The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-12-20

land as stagnant water and over much
water is injurious TO growth, and land
undrained, especially is clayey, is apt to
dry exceedingly during the dry season
What the plant needs is moisture not
water.
Commencing with suitable soil, we
would manure or fertl zs broadcast, and
plow shallow. The land should then be
thoroughly narrowed for the purpose
rot only of leveling and smoothing, but
also to consolidate the surface soil ana
bring the particles of earth into closer
contact, fill up the cracks and prepare
for the next implement which is the
roller. THIS should be used thoroughly,
in order by its pressure, to restore the
capillary contacts with the undisturbed
soil below, so as to secure the access of
capillary water. These operations to be
performed while the land is in suffic
iently dry condition not to puddle or
cake.
Now plant your SET d (under average
condilipns the earlier planted crop yields
tho besD, the distances and quantities
as enjoined by local experience, but in
covering the seed be sure to either step
on or otherwise compress the soil about
the seed in order to secure close contact
of the seed and soil This not only aids
to secure moisture for termination, but
obliterates cavities in which mould can
grow to the destruction of the Sc d, and
in early planted seed which is long in
terminating mould is very destructive.
At the season of planting there is always
sufficient moisture, so the field can now
be safely left, but in a cOndi ion 1t is
true for great evapoTative loss of water.
As soon, however, as the plant attains
the proper size, and the earlier the bet
ter, put in the cultivator and thoroughly
stir the soil 30 as to break the capillary
connections with the surface and pre-
vent by the mulch of loose soil the &C
cess of water to the surface to be evapo
rated, and thus economics the water IN
the lower soil for future needs. Re
member proper cultivation is irrigation,
The succeeding civilizations can properly
follow no definite intervals. The object
is to conserve moisture, and hence,
whenever through rain or otherwise the
surface hardens and established surface
connection to the capillary pores put 1t
the cultivator and re-astablish the mulch,
Get rid of the idea that the object OF
cultivation is directly to destroy the
weeds aud thus prevent their robblng
the soil of the nitrogen, phosphoiic acid
and potash that they appropriate. Inc
object 10 destroying the weeds IS TO pre-
vent their robbing he soil of water; for
this fertilizer robbery that has been so
magnified by some lecturers, can readily
be Offset By a few extra handfuls of eX
ira fertilizer, but to replace the water
the loss would require barrels and team
labor. After the ears OF corn have cCm-
menced to glazh, even have passed out
of the milk, the requirements are dry
ness for the proper manullng OF the
crop, hence the last cultivation can
theoretically cease at the period when
practical experience says stop, on &C.
count of the obstruction caused by the
large growth of the plant, At and alter
this period weeds may be of no disAd-
vantage, but help dry the soil and after
the last of August in this climate with
early planted corn, it is probable that
the corn plant natures its grain from
the material already stolei within the
tissues. Late weeds also act IN part as
green crop to pick up nitrogen ana
conserve it against the percOla.llg rains
OF autumn anu "luJtI, anu bh'o g.
crop when plowed under the following
spring is ready through decay to release
this saved and stored nit ogen 10 the
succeeding crop. In the middle south
and north, the value of late weeds Is
such that in local. les the sowing of
weed seed at the last cultivation could
be wisely recommends d, did not nature
usurp the privilege from her abundant
stores. l may add, paren' hetically, as
it were, that in raising the maximum
crop which | have figured on, | would
by preference use at least some artificial
feriiiz .r. fDr,,tLe. reasons offered ty
which we may believe that chemicals
have an Influence upon the econom z'ng
of the water contents of the soil. Brains,
with water, and as we all know, nitro
gen, phosphoiic acid and potash are the
paramount fer;ihz RS for the farmer, but
the greatest of these j. BRAINS N. b..
| Ed mer.