Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-29
THOUGHTS FOR THE TIMES.
Larger Crops with less Labor.


Prices are low for all farm products, and
cost Of pr oduction unusual. When income
does not pay expenses, means must be re-
sorted to whereby cost can be reduced;
otherwise farmers will soon be driven of
their farms. Present average yield of
crops in our whole country can be easily
increased one-third with little additional
cost of production. by more thorough and
intelligent practice. To this end land must
be enriched to support full crops; must be
clean from all foul weeds and grasses;
must be drained Of surplus moisture by un-
derdrains IL not naturally drained; pulver-
izstion of soil must be thorough. for seeding;
and for after cultivation to keep surface
mellow and to destroy all weeds; adapt
crops to soil; seed to grass and clover. to
lie in sod two years out Of Ave. No intelli-
gent farmer will attempt to raise winter
wheat on strictly muck soil, but will
rather plant corn, potatoes. turnips or on
ions-the latter being especially adap-ed.
Neither will Indian corn be planted on
heavy clay soil, for. however rich IN plant
food, this land will not produce corn at =
pre- at; but At the same time there is no bet
ter soil for wheat, pea, or hay. Corn
finds its natural adaptation Of soil
in = sandy gravel or loan Of any
base; . soil that will remain loose and
friable. The best class of grain lands are
not as . rule, profitable grazing lands,
though stock-raising and feeding should be
made q branch by mixed husbandry (the
true system of improved farmlng), togeth-
er With a rotation of crops and seeding with
clover frequently; this adds manure - re-
store fertility of soil.
No soil is 60 exclusively adapted
to grain growing that a frequent seeding
to clover and other forage crops, to be
fed on the farm, will not be
found most profitable. Lands of the above
character are not we'll adapted to dairving,
though many modern teachers of improved
farming claim that the dairy may, by use
of silage. be probably connected with
grain farming on our best arabic lands, but
it has not been heretofore made desirable
branch Of mixed husbandry. Dairying 10
best adapted to lands not well suited to
grain-moist, springy land where water 10
everywhere convenient, and where the
pasture carries verdure of green in the
dryest season, has much advantage over the
farm without living springs and where water
is obtained only At great expense. Another
fact 10, bad crop returns are not due 30 often
as some suppose to exhausted fertility, but
many times result from poor cultivation. A
perfect iniug of the soil and extirpaton Of
all noxious weeds, will do much to restore
proiuctiveness to the run down" farm.
All lsnds based on = firm or tenacious sub
soil can be greatly improved by deeper
ploughing 4 few inches of subsoil turned up
in autumn, where the pulverizing effect Of
winter frosts may act upon it. will wonder
fully improve the land. Raising clover to
plough under 10 a means of improving land
in general; it cannot be relied upon fer
perfect fertility, yet is q great renovator of
woru-down lands. The growing of clover
OF other forage crops for feeding on the
farm. also the purchase of grain for feed
ing, with care in saving manure, is the most
reliable source Of fertility. Commercial
fertilizers may be used to increase crops,
but not to restore exhausted fertility
Nsr York Tribune.