St. Landry democrat., 1888-05-26
USING THE HARROW.
The Most Efficacious Way of Loosenina
the Soil and Destroying Weeds.


the Soil and Destroying Weeds.
Several years ago | soWcd piece 0,
wheat upon land where oats had been
raised. 1t was well-plowcd and top
dressed with well-composted manure,'
and put in fine condition for the seed,
which was drilled in at the rate of
two bushels per acre. Ialso used as an
additional fertilizer wood-ashes-all
that | could force through the drill
from eight to ten bushels per acre. The
season being favorable it made luxu-
RANT growth before winter set in and
the few oats left upon the ground also
made rapid growth, so much so as
in some places to completely shade the
wheat. 1t came through the winter in
fair condition; but as the spring
freezings and thawings were Sc
we're, it looked a good deal the worse
for the weather. After settled weather,
in passing over the field | discovered
that most of the apparently dead wheat
was the growth of oats lying upon and
between the rows of wheat. in some
places almost smothering the wheat
plants. | took an old-fashioncd winged
harrow and drove lengthwise of the
| rows and after few times across the
field, left it. | carefully examined it
| to see the amount of wheat torn out by
| the harrow, and was surprised TO find
scarcely one plant in a row of forty
rods. l was surprised at the result. At
| 81.
green and lively, while the remainder
of the piece was vet covered with dead
oats, no apparent growth having been
made. again started the harrow, 60
ing twice in a place through the field,
leaving one strip through the middle
not narrowed.
Old farmers shook their heads and
some even said | must be crazy-I
would spoil my wheat The difference
was so marked that every one who was
skeptical before was converted as to
this one piece at least That narrowed
! first held the lead all the season and
produced the finest heads and plump
est kernels; the second narrowing
came next, that not narrowed falling
| in the rear to the tune of at least five
bushels Gas nearly as could be calcu-
lated) to the acre-I should have said
that after narrowing rolled the piece.
| never fail to harrow my winter
wheat even that sown broadcast, and
then put on the roller. The harrow
ing removes all dead and musty leaves,
loosens the ground, letting light and
air in, and in every way benetiting the
crop. No one need despair of a good
catch of grass seed if sown upon this
newly narrowed land before the rolling.
One year having my harrow left at
the farther side of my corn field. and
needing it elsewhere l drove corner
wise across the field of corn after it
was four inches high, and to my astonish-
ment did not pull up one spear of corn.
and to my still greater surprise saw
during the entire season that partlcu-
lar strip of corn in advance of the 9TH
er portion of the field. | always use
the harrow upon my potatoes as soon
as they show themselves through the
ground. This loosens the soil, destroys
the weeds, pushes the potatoes fully
one week ahead of those not narrowed,
and lessons the cultivation and hoeing
materially. Use the harrow. Be not
afraid of using it too much.-A Il.
Whittinaore, IN Rural NeU Yorker.