
standing III soils that hold too much
water. Spade a hole a loot deep
and if it contains water four days
alter rainfall, plants in that soil
will suffer more OF less from wet
teet." Water standing in the soil
keeps it cold and clammy; it pre-
VEINS the entrance Of air to act up
ON the elements contained, and fit
them for plant food; 1t often Keeps
iron salts in poisonous form
Let all dead Burrows and their out
lets be carefully cleansed now With
spade or hoe, An hours work OF
tbs kind may add 20 to 40 bushels
or more to the yield OF field. II
and soil, al a whole field, or any
part of it, is wet from holding its
own catch of rain, or IRON water
flowing or soaki'g from a hig4er
TO lower Levels, and II not under
drained, il Is lest 10 run deep
double or triple pIowed burrows
through it, down lhe grade to carry
off excess OF water IN iainy weeks
and then at harvest run the NOW