The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-12-11
A Chapter OF Personal Expert
ence.


nv shipping business, and was complete
~ cornered ; and other parties wanting
my land, was jOstlsd oct and then
sneered at by those who had been bena-
fitted By the sale. When arrived AZ
this farm. as last resort. spent two
days in looking over tie field, and found
more bare ground slippery white clay
than grassy plots had kn0xn the
farm for many years. but did not think
the soil one-half as poor as found it.
Fourteen acres was in wheat twenty
six acres had been just seeded in timothy
and clover one year previous eight acres
was meadow, including txo acres Of
bottom soil along a small creek Which
ran across the farm. leaving bluff on
one side; six acres in orchard, garien.
house and barnyaris; twenty-acres in
woods. pasture and timber. This Is the
best soil on the farm. the lanJ dipping
down into low, swampy patches. which
must be ditched and tiIe-drained through
some clay knows before it can be brought
under cultivation
All Of nv experience "a 3 farmer with
my father who was one ofthe best AZ
rieulturalisss Of this vicinity, and Who
was the first to lay tile. ID 1874. was re-
hesrsed. also ny observations OF the
/ iabors of farmers whom had dealt with.
and whose farms had passed over many
times while buying stock, and during my
four years observations as acrop reporter
for nv township for the Ohio STATE Board
( Of Agriculture, aud my weather reports
TO the [. : Signal Office at Washington.
I learned now that / must test ms own
nerve, for, il was DO or get nothing for
family Of seven persons. as my strength
was fast leaving me on account Of severe
ailments caused by three years service
sn the c. ; Army during the late re-
beIlion.
found that only seven acres could be
plowed for corn and potatoes. This
yielded, after much hard work, about 80
bushels Of corn per acre, and not quite
enough potatoes to last the year out: we
got not quite tEO-thirJis OF a ton Of hay
to the acre, and seyenty-three bushels Of
wheat from the fourteen acres, and that
Of very poor quality. Fortunately we
had several very good mileh cows which
furnished us butter for use and 10 buy
groceries with. This land had been
pIoEed when wet and had been sun
killed.
The grass, when a drOEth came on.
died for want OF fertility, and nov one
field. the timothy, has died out except
where have top-slressed with stable ma
nure- A species Of joint grass has come
in which furnishes pasture dnring the
summer. going to seed and then dying
with first frost, but intend taat field for
permanent pasture in connection with
the woods field, and scattered manure
and feed stalks over it. sowing timothy,
clover, orchard grass and red-top seed.
Last year We had planted IA acres Of
corn, bot the soil was 50 dilatory that
the corn did not mature this with the
hay and 800 bushels of corn and 500
shocks Of fodder. purchased, was fed to
horses. COWS. sheep and hogs thus making
a fine lot Of manure, which was plowed
under for corn and spread on the surface
for pasture.
On clay soil field this season, which
was planted to corn, where manure was
applied, We got good corn. but where
there was no manure the white grub
worm destroyed the roots, and no ears
formed. On this y acres We got about
100 bushels Of corn the balance Of field
consisted Of stalks with soft immature
nubbins, which must be fed before severe
cold weather comes in order to be Of any
service.
1 Our potatoes are fail1re-ezuse, grub
worms and lack Of fertility Of soil. We
are coaxing clover and timothy to grow,
but do not succeed we'll yet.
We intend applying commercial fsrtili-
zer 10 oar corn and potato Land next year
and viii apply al our stable manure 70
the meadows ard pastures. We are also
hauling out the old logs from the wood
lot and burning them on the pastures.
scattering the ashes and rotted parts.
+ We haYe failed to raise any wheat, and
viii not try again until We can tle-drain
and fertilize. It Is much cheaper to bu
the -four for Our bread than 70 plant
wheat and then lose By winter-killing.
/ We know now that We have a losing
farm-one which viii cost $40 per acre to
tile-drain and fertiiize so a. to De pro-
ductive, The few drains which We have
made have paid a good percentage on
cost
One Of our neighbors has % acres Of
corn which is not worth two dollars per
acre grub worms ate it up.
The small creek which runs across the
farm had in it sediment, the accumula-
ton Of years. ofthe fifth that hal wash
ed from other farms, including one hog
feeding lot; from this creek We took 100
loads of muck and spread on the pasture
land, and the result Is wonderful in grass
production
We want 10 increase our small flock Of
Soush-Down sheen, but sales Of male.
lambs md yeariings are at 50 low a price
that We cannot increase the dOck by pur-
chase Our good neighbors. knOWing 80
well the circumstances. beat down on the
prices 10 hardpan. With a flock OF a
hundred good ewes we could soon enrich
this poor, worn soil We appreciate the
situation Of those who are trying % get a
living out Of poor soil and say to them,
persevere ss We did whsn Sighting in the
late yoa war, aad will soon flank droufh
and grub worms.-H WARzES PuzIPs IN
Country Gentleman.
It's Good Work to Give Health.
The only remedy for blood disorders is
one that viii expei the germs Of disease,
and make the blood pure and rich That
Is best effected by Dr. David Kennedy's
Favorite Remedy, Of Rondout, y. Y.