Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-06-17
AGRIC UL T u r AL
THE GRASS CROP.

THE GRASS CROP.
The grass In both moving fields and
pastures has very rarely looked more
promising than at the present time. The
continued rains have caused the grass
to not only make good growth, but to
grow very thick we have rarely seen
moving fields present such even
growth "a they now do ; very few fields
showing any indication Of being winter
killed. Those fields which have re-
ceived ADDRESSING of manure, show a
growth that Is remarkable for the sea-
son.
The grass in the pastures IL looking
quite a. we'll AZ In the best Of seasons |;
many pastures the first week In May
looked quite al we'll as they usual y do
the last week. The present outlook Is
that there will be good feed for cattle
on both high aud low land. As the
crop is our most important crsp, 1t
makes vast difference TO the farmer
whether 1t Is . good or bad season for
grass. When we have full crops the
cattle come to the barn In the autumn in
good condition, and finding a full barn
they are kept through the winter In
90 ually good condition, but when tho
crop Of grass Is short, the cattle come to
the barn in poor condition, and finding
the barn stocked with q short crop of
hay, they are too often kept short
through the winter, and so come out In
the spring In very Door condition.
Farmers are very generally learning
that it is best to keep their moving
lands In high condition that 1t Is best
to NOW over ten acres for twenty tons
of bay, than it is to NOW over twenty
acres for the same quantity. There are
also few farmers who have learned
that even pastures need to be improved,
not only by keeping down the bushes,
but also by the top dressing with some
fertilizer, like ground bone or wood
ashes, or better still, the ashes and bone
combined. This Is found to pay In two
ways, first, by securing much larger
crop, and second, by making the feed
richer and better for the health of the
cattle.
No doubt the time will come when
pastures will receive more attention,
and be made to carry moro than twice
the number of cattle that they now do.
Our poorer lands we shall let grow up
to wood, and the better portion we shall
utilize for moving lands and pastures,
fertilizing them to that extent that will
enable us to keep more stock than we
now do.-Mass. Ploughman.
TRANSATLANTIC.
While transplanting can be success
full with nearly every tree or plant, the
farmers are mostly Interested In a few
plants Of quite leafy growth, such al
cabbage, turnips, beets and tomatoes.
With these there Is often q saving Of
labor IN cultivation and wedding BY
growing them 10 beds OF hills, and
when proper size set them at proper
distances in freshly plowed aud cult
waited earth, where by their larger SIZE
they are ahead Of tho inevitable weed
growth, thus making their care much
less than it would be If sown where
they were to grow. The season can
also be prolonged, as either hotbeds OF
cold frames can be brought through thu
last cold days Of early spring by Sigh
protectiOn. The success IL surer II thu
plants are grown with enough room t.
give them considerable substance II
the root and stalk. 1t is often the best
practice, for crops that are grown
wholly in the summer, to SOW the seec
where each plant is to stand and save
the best plant in the hill.
Beets recover soon from transplant
ling if their roots are beginning to take
on the bulbus form and are even hal
an inch in diameter. 1t 10 not always
Ibest to wait for 4 cloudy or rainy day
Iif the plants q, any kind are biz
enough to set Il water Is poured int
leach hole mace with the dibble thu
plant soon RECEIVERS, but it is a it'll
better TO "a; come fresh COW manure II
an old pan and put in enough water tt
thin it to mud, but not enough to caus
water to rise on top; then with stlcl
press the roots into this and ball
manure adheres to the tibrOus root tha
will give the plant good send.otf, ant
will keep the root damp better thai
clear water. The earth should b
!, pressed very closely about the root @
, the plant. If the soil has recently bee
plowed or dug mellow there is littl
danger Of making fine soil too com
!, pact about the plant. The soil
, seldom made too rich or cultivated, d
. hoed too much.
DESTROY THE CORN GRUB.
fl We cannot too often call the attention
Iof our brethren to the Importance OF de
, stroying the large white grub, whicl
} sometimes plays havoc with the youn
: corn sprouts, and the remedy for thel
3 Iextirpation generally followed Is to pas
alang the rows and digthem out with
g small wooden trowel; but only such ca
] be discovered that have already cut Of
: the Young corn and are carrying it int
, their abode, just below the surface
r Now, instead of pursuing this partla
. remedy, adopt the one which we nav
hitherto recommended and which W
. know to be effectual. This is the appli
cation Of salt as soon rs the plant make
7 its appearance above the ground, pre-
3 pared and used in this way:
!, Take one part common salt ana thre
parts plaster of Paris, mix well an
apply about a tablespoonful aroma
( each hill. 1t will be found to be sur
protectian. The mixture should no
come in contact with the plants, az
NAV destroy them. This method ha
3 bean tried repeatedly by some of tn
best farmers of Pennsylvania, Della
, ware and New Jersey, and when pro
> perly applied has never failed to b
!. entirely successful. We trust that on
friends, who may have reason to fea
, ldepredations of this grub the prasel'
season, will try this preparation, leav
t ing a few alternate ws of corn wishou
the application of the salt and send II
, the result. The mixture also acts as
good fertilizer, and will more than pa.
r for itself in bepefiting the crop.