Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-05-07
The RIGHT TIME.
Some Timely Hints Regarding Early and
Late Sowing.

Some Timely Hints Regarding Early and
Late Sowing.
There is nothing gained by sowing
the seed too early any more than too late.
Like nearly all parts of farm work,
there is always a best time, and the
nearer the work can be done to this
time the better will be the results Sc
cured We SOW the seed with the ex-
pectation that it will germinate and
grow.
Sowing and planting are not all that
is necessary to secure good plants. Some
seeds, Of course, naturally are slower
to .germinate than others, especially is
this the case with some garden seeds.
Nearly all field crops, such as oats, corn,
cane, broom corn, potatoes and beans
will germinate in a short time II the
conditions are favorable, while qnite a
majority of them will remain In tho
soil quite while if the conditions are
unfavorable, and then germinate
under more favorable conditions.
Yet this is not what is most desirable.
Seed that naturally germinates in
short time can not remain in the cold
damp soil without loss OF vitality, and
this effects more or less the vigor OF the
plant. Many plants are stunted ut the
start, and when this is done no amount
of after-cultivation will entirely remedy
the damage.
To very great extent this oan all bo
avoided by taking pains to SOW at the
right time. 1t is better to spend more
time in preparation and have the soil
just right, and SOW the seed at the right
time than to do less work in preparing
the soil and then SOW the seed too
early.
Oats, fax and onions will germinate
when the soil is much colder than tho
larger part Of other seeds that arc usu.
ally sown in the spring, With these,
early seeding is preferable, that is as
soon as the soil can be made in good
condition, never found thatit paid to
SOW seed Of any kind until the soil Is in
a good condition. And this can not be
secured until the soil has dried out. In
the hurry and press of spring work we
are often tempted to commence work.
ing the soil when it is too wet to work
readily into fine condition, but there
is nothing gained, as the extra time re-
quired to get into the right condition
and the seed, lost by a failure to germi-
nate, will more than make up for the
time gained In sowing. .ut
The majority of plants that we sow or
plant in the spring will germinate much
better and quicker when the soil has
become thoroughly warmed up. II
then we take time ahead to thoroughly
prepare the soil so as to have 1t in as
good condition as possible, and then
sow or plant when the soil is warmed
sufficiently to secure quick germina-
ton, better results are certain to be se-
cured. Seed sown when the conditions
are most favorable for termination will
produce much better, more vigorous
and more healthier plants than when
sown early and remain for some time in
the soil without terminating. 1t is al
ways an object to secure as good,
strong, vigorous, plants as possible, and
good soil thoroughly prepared, with
good seed sowed at the right time will
give these.
Then good cultivation is necessary to
secure good growth. But the plants
must be secured first. You may plant
corn very early and secure q germina-
ton Of the seed, but if the soil is cold
the plants will not make any growth.
Two weeks later with the soil in bet
ter condition and much warmer, you
may plant the same kind of seed and at
the end of month from the last plant.
ing the latest planted will show the best
and fastest growing plants We want
plants that when they germinate will
keep on growing right along, and If the
seed is planted at the right time this
can be secured. No rule can be given.
Iwait until the soA will work Into q
fine condition for the early-sown crops
and until the soil is thoroughly warm
ed up, This will vary each spring q
few days and it will always pay to dc
all the work of preparation possible,
have your seed on hand ready and the
machinery all in good shape to work
and then at the right time the work Of
planting can be pushed along very rap
idly.-C0r. Western Plos0man. - 1.