Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-10-04

Plants do not cat manure. 1t Is rank
poison to their roots, and II II comes in
contact with them in any quantity It
viii surely result In Injury. 1t must
be thoroughly decomposed. and be-
come part OF the soil Itself. before
the little roolets can take 1t up as
liquid. and pass Il through the plant
cells to the leaves. and digest It, to
furnish the materials for manufacture
Ing wood, foliage and fruit
No matter how thorough your after
tillage may be. you can not atone for
the lack OF proper PREPARATION In ad-
vance.
The land should be deeply and care
fully plowed, thoroughly narrowed
ana pulverized, not later than Octo-
Der !; then draw out any kind OF
che best manure you have and spread
II evenly. In no case leve Il In <s.es.
The fall rains win wash ali the
juices and plant food Into. and distri-
butte II evenly throughout. the soil.
II you apply unleached wood-ashes, put
them on before you do the manure,
ana harrow them In thoroughly, not
over fifty bushels 10 the acre ON sandy
land, and twenty-five on clay.
Bear IN mind ashes are dislnfec-
tant. and II YOU put them on the
manure without mixing the whole with
soil at once. II will set the ammonia
free TO so on in the air, aud thus the
most valuable part OF the manure will
be lost.
A early in the spring MS YOU can
get on the ground without poachlng
II, rake up every particle OF litter and
draw It on for mulchlng ourranis and
gocseberries. When the ground IL dry
enough, put on the apading or disc
harrow, or cultivate II about six Inches
deep, roll and harrow II repeatedly m,-
I'll II rs as fine ns the finest ashes:
then pillow MS deep as possible. without
bringing too much OF the subsoil TO
the surface, then roll and harrow as
before, finishing with the roller.
When you pillow In the spring. have
the subsoiler follow, breaking II up
as much deeper as you can. II you
DO not have suhsoil plow, use a mar
row shovel pillow. set as alnnting as
possible, The object OF this ~ to break
up the capillary passages that exist
all through the lower strata, and sep
arate the particles OF earth, so cnpll-
larry action win be slower and hold the
water there to tide over the drought.
III the soil ls sufficiently fine, roots
VIII penetrate and nj every square
inch OF Il deep down. and far out. and
when the great strain OF perfcctlng
the fruit comes. the plant hnY the tools
and materials TO do Il to the greatest
perfection.
An an evidence Of the priceless value
OF this method OF preparing the ground
| cite You to my plantation OF over
twenty acres OF strawberries set last
spring. II Is conceded, by old set
tiers OF Michigan, that we have never
mad n year OF such drought ms at pres
ent.
Corn, potatoes and pastures are
ruined and yet, there has not been
a day when you could not remove nm
inch or so OF the dust mulch. and get
soil not only moist, but even wet
The growth OF the plants IL marvel
to all our visitors, ana what shall the
harvest be?
Pardon n little personal pride. dear
reader, II smile at the atunted. slclsly
growth Of some OF my neighbor's PLAN
tntlons. who have puohod Mt my meth
DDS of throwing away work.
What has boon said npplica with
equnl force to the planting OF any
KIND OF small fruit or trees. An apple.
peach or pear orchard started on
ground thus prepared, Will chow the
erect or the work for many yenrs.
Shall we lriignte2 Yes. certainly, II
you can; but lf people win practice
TINS method Of preparing the soil for
all their crops, II win not make much
diiferencc whether the science Of rain
making and irrigation advanced or
not the surplus water falling in AprlI
Ia held for the plants In July and Au-
gust, But YOU can't succeed II You
walt TN the water Is all gone, keen
the surface loose and mellow. When
crust forms, the water gets nwny
fast, Begin In time and keep nj il
and you are a winner.--R NJ Kellogg
In Prairie Farmer.