Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-29
ON THE FARM.
Early Planting.

Correspondence Practical Farmer.
Each revolving year brings its lessons
of instructions to the wide awake farmer
who is observant of passing events. The
! wise profit therefron, but the careless
and INDECENT continue to founder along
in the old ruts. When visited by drouth,
or when crops are injured by early
| frosts, lessons of instructions are brought
| home to the husbandman if he will but
heed them. Some of the past seasons
have been replete with warnings and
suggestions for the future guidance of
the farmer. Early frosts have drawn
the dividing line very distinctly between
early and late planted crops, while the
! summer drouths that are common of late
! years point out the necessity of getting
| crops matured as early in the season as
| possible.
Early planting, followed by thorough
| tillage. is the best means of avoiding
trouble from early frosts or summer
drouth In the minds of some there is
an undue fear OF getting seeds into the
ground too early, lest it be caught by
late frosts. The rule of the pi oneer was
to plant corn when the dogwood bios
somed. The soil was then new and
fresh, and pushed crops forward to
maturity faster than it does now, and it
is hardly safe to delay planting as late as
was formerly the practice. Some who
plant late put in the plea that the land
is wet and heavy and unfit to receive
the seed early. Land that is properly
drained can always be worked In due
season. 1t is time for farmers to become
aware of the fact that the old routine
way of raising crops, which was fol-
lowed with success fifty years ago, can
not longer be depended upon. The
changed conditions Of the time and
variable seasons demand more in
telligent thought and action. The wise
farmer is not slow to adapt himself to
the situation.
Corn may be safely planted as soon
as the ground will vegetable it. This it
will do as soon as the temperature Of
the soil is As degrees Fahrenheit or above.
While 1t makes but little growth above
the ground, it is roofing and preparing
for future growth. And if frosts come
and cut down the blades. they start again
vigorously after few warm days and
come out all right. I've have planted
corn here as early as the first week in
April, and never had crop of corn that I
made a short yield on account of being /
nipped by the frosts in spring time 1t /
is highly important that the corn design /
ed for fodder should be planted on well I
drained land. as early as the land can be I
made fit to receive seed. The yield will |
far exceed the crop that is delayed till 1
after the regular planting and seeding of /
spring crops have been done.
Oats is another crop that should 90 I
into the ground just as soon as it can
possibly be worked. Some Of the most
successful growers of this crop that we
know of seldom wait for the ground 70
get In condition to work well. They
mud" it in almost as soon as the frost
is out of the ground. We can not recon-
mend this premature method Of getting
In crops, as 1t exhausts the fertility OF
the soil too rapidly TO cultivate it when
not in proper filth. In breaking ground
too early in the spring, the bottom Of the
plow compacts the clay subsoil, pressing
it in smooth surface. which hardens
during the summer and becomes almost
lmperT0us 20 water.
The potato should also 20 in "a early
as possible, SO as 10 secure a good yield
before the summer drouth sets in With
crops thus covering the ground early IN
the season, the suns rays viii not parch
II up, as Is frequently the case with late ,,
sown crops. Again such crops VIII be
driven forward TO early maturity, thus
clearing early frosts IN the fall We
must plant early if we would lessen the
-iss OF securing good crop yields one
rear with another