Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-19
gaiIp Kfnnebet 5nnrnaE.
Lessons of the Harvest.

1t is the object of every farmer to make
his occupation profitable, and whether he
succeeds or not depends upon his watch
fulness. industry, and general manage
ment: more upon the latter, we believe,
than constant drudgery. 1t is fact that
one farmer will employ SO much help that
but little of the manual labor is done by
himself, and make money, while another
will toll early and late upon an equal
number of acres, and scarcely come out
even at the end of the year The observ-
ing man is the one that makes the success.
There are lessons to be learned in every
department of husbandry, and he who
learns most labors least to produce de-
sired result.
Important lessons may be learned at
time of harvest. There is scarcely field
of five acres with soil equal in its fertility.
Spots here and there are very productive.
and spots again are found where the
growth of grass or grain is exceedingly
poor. These spots can be easily picked
out as the crops are beng gathered, and
at that time should be marked by stakes
so that they may be brought up to state of
desired productiveness.
Perhaps section of the field is low and
cold, and the soil was not in proper con-
dition when planted, because it would not
dry out as quick as the balance of the
field. and this should be underdrained,
which probably will be all the remedy re-
CURED. Tile is best, but brush with poles
or three poles, or two poles with stone or
plank covering will do If tile can not be
easily obtained. The first years crop in
almost every instance will return the nee
essary expenditure to underdran a sec
ton Of a field, providing the lead pipe is
not OF necessity very long for outlet.
There may be other spots upon the
field too sandy; these need dressing of
clay loan; or perhaps there is a heavy
clay bed that may be brought up by use
of long manure plowed under, and
dressing of sand and well decomposed
manure on the surface. The remedy will
readily be suggested to the farmer when
he marks the sterile spots and makes an
examination of the soil. Our object at
this time is to call attention to the fact that
harvest is the time to make notes and
stick stakes. To ten-acre field with
quarter acre patches here and there that
produce but half a crop, not one farmer
in dozen gives the least attention. The
gross proceeds is what he counts, and if
not up to his expectation an effort is made
to improve the whole surface. Even if
the sterile spots are noticed. ten days af-
ter the crop has been removed they can
not be definitely pointed out.
We have known farmers to NOW
meadow year after year without apparent
ly noticing that patches here and there.
amounting to acres in the aggregate, did
not produce enough grass to lay swath.
SO in cornfields; sections produce only
sickly growth of stalks, small nubbins,
and do not pay the expense of tillage. In
wheat, oats, rye, and other grains, parts
of the fields will produce heavy growth
of straw, large well-flled heads, while
others, less than a half crop is gathered;
and yet no remedy is applied. no means
used to equalze the fertility of the soil.
Another lesson for the harvest is the
selection of seeds for future crop. That
grain which grows strongest, natures
earliest and best, should be saved for
seed. A section Of a grain field may be
marked off, kept separate at the barn, and
the grain preserved for reproducing. 1t
is less work to do this than to put grain
through the processes recommended by
some of fauning, wind blowing, hand
sorting. etc. Corn for seed should be
selected in the field and allowed to thor
oughlg ripen before cutting.