The Osceola times., 1882-03-11
AGRiCuLTIRA RAJ.
- tasonable and Valuable suggestions Gar
den, Farm and stock Notes.
sEAs1NABLr SUGGESTIONS.

sENsJNABLE SUGGESTIONS.
Owing to our last years failure, it
makes the time all the more precious
with the farmers, and it certainly be-
hooves us to put forth an extra effort
with our crippled and limited means in
trying to secure a bountiful crop the pre-
sent season In making these few remarks
| 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
err generally, more than | would like t.
have the advice of others myself.
A little talk with each other should
have good effect, and stir eacl up to
business with a vim that is so seldom a
noticeable feature with the Missouri
farmers.
We arc blessed with the climate, the
soil, the muscle and the brain, and with
that spirit Of enterprise that should
characteriz, 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 possess 81 suiliciency
Of both 10 prove equal to the task before
him and will employ each moment of
time lf 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 cGn 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 cur ambition be TO see
which can wear ont 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-corn 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 truck patches, there would
be less complaint of the family for
the want Of vegetables and better pros
pect for an early start with the general
crop and better showing in the fall.
In order to 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 tul.
ture. If these points are strictly oh
served, we will have plenty of vegetables
for family use and to spare.
III We look TO our interest, every farm
er should see 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 picked meats, the first OF March
drain off the brine, boil and skim. cool
and pour back.
II we farmers were as diligcnt in
looking to our interest as are the ma
isrity of business men, we would have
less reason to complain Of failures and
hard times.
As a general thing our failure to raise a
crop is not the fault of the land, the
fault generally lies with ourselves II we
reflect q moment we may perhaps see
wherein the fault lies. Perhaps we may
have plowed our ground too wet, or
corned il too long withou. clover or grass.
or perhaps wa used poor seed and plant
ed too late in the spring, or perhaps,
having poor enclosures, loose stock have
done the damage. Another great mis-
take is to oyercrop ourselves, as. thereby,
we exhaust our mental and physical
strength, and gain comparatively little
prosperous farmer has little time to
idle away, more especially those who
cultivate a timber farm.
Our brood stock of all kinds should
be well looked to. They should be well
cared for, well ed and wGl sheltered in