Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-05-15
PRACTICAL FARM TOPICS.
Why Seeds Fail to Grow.

A few years ago Mr.. Peter Henderson
read a notable paper at the Nursery
mems Convention at Chicago upon the
necessity of ''frming" the soil after seed
planting, either with heavy roller-or
better, by simply treading on the row af
ter the drill. In the current number Of
the Floral Cabinet he gives some rea
sons for this practice, which are well
worth reproducing.
He says: There is stored up in every
perfect seed latent germ, the embryo
of new life, the development of which
is conditional upon other natural causes.
The influences that act upon the seed
to cause growth are heat, air and mois-
ture, and without a prOportlonate guam
tiJy of each, there can be no plant life
Now, it follows that when a d seed is
put into the ground, and loosely covered
with light, dry soil, it does not come in
contact with sufficient moisture to mOis
ten the seed neither is there sufficient
heat, because of the too great circula-
tion of air around the seed, to produce
the chemical changes upon which veg
etable growth depends.
Again, when we place seed into the
earth it Immediately commences growth
in two opposite directions, upward into
the atmosphere, and downward into the
earth-tbe two sources from which it
obtains its food. 1t is a mistake to sup
pose that the first root the seed puts
forth furnishes the young plant with
food. 1t does not; it simply holds the
plant in place until the true roots, 10y
which the plant is fed, are formed. The
first, or Seed-leaves, contain the food of
the infant plant until its true leaves
and roots are formed, and do not per-
form the functions of the plants true
leaves"
The feeding roots of any plant or
tree are delicate white fbers, so small
as rarely to be seen with the naked eye,
and are never seen by the casual Observ-
er. Now, when these roots are formed,
if the soil is not pressed firmly around
the main root, these feeders have nothing
to live upon; they must come in lmme
diate contact with moisture, OF the
waIm, dry air will destroy them, and
the whole plant will stand until new
roots are formed, or, in the meantime,
perish. Herein lies the benefit OF using
the feet in seed-sowing.
In thinning out plants, when the seed
has been sown too thickly, the feet
should always be used, in order to press
the soil firmly about the remaining
plants.
PREPARE EoR DRoUGHTs.--A word
in season is spoken by the American
Agriculturist in regard to preparation
for droughts:
"The diminution in milk superinduced
by summer droughts is one of the farm
er's drawbacks. The check in the flow
of milk is sometimes felt throughout
the whole season, even if favorable
weather shall afterward ensue, for when
COWS once fall off in their milk, it is |
hard work to bring them up again at
this advanced stage of their yearly |
milk-giving period. Such loss may be
avoided by taking the precaution of
sowing a small field of corn adjoining
the pasture, or in some place where it |
will be convenient to feed. If sown at
the usual time time of planting corn, it |
will be large enough to use by the mid
die of July. Another piece may be
sown later, fer feeding in August This |
will be found cheap and good food for
dinary succulcnce. Sorghum and millet |
are also good, but the corn for soiling
crop is better On most soils it flour
ishes during drought, when everything
else suffers. The cattle can be fed in
the pasture, lane, or yard, at regular
hours. An acre or two will often help
out wonderfully in this way, and that
which is not needed for feeding during
the summer can be cut and cured for
winter use"
A corresondent of the Country Gen.
tleman recommends the following meth
cd Of guarding against the difficulties
and dangers of using barb wire:
For smooth. nearly level fields, plow
deep furrOw on each side of the wire
fence, or rather plow several burrows.
30 as to make one broad and deep one
on either side. throwing as much earth |
with the plOw as practicable toward the
line Of posts, and finishing the work by
cleaning ont by hand the bitches thus
made. This work is performed at COM
paratively little cost, and has the three
advantages of draining the line, bank
ing against the posts so that they need |
not be set SO deep, AM making visible
barrier which will Induce horses to
check their speed and stop before they
reach the fence. They will not pitch
heedlessly into ditch and against a
bank. They are always brought up be-
fore they reach the line. Another ad-
vantage is that the ditch and bank CON-
bined are as good as two bottom boards,
and a smaller number of wires are
III -
A fine aasortuant of Trash CrackArs