The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-04

NY W EOOu CTODc. lHo CiO-
yer plant is a wonderful friend of the far
mer when treated right It furnishes
prOdigious amount OF available plant food
for a crop. The long tap root goes down
into the earth seeking the elements of
plant food that nature stored in the sub
soil. or that have leached by the action of
water Then the plant gathers nitrogen
from the air. and an acre OF them COM
bines In their tops and roots many dollars
worth of fertilizer l have sown many
hundreds of dollars worth of clover seed,
but have gotten back ten to thirty-fold its
value In fertilizer. It is getting late in the
season to SOW cloverseed, but one may get
good stand if sown in the fields of small
grain.
1t is my rule never to leave a wheat
field unseeded to clover. | make the
wheat crop 4 preparation for clover, de-
pending on other crops for best profit. My
best cash crop has been and still is pota-
toes. 1t is not specially, as | find it pays
to diversity crops and to keep some kind
OF stock but / Depend upon potatoes for
the surest cash returns. My second paper
will treat of potatoes.
Shallow Cultivation.
The president of farmers institute, be-
fore which THE SENTINEL farmer was
lecturing, asked all the members who
pracliced shallow cultivation of corn to
rise to their feet, and afterward called
upon the advocates OF deep cultivation to
do likewise. The vote showed that the
farmers were about evenly divided in
their practice. The men who attend IN
stitutes are usually alert and progressive,
and this vote emphasizes the fact that the
masses are far from any agreement upon
the fundamental principles of agriculture.
Ii is true that the practice must often
be varied TO suit the different conditions
and herein lies the secret OF many mems
success, but it is nearly invariable rule
with our most successful farmers that the
roots OF our corn plants should not be
pruned alter the corn Is half grown, and
that the disturbing of the roots at any
time Is defensIble only on the ground that
the mechanical condition OF the soil de-
mands that a thorough loosening be
given it.
The theory is advanced that the roots of
the corn plant are inclined to grow near
the surface and that it is best to cut them
oil by deep piowing In order to induce the
plant to root deeper and thus be enabled
to withstand drouth. The fact is that
corn is native to warm climate and the
the suns heat. The colder earth beneath
is not congenial to the plant and is in
capable of forcing the best growth.
Deep roofing does assist in warding off
the Ill effects OF Dry weather, but an inch
or two OF fine earth mulch is very effective
This Is gotten by repeSted STRINGS OF the
surface. 1t retards the evaporation of
moisture by breaking up the capillaries in
the earth and holds the water in the soil
All injury to the roots of a plant retards
growth of the top, and it is only by shall
low cultivation that this can be prevented.
On most soils we are learning to let corn
roots feed in the warm ground near the
surface, watching to keep them protected
by an earth mulch.
Mutton and Wool Production.
The president OF the Ohio wool-growers'
association thinks that there is a too con-
slant cultivation of the arabic land Of his
and adjoining states. He lately said
Under present conditions, II continued
Ohio farmers as a rule will be gradually
impoverishing their lands, diminishing
their crop products, and in the not far
distant future sterility will brood over the
state, and every county will abound in
abandoned farms. The dangers are emf
nent. The alarm should be sounded and
the proper remedy applied"
This sensational statement is made in
an argument whose aim is TO prove that
the tariff should be so increased that the
farmers OF the United States would be in
duced to increase their flocks to 100, OOO,-
600 head, instead of the 100000 they
now possess. This flock master thinks
that this number would produce 500, OOO,-
600 pounds OF unwashed wool, all that we
would require for our use.
Statistics do not indicate that anv such
calamity stares the people in the face as
is pictured in the statement about the
sterility of the land The yields of grains
and vegetables last year were extraor-
binary. Yet it is true that stock-raising
tends to the rapid upbuilding of worn
land and maintenance of farm fertility,
and an increase in number OF sheep upon
a sound and enduring basis is most desira-
bic. Such a basis would be found in an
increased popular demand for mutton.
The merits OF the true mutton sheep as a
food-producing animal DO not appear to be
known to one-fourth of our people. Pork
is the principal meat on the farm and its
exclusive use is not advisable. Farmers
can raise few sheep for meat as cheaply
as any other animals, and can do 80 utter
ly regardless OF tariff regulations.
In this connection it may interest the
reader to learn how this friend ana advo-
cate of ultra protection undertakes to &C
count for the prevailing low prices of
wool. He SAYS: "Wool-growers natur-
ally ask il protection protects why is wool
so low in price? Among the reasons are
these: FIRST, the midness of the past
two winters has lessened the demand for
wooden goods; second. importers. in an
tioipation of the passage of the Mckinley
bill, imported largely; third, the increase
in the number Of sheep and wool product
for foreign countries now in excess OF the
worlds demands"
The question then arises in every flock
masters mind, if there is such a surplus
above the worlds demands is il lust the
time TO talk OF more than doubling our
productions. However. decide tn at as we
may, we NAV do well to arrange to make
mutton a more important item in our
meat supply. Keep few sheep if posi-
bic.
Preparing Corn Land.
A good farmer has been using a device
OF his own for many years in the prepare
ton of hisclover sod land for corn, and as
he is eminently successful it will pay us
TO study it little. His theory is that
on his land. which is clay loan, much of
the labor he formerly expended in the