The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-05-18
THE Farm.
Farmers, Gardners, Hoyticuiturists,
Dairy and Stockmen are requested to
wtite for this Department.
cultivatlng the Summer Crops.

The next work which should employ
all the farmers time and thought is the
cultivation Of the corn, potatoes and
crops requiring similar treatment. Ad.
vanced farmers are changing from
the old mode Of treatment of these
crops as they are supplied with more
perfect implements for doing the work.
The 6ne, slant toothed harrow-the
Thomas harrow and harrows of similar
pattern-are much used in cultivating
corn and potatoes in the early stages Of
their growth. The first objection which
is raised against this practice is the in
jury to the young plants by the teeth
tearing them up. But those who prac.
tice and advocate the use of the fine
toothed, light harrow, say that practice
and theory differ here as they often do,
that the young plants are not injured
BY being torn up, to any perceptable
amount. This being the fact demon
strated by actual experience, the ad-
vantage to be derived from this early
and broad cast culture will be at once
conceded by every practical farmer.
After hoed crops--crops which require
cultivation during the early stages of
their growth-have been planted, and
before they are ready to put the cult
vator among. the ground becomes crua-
ted, and if heavy, beating rains occur,
hard crust is formed on the surface
which, if not broken is very detrimental
to the young plant; and many are not
able to push through the crust while
the effort required exhausts and Injuries
them all very seriously. Breaking up
this hard crust. 6ning and mellowing
the surface is Of incalcu liable benefit to
the young plants.
Weeds and grass start with the corn
or potatoes and by running fine
toothed harrow over the field before or
Immediately after the plants make their
appearance most of the weeds and grass
are billed or smothered by being covered
up or torn cut by the harrow. The
corn or potatoes having the soil freshly
stirred about them make a vigorous
start and the ground is also in the best
condition for working when it is time
to put in the cultivators. If this prac
tice is carried out with judgment, clean
corn and potato fields will be the result
when the crop is ready to harvest, in
place Of heavy growth of weeds, too
often seen in the corn field and potato
patch.
When to put in the cultivators after
rain is one Of the most important
matters about making full crop. After
rain the corn should be gone through,
especially if there is prospect Of a
dry spell, and the time to commence
work is as soon as the surface is dry
enough to crumble, and before it begins
to harden and grow lumpy. Ifthe soil
is too wet it is iable to pack and in
jure the crop quite seriously; and this
injury a careless farmer is not apt to
discover. Many a bushel is lost by
shortage in the corn aud potato crop by
working the land when too wet and
neglecting to put in the cultivators at
just the nick of time.
All late cultivation should be quite
shallow and done with fine toothed i'm
plemehts, so that the surface may be
reduced for couple inches to the finest
tilth possible. and the roots not dis
turbed. provided the soil has been
worked deep and mellow while the
plants are young and small. After po-
tatoes commence to blossom they should
have careful cultivation which would
exterminate every weed. A safe rule
to adopt is to direct the work with the
object of having the corn and potato
fields entirely clear of weeds when the
crops are to be harvested. With
judgment and attention this result can
be achieved as. rule, and many bushels
will be added to the crops which will
be formed out of the plant food the
weeds would have consumed.