The Russellville Democrat., 1882-03-02
AGRlCu LTURAL.
Stasonable auI Valuable Suggestions Gar
 den, Farm and Stock Notes.
saAslNAnl.E srGaEsroNs.

Owing to our last years failure, it makes the time all the more precious with the farmers, and it certainly be- hooves ns to put forth an extra effort with our crippled and limited means in trying to secure d bountiful crop the pre- sent season. In making these few remarks l do so hoping if it does no good it may do no harm. Not that feel myself at all competent to give advice to the farm CTS generally, more than l would like to have the advice of others myself.
 A little talk with each other should have a good effect, and stir eaca tip to business with vim that is so seldom noticeable feature with the Missouri farmers.
 We are blessed with the climate, the soil, the muscle and the brain, and with that spirit of enterprise that should characterize every farmer, we should di- vest ourselves of the habit of framing excuses They will not till the soil, feed the little ones nor pay our taxes.
 There is always sufficient work on the farm to keep employed both mind and body, and to become a systematic farmer an intellectual mind is as essential as physical strength, but it is to be hoped the average farmer pOssessesa a sufliciency of both to prove equal to the task before him and will employ each moment of time. If the weather is cold we can haul and scatter the manure from the barn haul out our rails to repair the fences, get the summer wood, that it may not interfere with our sowing and reaping labors, etc. If pleasant, we can reset and repair fences, clean our ground, re- moving the old stumps, rubbish and rocks from the fields, work which the timber farmers have to contend with. Many of us have old ash-heaps and straw-ricks that would be much more profitable if scattered on the thinner points of the farm and plOwed under.
 Many farms have washes which need our early attention. The old adage, you know, is "A stitch in time saves nine." Throw in some rubbish to stop the wash, and SOW grass seed from one end to the other. Let not our ambition be to see which can wear out our farms first, but who can improve the soil and the farm the most. While the weather is showery and unpleasant, there is always plenty to do in repairing farm implements, har- ness, cleaning the seed from the hay mows and preparing it to SOW, seeing that our seed-C0rn and seed oats is ready for the planting season, and many other things which need our attention but so seldom get it.
 If the time SO often idled away during the winter and early spring was judiCi- ously spent in making gates, repairing tools, oiling harness and preparing the garden and track patches, there would be lees complaint of the family for the want of vegetables and better pros pect for an early start with the general crop and better showing insthe fall.
 In order tu insure success in the gar den and truck patches, we should manure heavily and as early as possible.
 The next essential point is early and deep blowing, and lastly, thorough Cul- ture. If these points are strictly ob- served, we will have plenty of vegetables for family use and to spare.
 If we look to our interest, every farm CT should sec that his meat house is kept darkened as much as possible, the meat well smoked and canvased before the fly makes its dreaded appearance. In re. gard to picklcd meats, the first of Marci drain of the brine, boil and skim, cool and pour back.
 ii we farmers were as dilgcnt in looking to our interest as are the ma Isrity of business men, we would have lN9h ltdAbh tO NOLlplalI Ol lhlAttiSo anu hard times.
 As d general thing our failure to raise a cron is mot the fault of the land, the fault generally lies with ourselves. If we reflect a moment we may perhaps see wherein inc uull lies. Perhaps we may have plowed our ground too wet, oi c1rued it too long without clover or grass of perhaps wa used poor seed and plant ed lry late in tbe sDriuv or Berhaps having poor enclosures, loose stock have done the damage Another great mis take is to oyercrop ourselves, as, thereby We exhaust our mental and physca sren"ih, and gain comparatively little A prosperous farmer has little time tC idle away, more especially those wh' cultivate a timber fBrm
 Our brood stock of all kinds shoult be we,I looked to. They should be wei n3rea .or well fed and well sheltered il