St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-07-14
STIR THE SURFACE.
Principle in Plant Culture Not Ofte
Thought OF.


Thought OF.
In all the plant-culture it is of in
comparably less Importance to have a
deep bed OF loosened soil than to have
Inc surface, If only for an inch deep,
maze hne, open and clean, as soon
as the plants we are cultivating be-
gin to grow, and keeping it so until
the plants have reached their full ex-
tension. For the subsequent develop
ment OF seed or fruit, this soil-culture
Is unnecessary. To give one example
OF the truth of this | will quote our
beds OF Manchester strawberry, a sort
which Is said to excel in the light sandy
SOILS, while all Strawberries are known
10 send their numerous roots down to
great depth. We planted the Man
CHESTER therefore, with not a little
hesitation upon heavy clay, so tough
that hoe can do nothing with it's firm
crust when dried by spring winds, and
even a good pick makes limited pene-
tratlon OF it. But the growth and
yield have been tirst-class. and better
in the very heaviest than in our lighter
soils. In common with other plants.
strawberries make much less root in
strong, rich clay than in the com
paratively poor and dry sands, where
the plant has to use up most of its ma
terial to make roots long and nuner-
Gus enough to supply the wants of
limited number of leaves. In the clay,
on the contrary, fewer and shorter
roots can supply a luxuriant expansion
of leaves and blossoms. The breaking
OF the spring crust is slow operation
IN our soil because of the time and force
required to break the cakes or clods.
which must be mauled or rolled to get
them fine. If left in Jumps they allow
the drying winds to reach the
surface roots where they are nearly or
quite left bare. If, however, the soil
has been stirred late in the fall and not
trampled in the spring, while soft, it
breaks up like loan, because after be-
ing loosened up it could absorb and
hold much water; which, freezing, mel
lows the soil better than any implement
can do. Our practice with nursery or
other plants that cease growing in Au-
gust or September is to allow weeds to
start then, and turn them under with a
shallow running moulding pillow in
November. The soil is then quite clear
of weeds in spring, and besides that, is |
fed by their decay, while the stirring of |
the surface becomes quite as easy as in |
fine loam With strawberry plants,
which make their chief growth after
the August rains, in the cool autumn
months, September is the month for
their cleanest, carefulest culture. This
late stirring has the effect, too, of rem
dering the spring stirring more easy.
The comparatively very small import
ance of having a finely mellowed and
deep soil for the roots is well proved
oy the superior growth of wheat on new
Hearings or broken prairie, where only
The superficial inch or two is stirred and
Ill below is wholly unbroken, save by
'oots of plants, which have penetrated
t. Note the success, too, of potato or
melon culture without any digging or
blowing at all, butmerely two or three
inches of light soil, or decayed vegeta-
Ne matter laid on sod ground. hard as
for years has made it; pre-
mum crops have been raised in that
way, superior to any shown from plow-
d ground.-N Y Tribune.