Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-04-20
FARM AND GARDEN.
kEASONABLE AND SEASONABLE sUG-
GESTlONS.
The Spade Superseded by the Fork.

AND SEASONABLE SUI
GESTlONS. |
The Spade Superseded by the Fork.
Telegraph.
We notice that the spade in garden. |
work is still considerably used and the
that the spade has been IN
great measure superseded by the FORK mas
not travelled near as much as it ought to
have done. We see many a one "digging
garden'' and preparing for spring, spade in
Hand. utterly unconscious that with a
modern digging fork a man can do as
much in day, and with far less fatigue,
villa, with an old fashioned spade it would
take him two days to do. In the use Of
fork there is NO digging to do. The tines
run into the earth by the downward de-
scent of the fork in the operators hands
alcne and in throwing over and leveling,
a single blow of the tines is enough to pull
yerize and make a level surface. Some
say their land is too light-that the earth
passes through and they cannot take up
a forkful but in this case work it when it
is a little wet. Even sandy ground can be
dug with fork, if the proper time is
chosen for it. OF course the spade can
ncvcr be abandoned. There will always
be some ground that is very weedy, or full
of roots which sharp edge like that Of a
spade will be necessary to sever and III
digging up trees and garden vegetables,
nothing can replace tic spade in busi-
ness but there are number of instances
in garden work where digging fork can
ccme into very great labor saving.
Soaking Seed Against Smut.
Most good farmers have reported their
eXpcricnce in favor of soaking seed corn
in weak brine before planting, as pre-
ventive of smut, though not always with
the sanction of what arc known as adj
vanced agriculturists. They have not
been able to understand how anything
that can be done to a seed will have any
effect On what is to happen to the grain
that is produced months afterwards.
However, those farmers who have
tried it have adhered to the
practice, and We suppose there is
nothing more certain than that these brine
sleeps do prevent the smut. Lattcrly,
however, Professor Brewer, of Yale col
lego, not only admits that it is good prac-
tice, but shows us the process by which
the smut progresses from its first establish
ment on the grain to its final maturity in
the head Or ear. ltappears that the seeds
CT spores of the fungus adhere by a sticky
coat to the grain. As soon Us the grain
sprouts, the fungus spore sprouts also,
and sends it's tilaments into tho plant,
growing as the plant grows, and continu-
ing to grow until the grain is about to re-
produce itself, when tho fungus plant is
also ready to reproduce itself, which it
does in tine form of smut Us We see it !;
the smut being nest of spores ready for
reproduction. The process is made very
clear. We see how brine is useful. 1t de-
stroys the fungus spores, bat not the
grain. AS complaining is now upon us it
is the easiest thing for farmers to give this
= trial. At times the damage done by
smut is very serious.
Manuring Corn in the Hill.
1t seems scarcely credible that such a
good old fashioned custom AS manuring
corn in the hill should be called in ques-
ton but we see that quito 4 lively dis.
cussion occurred recently, and there was a
disposition to decide that it was better to
spread the manure all over tho land
equally, then plant the corn in the hills
and let it take care of itself. II ono has a
good supply OF manure and can afford to
give the whole ground a thorough dressing
it may do very well to let the hills alone
but We are quite sure that where the sup,
Pis Va AudhuIC VII
far better to put q part of it at least in the
kill before dropping the corn, and VIC have
little doubt but that even when the whole
surface is abundantly manurcd, it would
still pay in many cases to manure in the
hill.
We noticed some time ago the expert
ments made in one of the German experi-
mental farms on small and large seeds.
small seeds, like small potato eyes, never
produce as good crops as large seed, al
though the ground in quality may be
equally rich. If even the nero size of a
seed gives it an advantage in its first start
in life, how much more valuable must be
u good stock Of nutritious food ready to
hand as soon as the young plant is in a
condition to use it? 1t is indeed their
first early start in life which makes ali
the difference between 4 good crop and a
poor one. If plants once get behind, it is
very hard for them to pull upagain. There
arc but :. few months of growing time and
good start is great gain.
For the same reason, it is an error 10
bury manure in the ground at any time,
when the crop is an annual one to be sowed
in the spring and taken off in the fall And
yet this is q very common practice. Ma
nurc is spread On the surface. plowed
down and the seed sown Oh the surface
with the manure several inches away. 1t
would lie far better in most cases to plow
tho ground first, and then spread the ma
nure Oh the surface and harrow it before
sowing the seed.
It is probable that most persons arc
aware of this, and would follow the rrac-
tice We're it not for the additional labor in-
volved. By manuring in advance the
hauling can be done when VIC are not
busy !; in the other case it must he done
at once, no matter how badly work may
drive us before We can SOW the seed and
then it is so much easier to haul over solid
ground than over ground newly ploweG
1t is therefore good farming very often to
sacrifice d little of what in some senses
may be the best plan, for that great prin-
ciple-economy of time-whjch is often. of
far more Importance in farm profits. So
with this discussion about manurng corn
in the hill. Whether it is good policy
to manure corn in tho hill, is altogether a
practical question but rs to actual ad-
vantages of the practice in itself, we think
there ought to Le no difference of opinion
whatever.
to eat heartily of higI-seasoncd food, rich pics
cake &c. will have to use Hop BittcrS to pre-
vent Indigestion, SlecplcSS nights, sickness
pain and. pcrlaps, death. No family is SAT.
without thcIn in the house. apls-2wd.Sw