The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-07-10
GRAINS FOR CHANGERS.

AN acre Of land devoted to small fruits
will often give a larger return than five
acres devoted to gram.
SIMPLY skimming the ground with the
hoe is sometimes better for destroying
weeds than to dig down few inches.
AMAN with sharp tools can do more work
in day than two men with dull tools. II
may take a little time to sharpen the tools,
but it will be labor saved.
TAKING care of the tools and implements
is one of the best modes of econon,izing on
the farm. The value of the tools annually
deprecated from lack Of cleaning, oiling
and exposure to weather is enormous.
SWEET potatoes should be cultivated well
until they begin to run. They will not
thrive if the weather is very wet, and the
more air and heat admitted to the roots
the better, so as to give them an early start.
LETTUCE is plant that will grow in a
great variety of soils, but to grow to per-
lection it should have a deep, rich, well
pulverized soil, filled with partially-de-
composed manure. No garden scomplete
without good supply of lettuce.
WHENEVER crust forms on the surface
OF the ground break up the soil with cult
vator. A hard crust prevents absorption
OF moisture and allows the rain from quck
showers to flow off to some extent. 1t also
prevents complete appropriation of the
plant food nearer the surface.
SWEET potatoes will not thrive if the
season is very damp, as they delight in a
worked until the plants cover the hills.
The cut-worm will do damage on cool nights,
and an examination of the patch should be
made every morning, as it may be neces
sary to replant.
AS rule white clover springs up on land
that has been well dressed with wood ashes,
and though it affords excellent pasturage il
is very persistent weed if it is allowed to
grow where it is not wanted. Cutting it
off only causes it to grow vigorously. It
should be pulled up by hand from among
rows OF vegetables.
CUT the hay just as the seed-heads be-
gin to form. If the seed is allowed to
mature and become dry the plant will be
robbed of its nutritive matter by the Seeds
BY cutting the grass before the heads form
the material intended for the formation of
seed is arrested in the stalks, and the hay
will be more valuable.
AS SOON as melons have made growth
enough to be worked, broadcast around
them with wood-ashes. Ashes arc excellent
for melons, but good, well-rotted manure
should also be used literally as well. Keep
the ground well worked until they begin to
run, then work before the runners-not
among them-and pull out the weeds and
grass by hand from among the plants.
HAULING out fresh manure for crops that
are to be planted on the manure is unwise.
Before the plants Gag derive benefit from
the manure it must first decompose in the |
soil and its elements dissolved by the rains. |
Well-rotted, decomposed manure is always
the best for any CROP If the manure is un-
decomposed it will not become available as |
plant food to its fullest extent until the
next season. The more litter in the manure |
the slower the process of decomposition.
A NEW and distinctvar of strawberry.
and valuable addition to the numerous
varieties Of this much-esteemed fruit. is
known as "Parker's Fredonia Seedlina.n It
was discovered by j. J. Parker, of Fredonia.
N. y, some two years ago growing in a
bed OF 'Wilsons." The new berry is large
and OF bright crimson color, and is said to
be very strong grower, having in the
course of a few years RIM out the evil
sons" from the bed in which it was found.