The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-01-19
/ FARMtKSI G0EUMiN.

,st.- Preparation of the soil
lftbere is any one thing more than an
other that the farmer fails to realize, it is
the importance Of thoroughly preparing the
soil before the seed is planted, or the plant
set. Our grandiathers, for hoed crops,
spread thoir coarse manure on the surface
Of the land and plowed it under, then they
Currowed the ground with small lorse
pio v, aud where the seed was dropped put
b NJ shovel full OF the fner manure, on
which the seed was dropped and coveredj
thus leaving the manure unmixed with the
coil, ami where it would lay undisturbed
until the land was piowei for another crop
nor was any effort made to pulverss the
soil until the crop was up large enough to
hoe. II they had 'ree to set they simply
dug small hole just large enough to re-
eelve the roots, and without any prepara.
tion Of the soil, fillei up the hole aud left
the tree TO take ITS natural course.
Our fathers made step of progress by
spreading the manure on the surface after
the ground was plowed, and with the old
toothed. A harrow mixed the manure with
the soil, and when they set tree many o
them dug hole much larger than the routs
"f the tree extended. and after setting the
tree filled around the roots with soil well
prepared for plant growth But it was LEFT
for this generation to more fully realize
that il we are to force nature much eyond
her natural course, we must study to pre-
pare ilio soil not only in the best manner.
but at the best time.
A careful study of natures ways of feed
ing plants teaches us that crude materials
can not enter the plants, but that separa
ton must first take place, dividing the fer
tllizine materials into atoms that are in a
condition to miEgle with both air and
| water, which they will readily do, and tnr 8
form molecules that ate readily taken up
oy-the growing parits, aud conveyed to the
| numerous cells, where that nice chemical
operation takes place which transforms
each molecule into the particular sub.
stance necessary To produce all of the char.
&C eristics OF the plant AMI the fruit or yese
table. srE
a'lIaviDg satisfied ourselycs on some OF tie
principal points of vegetable growth we
can niure fully realize the Importance Of
thoroughly pulverizing the sill, aud sn
mingling tbeiertilizing materials with it
that there will lie rapid formation Of those
molecules which produce plant food. r e
| fact that the division of particles by Il e
decay Of substances is FASTENED by the pre-
senee OF water and warm air, readily ex
plains the reason why a we'll pulverizcd
soil is best adapted to the rapid manufact
ure Of plant food. A soil that is closely
pressed together prevents the free passage
ol both water and warm ali; therefore, al.
though it may contain large quantities Of
| lcrtilzng materials, the manufacture o!
| plant food will he very slow indeed, be
cause of the want Of the two elcmeGts essen
tialto produce change.
If we would work to the best advantag.
| Il II ,ec,sssrv Tim, ,ye sho,Id tnnv INV
| s66b ar,er mo .oiI 10 snrros ba nro,,ss Of
the decay Of fme,er,alscomnences ond ,hus
the manufacture Of plant food takes place.
i Ob.crvotion te,ches tl,t,his Il, v.rv
te,y d,vs. In r,c, s,,,s,,mea :, rarv c.,y
hours consequently. when we can readily
10 81, it is best to prenare the soil for most
Of crops but short time before they are
be carrots. it wouli be very unwise to rre.
pare the land in the autumn. let it sctl le
all winter, and then sow the seed on the
hard surface without pulverzing it. A
elter way would 6e to partially pretare
the land in the autumn, aud then lust before
the seed is siwn in the spring. thoroughly
palveri ze the soil that it may be in condi
\ tion for the air aud water TO mingle with
the particles of manure at the time when
| he growing crop needs 1t. What of
carols is true of all plants.
| Exneyi,nca iyhicb ia worth mora ,horo
of the theories that ever existed) proves
| that Il we would produce rapid plant growth
we must not only have the land well pul-
| verized before The seed ia planted. or th
tree set, but frequently stir the snil while
the ,.lants are growing. and that the more
| thoroughly the manure is mixed with the
/ soil the better will the cons grow.
Tho o,, r,o.hod. of orr r,n n,,c,uo.. and
h ,owo, a h.,,o. 49,. co..
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