Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-03-29
Seeds, Seeding and Culture-yo. 5.
]. G. Plumb. ia western fWis.. } Farmer.

ance where the water drives the air OUT
and more, the air further aids plant
growth by furnishing it moisture in dry
weather. Even the thorough working
with the Acme harrow after the grain
was sprouted was of great benefit to
the CROP"
"Tillage neu.ralizes drouth." 1t is
even claimed that q cultivated soil will
evaporate less than one not cultivated,
which we doubt. But that the absorb
ing power of the cultivated soil j. far
more than the Cncult;vated, even to al
most neutraljze the severest drouths
that would ruin the crop on uncultivat-
ed land; and so we have the old adage,
tickle the soil with the hoe and il will
laugh with harvest" In California,
We are told by fruit-growers that the
first impression there was that no fruit
could be grown without irrigation, but
they had ascertained by experience
that for trees irriga ton was unnecessa-
ry. Thorough cultivation was sufficient,
and in the most hourishing plantations
visited, "the ground was kept so
fine and loose that we sank into it over
our shoes. We were surprised at the
results"
Experienced cultivators know that in
the dryest times soil kept well cultivat-
ed will show q certain degree of moist
ure two or three inches below the sur
face, and when not cultivated il will be
dry as powder several feet deep. The
Influence Of culture in this respect is
truly wonderful, and especially when
the subsoil pillow has been employed.
This greatly increases the power of the
soil to draw moisture from below in
time of orouth.
THE sUBSoIL PLOW
is one of the neglected machines of the
farm. am surprised that farmers do
not employ the subsoil pillow more gen.
orally than they do. It is a grand inn
plement. What would the nursery
man do without it? If properly used
| believe it would, on most farms in
this country, nearly or quite double
the productive cap scity of the soil.
Farm ers are buying extensive fertiliz-
ers far less valuable than might be
found in their own soil by deep plough
ing and tillage. 1t is the subsoil
ploughing and thorough tillage that
enables q nurseryman to take forty or
fifty bushels of wheat to the acre, with
out manure, from land that had been
cleared of four or hve-year crop of
trees. Plough deep, keep the surface
freely fertilized and constantly stirred
once week or oftener, cultivate-cul-
tivate deeply and thoroughly, and defy
tho drouth.
Every mans experience will corrob-
crate these staten ents, and yet how
many rush in their seed with half
preparation or delay until the ground
is like last years blowing.
MACHINERY.
The.rapid Improvements in methods
and machinery adapted to the process
of agriculture are truly one of the won
ders of the age, and with the advent of
each new machine, perfection is an
nounced; 10, here is Excelsior; here
is Acme; here is perfectionl and the
unsophisticated seem really to believe
that the Philosophers Stone is at hand.
Some even like the Irishman, who hav-
ing to buy u stove, was urged to take q
certain pattern because it would save
half the fuel, reasoned aloud, "an'
faith, if this one will save half the fuel,
thin I'll be after taking another of
them and save the other half intireiy."
So practically many a farmer has
variety enough of farm tools to save
both seed and labor if The half told of
them was true,
But with ali these improved machines
which are presumed to combine
the excellencies of mode of culture with
the true principles of seed growth, /
have long been of the opinion that
both these points are lost right of ia
the construction and use of most of
the farm machinery of even these
modern days. But with the increased
among our agriculturists,
and the sharp competition among pro-
ducers in different sections Of the
country, come increased demand for
better methods and machinery, which
are powerful stimulus to inventors,
and inquiry for more rational methods
Of seeding and culture. Now do not
propose to criticise our farm machinery
III u6ldll, Dul SuOWu Nudk 4 bSllCNe 10
be the true principles of seeding and
culture, to let each find if they can
the machine, and adopt the practice
which most nearly corresponds with
the rational demands of successful
growth.
To recapitulate we have told.-the
nature of seed-the seed, wonder
its growth, q Characterization and
succession of plant hfe--vitality and
?, Good seeds-improved varieties at
the expense of neutrality-suspicious. seeds
preservation and testing of seeds
seed saving.
8, Seeding and culture-ouantity per
area-natures way of plating deep
planting a great evil-culture before
planting subsoiling- machinery.
A Panther Hunt in Florida.
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