Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-05-10
PREPARING THE SOIL.
Too Work Rs quIred tn Put n into Conaition
for seed.

for ssed.
The preparation OF the soil for the recep.
tion OF seed is more important than aiter-
cultivation. II the ground be plowed, pul.
verized and narrowed not only will the soil
be rendered fine, but the sir and warmth
will enter The moisture Ia also more
easily retained in hnely pulverized soil,
and II constant cultivation be given to pre-
vent baking, much of the danger OF drought
may be avoided. With some crops the
difference Of a few days start, after the
growing season shall have begun, IL some
tunes so marked as to show its effect
throughout the whole season, and the beth Z
the condition OF the soil for the seed the
fairer the chances for an early start Il 10
we'll known that aitor the passing Of the
spring rains and when May begins the pros.
poets ola dry season are always good, though
droughts do not hsppen every year. The
capacity OF the yOnpg plants for with
standing the drought will depend upon
the stage Of their growth at the time. The
greater the advance made and the larger
and more numerous the roots the better the
plants will be prepared for deriving
moisture and passing through dry period.
To secure this healthy growth and give the
plants good start the soil should be made
fine and friable by constant narrowing until
every lump and clod shall have been
broken. 1t should be In such q condition
that even the smallest seeds could be we'll
covered and able to easily push through
after terminating. There is also skill re-
quired In planting. Some seeds will quick
ly perish II covered too deeply, and the
depth will depend on the fineness of the
SOIL Corn will push through quite depth
Of covering, and 80 will all large seeds, such
a. beans, peas, etc, but the fine, small
seeds Of carrots, parsnips, lettuce, and tur-
nips need only earth enough 10 hide
them. On soils that easily bake
the depth should be less than that
for seeds in light sandy soil, for until
the points shall hay have appeared no assistance
soil When seeds shall have been broad
casted, aud the soil shall bake before the
appearance OF the seeds, the fine-toothed
harrow may be passed over the field but,
II not too late in tho season, It would be
better to walt for rsir. AS an early start
is half the progress, the cultivation should
begin as soon as the plants shall be large
enough to be seen, and II will usually be
found that this first early cultivation will
impart greater benefit to tho growing crop
than any other work that may be bestowed
during the season. The cultivation, how
ever, Is more thoroughly done when the soil
has been carefully prepared before seeding,
and the labor bestowed in the beginning
will save later on. Now is the time for cul-
hvsting the crop and pushing the young
plants.
SeasonAbie Hints.
Where the turkeys roam off to long dis
tsnces and forage In the woods 1t IL prsc.
tice with some TO put a small bell on one Of
the flock.
June will DO early enough to plant all
kinds OF beans. Nothing will be gained by
getting the seed in before the weather shall
have bee ome warm.
1t is claimed that one fourth OF the COWS
In the United States do not pay the cost OF
their keep, the cause being the failure Of
farmers and dairymen to properly grade
up their stock.
For gapes in chicks mix teaspoonful OF
spirits OF turpentine with one and a-half
pints OF corn meal, scald, mix into stifi
dough and feed to the chicks. Put o few
drops OF turpentine in tho drinking water
also.
The small netted can,aleupes are usually
the best favored. They also come early.
The Montreal nutmeg and Hsckensack are
desirable large kinds, and the Casaba q
long meloD) Is an excellent variety Tor
family uso.
Wheat bran, being light, apparently has
but little value, yet a ton of 1t contains
forty.sevep pounds OF nitrogen and over
sixty pounds OF phosphoric acid, with q
large proportion OF potash.
Use Paris green as soon as the potato
beetle shall have appeared, and do not
postpone the application, as delay would
be favorable to the beetles. They should
be kept down from the first appearance.
Get IN your watermelons now. The old
proverb "Plant melons when the apple
trees are In blossom IL an excellent one to
follow. While the melon seed should not
go In until the ground shall have become
warm, yet the sooner the seeds can be got
In the better, II the early kinds be planted.