The National tribune., 1884-03-20
PREPARING GROUND FOR SEEDS.


The perfection of cultivation involves sys-
tenn of management whereby the growing plant
viii not be subjected to the slightest check
from the time the seeds terminate till the crop
Is matured The first important operation is
to thoroughly pulverize the soil before sowing.
Although this may be considered as stereotyped
advice yet we venture to say that it is rarely
followed, because the condition of pulveriza-
tion-the degree of fineness which is intended
to be conveyed by the word ttOrouqh-cannot
well be graphically described. How much of
the acknowledged fertility of the sandy soils
of New Jersey, Florida, and other localities
which might be named, is owing to the finely
divided and pulverized condition of the soil it
might be difficult exactly TO determine, but
that it is a controlling influence no one who
has had any heightened experience in sowing
fine seeds, and in tending and encouraging the
growth of slender plants for the first month or
SIX weeks of their existence, will seek to ques-
ton. The influence which q rapid and unin-
terrupted early growth has upon the earlier
maturity of the crop is not, we think, suffi-
GENTLY recognized. Take the sorghum crop as
an example, and it may happen that an adj
vance of two weeks will make all the differ
eDce between a failure and success in the
outcome of the crop, and this advance may
readily be gained by pushing the growth at
the start, and this may be secured by providing
infinitely divided or fine soil to begin with
The young germs not only push up with more
freedom in sandy than they possibly can do
In lumpy soil, but the roots have a freer range
in pulyerzed soil, and greatly increased area
of fertility for their more rapid extension.
We have frequently in these Topics" en-
deavored to point out the value of blowing or
otherwise turning over the soil in the fall. In
all but very sandy soils this is one of the sail
ent points-one of the very first Importance
in what is termed cultivation. In recent
49,. - ".
occupy for q garden | have used for
twenty-one years, and until | began fall plow-
ing could never get it in good order, but now
1T is always mellow and fine as soon as dry
enough to plant. / have been able to plant
two weeks earlier on an average than / did
before / began fall blowing, and sometimes
four weeks earlier than my neighbors, whose
gardens were neither drained or fall ploWed."
This is further evidence as to what may prac-
tically be gained by mere preparation of soil,
The crops can be put IN earlier, and the pull
veriZation of the surface facilitates growth, so
that month of gain can be secured, which is
equal to a frightening of the season to that ex-
tent, and who can say what the money value
of even half that time of ripening weather dur
ing the past fall would have been to the farm
ers throughout the country.
In sowing the finer kinds of garden seeds it
is rnnuous to throw them in ruGely in rough,
lumpy soil. Commence by forking the ground
over instead of digging, breaking all Jumps,
and comminuting the surface with o long
toothed iron rake, and after sowing the seeds
tramp over them with the feet, or pass a light
roller over the ground. This is the method
calculated to give the best results, whether in
the garden or in the fields on the farm.
LAWN GRASSES.
The Rural New Yorker saws that what is
known as Central Park = lawn grass is COM
posed as follows: Kentucky blue grass, one
bnshel; Redtop, one busheI; Rhode Island
bent grass, half bushel; sweet veynal grass,