The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-28

Ul1C NCSCUoOIC lI0CCSA
A hasty and effectual decomposition
is needed, especially if we are a little
late in turning fallow land. And
further, the seed-bed should be some
what compact for small grain, to aid
fermentation and prevent freezing
out in winter. In fact, corn and all
the summer crops will terminate
quicker with a slight pressure on the
soil that covers the grain. Grain al
ways comes up quicker that has been
trod upon with the foot while cover
ing it.
The time to plow land is when it
contains the greatest amount Of vege-
tation. This is about the time it is
forming seed. The farmer that let's
this time pass without starting his
plows, misses a golden opportunity.
Never plow when the ground is too
wet. 1t is in proper condition when
it crumbles to pieces as it falls over.
The inconvenience of having our
meat house in Chicago, our corn crib
in Missouri and our wheat bin in
Kansas must be obviated. 1t is too
costly, and besides it drains our coun-
try of it's money. No wonder we hear
the cry of hard times, growing out Of
the scarcity of money. Did you know,
brother farmers, that there is a better
farm just under the old one, that you
have been plodding over for 10 these
many years? Well, it's there, and
you don't have to 60 far to find it.
Not as far rs it would be to pull up
and 90 West. Let US 60 to work
and dig Or pillow it up, and save the
purchase of a new n in the blizzard
breeding, cold Northwest. The mean
est thing in the whole business is, just
about the time you find this bottom
farm, no matter how much it costs
you, the tax assessor m along and
doubles or trebles your tax just be-
cause you have made an improvement.
Why, sir, it would appear more like
straightforward, honest dealing to
give him a bounty instead, for open
ing out a way in which we would have
more meat and bread for our wives
and children and keep the money in
the country that had previously gone
North and West to purchase them.
Will some n be so kind as to nudge
our legislators when they next meet
in the capitol, to enact wholesome
laws for us, and whisper in their ears
that something ought to be done on
this line to encourage improvement.
The management of the pillow is the
desideratum to correct all their errors.
The pillow is the sheet anchor of the
farmer. 1t is at the foundation of
successful farming. 1t ought to be
the chief study Of the husbandman to
have the best, and to use it to the best
advantage. To do this the philosophy
of it must be studied. It's require
ments closely scanned in order to have
one that answers the purpose and will
do the work we'll. He that attends
auction sales for the purpose of pur-
chasing some old refused one cheoply,
misses the mark if he aims at economy.
The best is the cheapest, is an old say
ing, and nowhere more true than in
selecting a pillow. Always procure
the best and the job will be compare
lively easy to do good work. He that
expects good work of a servant with
inferior tools, will discover his mis-:
take at harvest time. The laborer will
be more faithful and contented at his
work with good ones, and remain with
the employer longer. He that ex-
poets to command good and efficient
labor with inferior tools will wake up
some day in the push and hurry Of the
busy season with no help, and losses
amply sufficient to supply his farm
with good tools. The wear and tear
of man and beast alone, with bad ones
will overbalance the cost of good ones.
1t depends no little upon the man
ner in which a person holds a pillow to
do good work. 1t should be held with
a firm grip to prevent any unexpected
turn given it from obstacles out of
sight in the ground: It should be
held on a lint with the surface so that
the wing will cut as deep as the point.
This will break all the ground to a
uniform depth. If it be set so as to
run to the unbroken land, the pillow
will khave to be lent over from the
furrow, throwing the outside end of
the wing near the surface, only break
ing about half the soil. This cheat
can scarcely be detected by the eye
after the blowing has been done. This
fault is common with the one-horse
turn pillow, especially if the horse
walks on the unbroken land. One
horse cannot pull a pillow to more than