The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-11-11
IN the preparation of the soil before

planting, than in after cultivation.
1t is the experience Of every one. who
has put the matter to the test, that the
earlier and deeper our black lands are
plowed and pulverized before planting
to corn and cotton, and better will be
the crop.
This early and deep plowing serves
several good purposes. When the plow
(turning) is run deeply and truly, the
surface soil, which has been rendered
fine and fertile by previous GUILTY. alton
and decomposition Of organic matter,
is turned under and fresh soil brought
to the surface to 60 through the same
process.
This newly turned up soil needs time
and the action of rain and frost, to put
it into mechanical condition suita-
bic for plant growth. This is why
land plowed just before planting does
hot make a good crop, unless excep'
tional conditions prevail afterwards
Early plowing has another advantages;
it is out of the way before bad weather
sets in, and the worse the weather the
better for the land.
Again, bugs, grubs and injurious in
sects and their eggs are more easily
reached by frost in plowed than in un-
p1owed land.
The larvae of the boll-worm winters
about six inches underground, if the
land is left undisturbed; but if the soil
is plowed seven or eight inches deep
the pests are brought to the surface
and killed with the first severe frost.
The same remark applies to host Of
other vermin.
But deep blowing is not advisable,
where wheat. OATS barley or any small
grain is to be sown, unless done in suf-
ficient time to allow the soil to become
compact. Small grain requires a very
fine, well.pulverized surface, and a firm
subsoil. This Is not of much conse-
quence where the seed is sown in the
spring, after the last severe frost, but
in the fall sowing is a matter of first
Importance.
Many farmers sow oats In the spring
from fear of winter killing. That
fear is well grounded if the seed has
been plowed in deep and the soil left
loose; but if roller has been used, OF
the crop is grazed down, there is little
to be feared from frost.
Farmers, take time by the forelock,
and plow early and deep.-John G. Ed
| gar, in Austin (Tex.) Statesman.
| a Ira and trtsh Ponds
Prof Henry Stewart made fish pond.
Oh his farm, and found other advantage!
than the production of fish arising from
it. He says: "My ponds paid all th'
cost of them the first year by the ic'
they furnished, and, as the farm wa
run us dairy, this supply was quit
valuable. Another valuable return wa
the muck that was dug out and used TO
litter in the stables and for compost
. and still another was the waite
crosses grown in the shallow waite
of the lower pond. This brough
, me seventy-f cents peck baske
in the New York market, and one dol
lar and q half per basket in the winte
5 from the part of the pond which wa
: protected by hot.bed sashes Few farm
ers who have oil these facilities TAX
+ any account Of the value of waite
r annex to the farm, but such q part of
$ farm may be often made to pay man
, times the value of as much dry land.
+ Many farmers have advantages fo
e making fish and ice-ponds at compars
h lively little cost. The suggestion cor
y tanned here is worth little thought,
q saw the least.-Rural World.