The morning news., 1892-02-08
FARM AND GARDEN BREvlTIEs.


sary for reply.
FARM AND GARDEN BREvlTIEs.
Grapes are not gathered from thorns nor
egsfrom thistlers, neither can valuable crops
be parnered from soils that have been ex-
bsnsted Of their elements Of food. The
rlants "that thrive ON poor soils" have little
70 do with the worlds progress.
Itis an ancient saying that ga crop that
Is well put in is half made" It is a state
rnent that will never be disproved. As you
sow so shall you reap. A hastily sown crop
will very likely be hastily harvested one.
It pays to put the soil in the best state Of
preparation possible for the reception of the
seed or plant. whether it be Ia the garden or
field or orchard.
The term farm life" should never be al
lowed to imply q regard simply for one or
two specialtIes to the neglect of all those
other little industries that naturally belong
TO those owning land upon which they live,
and that lead isolated lives. Especial"
farming, if such a term is to be allowed,
does not bring TO rural life that interest in
occupation, and provide that variety of OBJ
iec,s that are SO essential TO tho well-con-
Quoted home that a properly diversified sys-
TEN does Whatever the one
or two leading crops may be,
there are score or moro OF what
may be styled ''side crops" from which he
may choose half dozen, more or less, that
suits his taste and conditions, the surplus Of
which beyond bis own needs may 60 a con-
siderab ways il enlarging the money sup
I'd a.,
dusiry always.
Salt is as necessary to all domestic ami
mas as it is to bunsn beings 1t should be
so supplied that thoy can get it as the crav-
ing arises for it. Itpromoies a healthy
condition Of body. Farm animals that get
only the green food of the pastures require
more salt than when they are fed mostly
dry food. They need little every day in
the former case, and it should be- provided
So that they get the little that is wanted
whenever they must feel the need of it.
Good pastures and meadows are absolutely
Indispensable in establishing the best condi-
tions of farm life. AS the trite saying goes:
No grass. no stock; no stock. no manure; no
manure, no crops. There is no country in the
world that has any finer list Of forage plants
to choose from, for the purpose of perma-
uent meadow OF pasture, than the farmers
of the south. The mere naming OF broken
dozen out of the two score of available
plants Is sufficient to establish this state
Ire3t: Bermuda, johnson grass, orchard
aud meadow cat, Italian rye and Texas blue
grass Red Top. Lucerue, Meadow Fescue,
Bur clover Melilotus, Red clover, Mammoth
clover.
What a royal listl
Soil that is entirely destitute Of hnmus is
barren soil. 1t is waste of time and
money to attempt to grow a valuable crop
upon such. ~ system of farming that does
not provide against the exhaustion of
humus from the soil is radically wrong-it
tends to the ultima te poverty of the farmer
that practices it. Farmer and soil become
alike Impoverished. 1t is q charge to be
brought against southern farming that
such policy has been pursued to such an
extent for the past thirty or forty years,
that the soil is no longer capable of prcduc-
lug profitable crops under existing competi-
uoh' constant succession of boed crops,
year and year, will sooner or later exhaust
theshGmus in the soil. Some soils are more
speedily exhausted of humus than others.
me exhaustion Of humus is prevented by
alternating hoed crops with an occasional
IaIIow' crop-a legume usually and giving
us crop to the land. AT the north clover
Is the great fallow crop for this purpose. In
a halt sort of way the south has used the
,led pea, but its use unfortunately has
been inadequate.
While perennial plants are much more
economical on the stock farm than ANIMALS.
Sill there are savaraI of tho Iattar fhot will
VIII always be found desirable on the south
erh larm. There will always be plenty of
farmers who will be able to appreciate and
utilize oats, sorghum. corn and peas. how
e'oI much the perennial grasses may be
u useu In the establishment OF permanent
pasIlres and meadows. For selling pur-
poses, especially corn, peas and sorghum
rIe mandy" crops that are not apt to be
n -es!eo'ed by the stock farmer. For hog
-Iag -II.otg there is hardly any more valuable
1au' than sorghum. For work stock there
so. 90 w more available plant than the oat.
Sg;c'sily when sown in the fall on WE'LL
%a.led srat land, and for soiling purposes there
ore lew crops equal in value for the labor
myoIVed In it than fodder corn" Its
farmers.
uUou soil, good seeds, good cultivation
'ne three elements that constitute the
''ret' OF profitable results with any Of
w .0 ordinary hoed crops Of the country. So
.-' Us good pastures and meadows are con-
ueu the essentials of success may be said
narrowed down to two-good soil and
sSoC seeds Of the right kind of plants. Yet
jr,a. jsu IN this case a third requisite may be
tbs b1el va, upon. to wit-good preparation of
ns.aH' In preparing for permanent
A IN " Io"' aud pastures the soil should be put
win S most thorough condition possible
f srla.he the plcw and harrow. 1t should be
ec,a. oed, 1: the soil is of tenacious char
ar5 and then the soil should be narrowed
jysl uaTrowed until every clod Is pulver-
W., u does not pay to do this kind of
4 VIVA 10 a hasty way.
n o- 1uefe are two periods for planting hardy
p' IN the south-one in the fall of the
n 81 september October, and another in
early spring or late winter-February-
i1in TN, Hardy plants are such as are not
Ju'ea by the effects of frost and freezing
,laSs tissues are not injured by frost. Such
bv b1L'' s.' may be killed, however. when young
sg oelhg heaved out of the soil. though no
'ase be done to the tissues. In planting