The record-union., 1891-11-04
FARM AND ORCHARD.
Use Fertilizers on Your Poorest
Land.
Flooring for Horse stables-How to
Milk the Cow-Keep a Notebook
Leaks About the Farrn-Assortfng
Apples = Vegetable Growing for
Market-Farm Notes.

Leaks ABOUT the Earm-ASsorting
Apples = Vegetable Growing for
Market-Farm Notes.
The poor field is always the most neg
ected, because it Will not produce as
much as one that is more fertile, the
farmer preferring to place his manure on
land from which he can secure more di-
rect and remunerative results, the conse-
quence being that one portion of the
farm becomes capable of producing all
kinds of crops, while the other portion in
time is abandoned as improbable. If
such condition of affairs compelled the
farmer to concentrate his efforts on
email area he would be profted by the
change, but the cultivation of lesSland is
intended to improve the whole instead of
only portion. No piece of land on a
farm should be allowed to deteriorate in
fertility, no matter what the system of
cultivation may be, for the concentration
of the labor and fertilizers on one portion
does not prevent the other portion from
being improved.
Abandoned fields are those that are al
system is simply to leave the land to gain
fertility from the nitrogen brought down
by the rains, or by the scant herbage
that thrives on poor soils. Fallowing
was once favorite method in former
years, for which no manure could be pro-
yIded except for only small portion;
but with innovations on the methods Of
improving lands, following has been su-
perseded by green maDureS, the farmer
preterrlng to grow some crop at small
expense, to be plowed under, a system
which, in the course OF two or three sea-
sons, greatly adds to the fertility of the
1oil, not only from the nitrogen added by
the rains and stored in the plants, but
also by that brought to the surface from
the subsoil through the agency Of the
roots.
a field that cannot be cultivated with
advantage should, first of all, receive a
dressing OF lime, or, what is better, wood
ashes. If necessary, commercial fertil-
izers-those that will restore to the soil
the elements most needed-should be
used, and the land be gotten in condition
for grass. a worn-out field will not pro-
duce crop of grass, but with the aid of
fertilizers and a green manurial crop it
may be gotten in condition for grass in
TWO or three seasons. Once in grass it
viii be benefited naturally by the crop
itself, when the field may then be brought
into the line Of rotation with the fields
that have been under regular cultivation
In some cases lime alone viii enable a
1ield to gain in fertility, and it is the
cheapest method to pursue. The old
maXIm-'put your manure on the poorest
land'-is an excellent one, but q small
field well titled and manured will always
give the best results, though no part OF
The farm should be allowed to lose fer
y.-Philadelphia Record.
LEAKS ABOUT THE FARM.
Loss by shrinkage and vermin (also in
terest money! when holding crops for
higher prices. Inefficient hired help.
Manure exposed to rains or lost while
watering stock at pond or stream. Crops
damaged through leaky roofs. Loss OF
food when cattle are improperly shel-
tered. Machinery and buildings in need
of paint and exposed to the weather.
Stacking crops instead of housing. Slip
shod farming for half crop. Keeping
too much stock, or scrubs. Money spent
Tor tobacco and alcohol. Being too busy
10 plan work for employees. Burning
matches when lamp-lighters would dol
and unnecessary lights. Leaving soap
in water, or using it too green. Wasting
wood ashes or coal cinders. Neglecting
TO oil shoes and harness. Leaving things
unmended until ruined. Keeping rats
and no cats, or dog in place of q hog.
OYerWork1ng the good wife until she is
broken in health and spirits. Letting
artificial heat escape into chimneys. Buy
ing garden vegetables and seeds. Buy
ing trees and vines of irresponsible
agents. Farming without knowing the
elements of chemistry.-Rural World.
ASSERTING APPLES.
An incident is mentioned in the NeaO
England Homestead to show the greater
profit of carefully asserting market fruit
into different grades instead of selling it
mixed Eight barrels of Baldwins We're
equally divided. and four barrels We're
assorted in three of good quality and one
barrel left as poor ones. These and four
unaSsOrted ones were sent as samples to a
commission merchant. The three barrels
of selected fruit sold for 81 20 q barrel.
and the unassorted lot, made of mixed
up specimens, sold for only 81 90 a barrel
Evidently the result was that when good
and bad were mixed together, the good
specimens only made the rest appear
worse by contrast. The Importance of fgrad-
ing has often been tested, and those who
understand and put it into practice have
learned an important source of profit
But another more important means is
high culture and skillful management
which gives the difference between
crowded, small, wormy and distorted
specimens, and uniformly, well-grown.
handsome and excellent fruit, obtained
by good culture, top dressing, thinning,
destroying insects, and good manage
ment generally. Very little ASSERTING
will be required in the fruit from such
well-treated orchards Gentle
man.
VEGETABLE-GRoWING FOR MARKET.
The selection of the particular crops and
the exact proportion in which it would
be best to plant the different vegetables
depends altogether on the demands of the
particular market. Every grower must
study his available market, and try to
raise Just exactly what is wanted. Some
markets have demand for early forced
vegetables, and offer a good price for
such; in that case the gardeners should
make speciality of growing spinach,
ladiShes, beets, carrots, soup celery, let
tuce, perhaps even mushrooms, tomatoes,
etc, under glass. Near a manufacturing
town the demand viii most likely be for
all kinds of vegetables grown in open
ground, such as lettuce, radishes peas
beans, carrots, beetS, early potatoes, and
IN fact, all others that are demanded in
the kitchens of townspeople. The gar
dener catering to such trade should
plant general assortment, and be able
10 furnish anything that may be wanted
Planting everything, and for succession
as needed, and close cropping and strict
attention to the customers wants, these
are the leading features to be considered
in the business of the market gardener
near a manufacturing town.-Popular
Gardening.
KEEP A NOTE BOOK.
1t may seem like "damnable itera-
tom to urge the farmer to keep a note
book, but the advantages of doing so are
so many and so many farmers yet neglect
10 do so, that it is justifable to present
this matter frequently. a successful
farmer of our acquaintance uses one of
the calendar and note pads to be got in
Io, \,