Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-23
Planning Ahead,
Prairie Farmer.

Thrilling AIedu,
Prairie Farmer
As winter is fast slipping by, every
good farmer will study out his scam
paign" for the coming season in accor-
dance with his means, his soil and his
supply of manure. Having adopted a
plan, matters should be shaped at once
so as to carry it out to the very letter
with vim that is sure to bring success.
just low every farmer should be exert
ing his utmost efforts to manufacture
sufficient manure to fertilize every acre
that he may cultivate in spring crop.
If he sees that the barn and stable sup
plies are rot equal TO this, compost
heap should be started where muck wood
mold, leaves and straw may be pulled up
together and let remain a few weeks,
when decomposition will have sufficiently
taken place to render thu mass available
to the crops. If the manure is still short,
use commercial fertilizers. If you have
not experimental heretofore, and do not
know what kinds are most suitable for
your land, better try special crop fertil-
izers. 1t won't pay to farm unless you
put your soil in such condition that the
probabilities are in favor of more than
an average yield. Average farming does
not pay. Corn requires either very fer
tile soil or, if the soil be lot naturally
fertile, that it be heavily MANFRED. It is
a crop that demands great deal of food,
and it is not worth while to waste time,
labor and seed unless there be in the soil
the necessary plant food for good crop.
And as such is the case it will not pay to
permit the ambition of having large
fields of corn to induce farmer to put
in larger acreage than he can manure
well, unless his land be naturally rich. In
laying out the work for the year thu far
mer should be particular and not over
crop himself. He should know lust how
much force of man and beast he can put
into the field, and calculate to cultivate
thoroughly and well, allowing the season
to be unfavorable as it may.
Endeavor to get ia both corn and oat
crops in time, as nine times out of ten it
is the early crops that give the best yield.
Of course we would not have the grain
go into the soil before it is sufficiently
warm to encourage the prompt germina-
ton of seed; but as soon as the earth is
warm enough to cause the seed to sprout
and vegetate, it should be planted, and no
fears need be entertained about late frosts
damaging the crop. It is the frosts in
the fall that must be avoided, if possible
The seed is an important item to look
after, be 1t corn, grain OR vegetables
But few realize the great necessity of at
tending to this matter, in order to secure
satisfactory yield, or to secure either
improvement or perfection in seed or
vegetables. Every farmer should save
his own field seeds and the greater part
of his garden seeds, buying what garden
seeds he may need from sesdsmen of rep
utation, and not peddlers or grocery
stores. It has well been said that some
farmers profess to have no time to devote
to a study of the characteristics, habits
and nature of what they cultivate, and
yet they have time to lounge at the
country store and talk politics, as though
the safety of the country depends upon
their opinions. While planning ahead,
this class of farmers, at least, should task
themselves little heavier and see if it
would not help them through the slight
times" they are complaining SO much
about.