Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-05-01
fARM and PRESIDE.

SEED PoTAToEs.-Long before potatoes
are to be planted the seed potatoes should
be got out of the dark pits OR bins in which
they are necessarily stored during severe
weather. Exposure to light for some time
before planting is very important. If the
planting is TO be early the seed should be
cut at once and spread thinly in light,
warm room, to allow the cut surfaces to
harden. The seed will then be mach less
liable 70 rot if cold, wet time comes af-
ter planting. The dampness in the soil
will find its assaults On the seed checked
by the dry, calioused surface over the cut.
1t the potatoes are not to be planted until
late, cutting the seed should be DELAYED
until few days before planting. 1t is
difficult matter to keep large quantity of
cut potato seed just right for long time.
LII put in heaps, barrels Or bags, some of it
will heat and spoil. If kept very long
exposed tc light and air the moisture Will
all dry out OF the cut pisces and they ap-
pear ike chips. In moist soil most Of
these will grow, but should dry time
come Just after planting there will be some
failures. But whether to be- planted early
or late, seed potatoes should from this
time on. be exposed to light and air. The
vigorous green shoots which will be- lust
ready TO push out when the seed is put in
the ground will be so much gain, instead
OF detriment. as are the pale thin sprouts
which push from potato seed in dark.
warm places, the latter robbing the potato
OF the substance on which the youno
plants must first depend before they can
put forth roots for their own support.
HE richer the feed the better the ma
nure. This is an old saying, and general.
iy true. The scarcest elements, however.
IN manure, are the phosph ate of lime and
nitrogen. Phosphate is largely found in
the coarse parts Of grain, that have little
feeding value. Bat 1t is not possible for
farmer to fatten stock without making
much valuable ma nure.
BARLEY is commonly sown after some |
hoed crop. usually corn or potatoes. Good |
yield may, however, be secured on stubbIe |
plowed early in the spring, or better still.
fall, probably the best spring grain to seed
with. Where clover seed is sown with the
grain bushel and half of barley per
acre is sufficient seeding.
AMERICAN FARMERS will scarcely.cred-
lt the fact that on the experimental
grounds at Bothamstead, England, wheat
has been grown forty years in succession
without manure, and averages fourteen
bushels per acre. But the other side of
this story helps to explain it. The land
is thoroughly titled after each harvest be-
fore seeding, is carefully hoed the follow
ing spring, and not a weed is allowed TO
grow. The fourteen bushels, therefore.
represent the amount Of plant food which
good culture will develop in moderately
fertile soil without manure.
a WESTERN FARMER who tried wheat
bran as manure for wheat reports that
The effect of an application of one ton of
bran to the acre was equal to that obtain
ID from the usual application of a mix
ure of bone dust, guano, lime and wood
Ashes, and the difference in yield of crops
hat received bran as compared with those
lot SO treated was very great.
A SMALL flock of sheep are always pro-
table and 1t requires less capital to stock
farm with sheep than with any other
ind Of animal, le