Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-09-20
A Rafting Farm.
Cor. Prairie Farmer

Q
front of the village store, whiting and
talking to small crowd. Something
about the man and the way he empha-
sized his statements made me suspi.
cious that he was not altogether relia-
BILE. Not being a farmer of course
prevented me from questioning what
he said, but the manner left me in
such doubt that said nothing, and
sat on the salt barrel, a very interested
listener, and at least thought that if
half what he said was true it was Ger,
tainly something wonderful
He was talking about farming lands
when came, and | heard this much /:
'Now, there's that land of mine down
at the Forks. Eve cultivated it seven
teen years, and it has never needed
any fertilizers. It's too rich now.
Why, when | put in my corn in the
spring have to lay boards over every
row, because it jumps up SO suddenly
that it would Jump clear out of the
ground. AT first | lost all my corn
that way until | got to knowing how
to prevent it. One year [ had great
trouble with my neighbor. | had
planted my watermelonS and pumpkins
on that side, and in a few days the
vines all got through the fence onto
his land and he claimed the fruit. We
had several fights over it, and threat.
ened to cut the vines off, but he said
he would have me arrested for iniuring
his property. But we finally compro'
missed on shares. If | would leave
the old cornstalks standing they would
sprout, but of course the ears would
not be as large as the others. What is
the use of me cutting down trees ? the
stumps shoot right up again and are
soon as large as before. Every grain
of wheat sprouts at both ends and
makes two stalks. What / want i.
some kind OF depilatory that will re
duce the growth. 1t is impossible tC
drive reaper into my wheat, it is SC
thick. We 60 into it with handsaws
kept sheep On that land for a year,
but the wool grew so wonderfully il
smothered all the flock. | had to give
it up. My cattle, from walking il
that ground so much, are troubled with
wonderful growth Of legs, can't hard
ly reach the COWS to milk them.
have noticed that the brick bats that
were thrown out have all grown into
full sized bricks, too large to hauf off
all on account of the soil. Everything
comes up without any care. even the
cows come up without calling. The
land itself continually expands, and il
keeps me busy putting extra panel:
into the fences, and my neighbors are
constantly growing about encroach
ment, but how can | helpit? 1t is moi
my fault. The hoe, Ratchet, pillow,
scythe, and axe>handles have to be cut
off regularly or they would be too long
for use. put pump in the well this
spring, but the blamed stock took roo
and began to grow, and until | sawed
it off we could get no water. But oul
feet! Mercy. That is one thing that
worries me to death; those of the chill
dren are awful, but it can't be stopped
Even u hole in my clothes gets a starr
and grows when l amt thinking about
it, and in a short time the hole absorb!
all the garment. Have to saw the
pumpkins up into pieces before l Can
do anything with them, or get them
off the farm. Why, gooseberries grow
so fast they don't get any time to ge
sour enough to suit the grocery keep
ers. Tobacco leaves are SO thick
through, that you only have to GU
them up into plugs of the right thick
ness. Couldn't sell my last years croE
Of potatoes at all, because, you see
people want them Of a size that will
go into the boiling pot. can start t.
town with ten pounds of butter and i
will be fifteen before get there, anC
how load of hay growsl 1t beats all
Our hens don't cackle over anything
less than two eggs at a time. Built ,
new log house last spring, and the con
foundad lons didn't ston OTOwinp. nj