Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-06-04
ON THE FARM.
Attention To Cultivated Crops--One of the Se-
crets of Success.

Attention to Cultivated Crops-One Of the Sc
crets of success.
From the Germantown Telegraph.
After tho ground has been prepared, tho
fertilizer applied and tho seed sown or plant
ed with such crops rs oats, rye, wheat, barley,
buckwhcat, etc, nothing further remains to
be done but watch the progress of growth
until the time of harvest when the gathering
i'm must be performed but not 50 with corn,
potatoes, beans sorghum and many other
crops that arc usually denominated culti-
waited crops. From tho nature of these, in
order to secure satisfactory returns, they
must bo planted at such distances apart
as will admit of the free passage
of heat and light in order to secure
proper development; but this will not
be accomplished if the unoccupied space is
allowed to be encroached upon by dense
growth of weeds. There is no special demand
for any such growth, and yet without taking
due precautions in those sections of country
that have, been cultivated for some time,
weeds spring up so freely that in a little
time they will exert serious influence for
evil The remedy for this is found in proper
attention to cultivation. The frequent dis
turbance of the soil by means of the cultiya-
tor, horse hoe or hand hoe prevents tho
growth OF weeds, and not only that, it pro-
notes the growth of tho crop. 1t has been
estimated that cultivation alone will add very
much to tho amount of the crop, which IL
pTODdDly 1dCI Al all events, We Know Oh
field of corn that was hoed but once that gave
but meagre returns when there was no other
Teason that could be given why the crop was
not heavy Do not slight labor con-
nected with the cultivation of crops.
Planting Potatoes.
From the Germantown Telegraph.
Unavoidable conditions very frequently
determine the mode of planting potatoes.
For soil in which to plant, if good-sized
smooth tubers are to be desired, we have
never had anything better than that furnished
by some old outlying pasture that is dry and
inclined to sandy loan and that has not been
under the plow for some years Such fields
are common in the older and New England
states.
Or there may be some tract of natural now
ing that has not been plowed Tor years, which
Is also good. Plow the sod a few days before
desiring to plant, giving an opportunity to
dry and giving the surface thorough dress
ing of horse manure. We prefer horse
manure TO any other manure made up on
the farm, for the reason by experiments
made in connection with other kinds we
have always found this TO give the
best results. Then use tho harrow
thoroughly, so that ii possible tho sod
will be cut and torn in pieces and the manure
thoroughly incorporated with the soil. Work
in this direction cannot be too thorough, as it
will tell in results. Our practice is to cut
the seed to two or three eyes and put one
piece in each hill. When ready for planting
we mark for the row with horse plow to a
depth of three or four inches below the gen.
eral surface, making the rows about three
feet apart and the hills from ten TO twelve
inches apart In order to give start it is
sometimes desirable to use little phosphate
in the hill, which can best be applied with
the fertilizer dropper. The seed can be COW
cred by horse power or very quickly by
hand, and if proper attention is paid to cult
walton good crop OF excellent tubers may
be expected.