The National tribune., 1884-05-29
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
DEEP FLOWING AND MOISTURE.

DEEP FLOWING AND MOISTURE.
The relative advantage of deep and shallow
blowing is often question brought up for dis
cussion at farmers clubs. Those who have
experienced the profits resulting from deep
culture and the losses sustained from shallow
preparation of the soil, feel that there is
nothing to discuss as between these operations.
But it would be unwise TO suppose that there
are no reasons for this difference of opinion.
There are good and valid reasons why deep
blowing may be temporarily injurious. We
have seen cases of this kind, but have never
known of an instance where deep blowing has
proved to be a permanent injury; on the con-
trary, the result is always OF ultimate benefit
We have seen a surface soil of only four to five
inches in depth, resting upon sub-soil OF red
DISH clayey hard gravel, which.had not been
plowed for many years, and never had been
turned over TO more than three to four inches
deep at any time. After having lain many
years as a grazing field, receiving occasional
dressings of manure, bone and plaster, and IN
all except very dry seasons producing con-
siderable amount of grass it was turned over to
depth of eight inches, bringing to the surface
a stratum of the red sub-soil. 1t was prepared
for corn, and in due time planted, but nothing,
not even weeds, could be encouraged to grow
on the clayey surface. After being again
plowed the following year, good crop OF corn
was produced, and it continually improved
until it was again laid down in grass, furnish
ing crops far superior TO any produced previous
to the deep blowing.
Lands that are underdrained, deeply plowed
and subsoiled suffer but little eitherby excessive
rains or excessive droughts. They are insured
for crop in all kinds of seasons They are
cooler in summer and warmer in winter than
other soils so that failure of crop is a most
unlikely thing to occur.
PLUNGING POT FOR PLANTS.
Some sixteen or more years ago we had
quantity of flower pots made expressly for the
purpose of growing plants which would be
planted out during summer, and kept IN the
green house or parlor-window during winter.
These pots had their sides perforated with
holes, SO that when the plant was removed to
the garden border it was not taken out of the
pot, but hole was made large enough to re-
ceive the pot, which was plunged so as to be
entirely concealed in the earth. Roots soon
protrude through these holes and the plant
thrives about as well as it would do without
the pot. At the end of the season the protrud-
ing roots are cut off smooth with the sides of
the pot, little moss is stuck in at each hole
to prevent too rapid escape of water, and the
plant soon RECEIVERS the effect of removal.
There are many plants which can be success
fully grown in this way; for example, the fig
can be managed so as to produce a crop of fruit
when plunged out in the open ground during
summer, and lifted and wintered in any cool
cellar where but little if any, frost penetrates.
| We practiced this method for many years with
satisfactory results. After using pots for few
years, we found that it answered quite as well
to lift the plants in the fall with good ball Of
earth and roots-indnced in the first place by
the pots-place them in the cellar to winter,
and set them out in the ground in the spring.
,-g9asaI
liarly adapted. Additions, oleanders roses,
heliotrope and a host of plants can be set out
during summer and lifted in the fall without
any retarding check, and they Will soon begin
to flower and continue blooming during the
winter months, if under favorable conditions
for growth.
GRANGE THOUGHT.
The Order of Patrons of Husbandry was
formed for the improvement of its members.
These are drawn chiefly from the classes en-
gagged in agriculture; hence, the Improvement
of farmers and their families. But the i'm
proyement contemplated is something more
than increase of crops something beyond better
methods in farming, for ii means improvement
of character, social and intellectual gains, gen
eral advancement in all that constitutes true
manhood and womanhood. 1t is a serious mis-
take TO regard advantages IN trade as the chief
object of the Grange, for such advantages are
/
the order. They are not to be neglected, it is
| true, but there are so much greater gains to be
| made in other ways that it would be hurtful TO
| divert the mind from the paramount purpose.
! It is easy to see that the Grange has already
accomplished great deal of good; that its i'm
press is plainly perceptible upon the persons
| who have been faithful TO its principles The
order is benefcent in all its character. IF it
| brings material advantages TO the membership,
| they are to be priced, but still more value at
taches to the social and intellectual gains that
are the legitimate result of association in the
order.-ELaira Hus5dndaan
COMMERCIAL MANUREs.
"The difference between commercial fertil-
| iZers and barnyard manure is that the one is
| in a concentrated form, and the other not yet
both may be nearly identical in composition,
so far as possessing the constituent elements of
| plant growth is concerned. Every pound of
available material existing in the manure
heap can be initiated by the chemist, and yet
the bulk will appear Insignificant. The true
| value Of manure-heap, therefore, depends
upon the quality of the elements which it con-
tains and not the bulk, which entails needless
expenditure of hauling and spreading upon
| the SOIL"
There is one very important factor in the
use of barnyard manure which is altogether
ignored in the above paragraph, and that is its
| physical advantage in keeping soil open and
free to the action of atmospheric gases. Those
who have had long experience in farming and
| gardening, know that the mechanical condi-
ton of the soil is Of more value than its cheni-
| zeal constitution. No matter what fertilizers
may be applied very little good will result
| from them in hard, compact, or wet, undrained
! soils. The mere bulk of farmyard manure is
one Of its great merits, which can never be ap-
preached by the so-called concentrated ma
nures.
| POULTRY MANURE.
The Prairie Farmer (which, by tle way has
recently secured the services Of that veteran
and successful agricultural editor, Orange Judd,
| vino made the Ameriec~ AgricuIturist one of the
| best papers of its kind in the world says that
| the poultry manure accumulated during the
| winter should be carefully gathered, mixed
| with dry earth, and used in the garden. Thus
prepared it is better for nearly all vegetables
than the much advertised fertilizers for which
high prices are asked. The best way to use
| hen manure is to distribute it broadcast over
| the surface soil and work it in; but for special
purposes it is sometimes employed with more
immediate effect in drills with the seed, but
separated from direct contact with it by q
slight covering Of earth.
| STRAWBERRY CULTURE.
Parker Earl, the great strawberry grower OF
Southern Illinois, says that strong soils produce
| the best shipping Strawberries. Poor land
gives soft fruit, which suffers from long trans
portation. lie also recommends mulching the
plants with clean straw just before the berries
| begin to ripen to keep them from being soiIed
lxa ~,