St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-04-15
PREPARATION OF SOIL.
Neees from the Diary % . Saccesssa
Michlgan FarWse.

Neses from the Diary % . Saecessia1
Michlgan Farnss.
NV experience has been on clay ana
clay loam mixed with sand, in latitude
forty.two. Other latitudes may require
Of farming.
For spring wheat. oats and barley
have the hest success by blowing tho
ground the preceding autumn or early
winter, having the surface drainage a.
perfect as possible, sowing spring
wheat or oats rs early the following
spring as the weather will permit IL
the seed is to be sowcd with drill I
thoroughly work the surface of the
ground about two inches deep making
it rs fine and loose as / can but leaving
the bottom part Of the plowcd ground
solid. the two inches Of loose earth BE-
ing sufficient to fall over the seed be-
hind the drill tubes and cover the seed
When the plants are about two or
three inches high prefer using the
roller to make the ground firm. making
the growing grain stand up better for
the harvest
Barley ! SOW after the Same prepara-
ton Of the ground. when the coldest
weather of spring is past
With peas have the best success By
plowing the ground in the spring .
short time before wish to sow, pre-
fcrring sod turned under or down. pull
verified thoroughly with disk harrow,
following disk harrow with cultivator
and common floating harrow, and drill
as soon after blowing IS possible in
order to prevent grass or weeds getting
the start of the peas When the plante
are about one or two inches high, roll
l have the best success with corn
planted on sod plowed down in the
spring, thoroughly pulverized with disls
harrow, and repeatedly cultivated and
narrowed with spring-tO0thed cultiva-
tor and common floating harrow, as ]
find can save q good deal Of time by
thoroughly working the ground befors
planting.
For potatoes / find by experiences
that deep and careful plowing in the
spring. with but little cultivation Of
the ground to prepare it for tn, plant
or. leaving it in . loose. mellow o.
porous condition, gives me the best
results; the less potato ground is
packed or trampled in its preparations
the better for the crop
For fall wheat thoroughly summer
failowed field has always given me tho
best yield, TO prepare which begin -
soon as my spring planting and seeding
is done, by drawing barnyard manure
and spreading evenly over the ground
on what l consider the poorest places
in the field. il I have not enough "a
cover the whole. then plow as soon
rs possible after spreading, trying 70
cut and turn every inch of the ground.
then roll. harrow and cultivate, letting
no weeds or grass grow. Repeat the
cu3savstiae 50 -s0rkin9 the surface
until to - gso .Wesks before ssed.
ing, the 49, oOQ1p, laying tie 1eA
ont in :.S, laads b sssA manner =
to secure the best desipage. bst Dee
raise the miedle Of ~ - 0:sSoQ3p.
keeping them - level = puasiblS
Flow carefully. farming all At the
ground. then rd0lxnnnemAo ehnXNw.
and endeavor 70 get f6e 'UoeUoU4Uun0nl
plowed ground ~ so;id ~ possible: this
prevents the freezing and thawins
during the winter, throwing the plants
out of the ground. l make sure Of
having . sufficient amount Of loose
earth on the surface to cover the seeds
and retain moisture for gcrmination.-
J. NJ. Halstcad. in Farm. Field and
Preside