The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-06-07

No cast-iron and universal rules can be
laid down for farming 1t is this fact that
leads so many farmers to object to book
farming" Their number is decreasing
fast but we still have many who delight
in picking out something said in an agri-
cultural paper and showing its lack OF
practicability, as judged by the conditions
under which the critic il farming. Often
some reader tries q new method, as de-
srriDed by some farm writer. and fails,
whan the fault lies not in method but IN
.as Judgment of the experimenter. who
fails = vary the method according to
changeo conditions.
One II the most noted agricultural
writers, and best and most successful
farmers ~ veil. seems to have found 1t
necessary often TO say that this or that
method is best ION my farm" Otherwise
some one differently situated and without
Judgment to vary methods as needed,
would ALWAYS be ready to take exceptions
and undertake TO prove that the writer is
clear away from the truth. An example
of this came under the observation of
the writer some wears ago. Mr..
Terry. on his rich, we'll drained
land, with nearly perfect method OF
cultivation, had said that seed potatoes
cut to one eve gave him good results. One
of his readers cut bis seed potatoes to one
eye. They mad been grown south OF the
potato belt" and were not large, but
were full of eyes, and the seed pieces
were very small. He then proceeded In
his usual manner, without putting much
labor on the ground TO get fine and loose
seed bed, and the distance between the
Lills was made the same as was the Gus
tom when planting seed having three or
four eyes. The result can be imagined,
and yet the man lost faith IN cutting TO
one eve"
Another illustration of the need OF vary
ing methods is offered by a wide-awake
farmer. His river bottom farm is infested
with wild vine that ordinary cultivation
will not kill. Whenever a field is broken
for wheat it has been his custom 10 follow
the plow with the roller and disc harrow.
filming the ground so no moisture could
escape A little experiment has proven
that a summer following during drought
viii do much toward DISCRIMINATING this
pest if the ground is left loose and con-
Eequsntly, free OF moisture. The long
white roots can stand almost any hard
ship, but the hot air and sun is too much
for them when the moisture from beneath
is cut off by the fresh blowing
Instead OF pulveTIZing at once he thinks
he should have varied the rule as laid
down by wheat growers, and given the
ground two or three weeks of q hot-air
bath, trusting to getting rain in time to
make good seed bed. There is some
risk in this plan. but one can afford to run
some risk TO kill off this pest 1t is, of
Il - l. \
tally exterminate it, as some roots are too
deep in the ground for the pillow, but
little experience has proven that this ia bv
far the most effective plan ever known.
Hogs running in fallOw land will eat the
roots, but this is not always practicable.
Other illustrations might be given, but
these seem TO illustrate the truth, that
after we have read and studied the meth
DDS OF others, We must not adopt them
outright, bnt rather adapt them. Modify
them to suit our conditions. Others ways
NAV be best under their conditions, and
nine times out of ten we can profit much
by studying them, but success comes only
10 those who choose wisely for their own
particular soils and latitude With read
ing and study good judgment must be
combined.
Late-Planted Corn.
A freshly turned sod makes the best seed
bed for corn, and those farmers who
failed 10 get their grass fields broken for
corn unit; the last Of May have a chance
of growing big corn crop yet, provided
time hiss been taken to pulyerizs the
soil well. The growth OF grass
and weeds has been big, and
when turned under the decomposition
generates heat and furnishes a body of
most available plant food. Corn grows
very fast under such conditions. Early
planted corn usually grows the best crops
because it becomes we'll rooted before
summer drouths. and when fields are
broken early the planting should be done
sarlv. But If the grass has been permit
ed 20 grow until the last week OF Nav
md Is then ploWed under for corn, some
thorough work usually insures a crop.
The surface of the fresh earth should be
finely Pulverized. and for this work an
acme or disc harrow after q roller is good
After planting, the cultivation should be
shallow. III the rOtting grass Is only FIVE
or six inches under the surface the plant
root will find IL at once, and none OF these
roots should be broken by the euitivator.
Let the corn have ali its little feeders to
assist il in its rapid growth. Frequent
surface tilla9s will retain the moisture,
ana the grass rOOs Will prevent any pack
ing Of the earth. Corn so treated will
Withstand quite severe summer drouth,
and extraordinarily large crops have been
grown even when the planting vas de-
layed until June. IL Is the thorough pull
Verization of the earth and the store of
available food in the ro,tine grass and
roots that help TO make the chances of
late planted corn even with those OF the
early planted corn. Don't prune the
roots.
Called Shoulders.
Spring work is apt to gail the
shoulders OF work horses unless care is
used. The perfect adjustment OF draft to
horses shoulders is not always an easy
thing TO secure. The first thing needed is
good collar. Cheap collars are usually
dear in the end. The collar should fit
snugly. and should not be worn by any
other horse. The harness should fit the
collar 0ftentimes the hooks are too low.
Have them raised by blacksmith. The
dice harrow, roller or mower often brings
weight on the top oil the necks OF the
team, thus drawing the collar and harness
down aud lowering the draft. This is
ruinous. Zinc pads for top of the neck
will help to prevent this
At night wash out all the sweat with