The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-04-11
ApriI Farm Hints.

When we export millions of bushels of
wheat out Of the country we send away
the wealth-the fertility of the soil-and
IT will be only a question Of time before
the soil is impoverished.
Scales on the farm soon pay for their
use. as they enable the farmer TO know
whether his stock are gaining and the
kinds Of food to use to make the great
est gain. Scales may be considered an
absolute necessity II system is to be
practiced
When a crop is taken from the SOIL
and the land is left in better condition
than before. profit has been made, in
the shape Of increased fertility, being
stored in the soil for use next season.
provided the receipts and expenses bal
ance III other respects.
No matter what kind of crop may be
grown, the first essential to success is a
fine seed bed. When the soil is made
very fine for the reception Of the seed.
and free from clods or Jumps, the seed
will be covered more completely, and
terminate more readily.
If some crops sell at a low price other
crops are more profitable. The farmer
should be always ready to make a
change for the better and should be
informed in regard to the demands of
the market Grow the most profitable
crops if il can be done.
Do not mix plaster or lime with the
the free phosphOric acid will sooner or
later unite with the lime. or revert" as
ft Is styled. PhOsphates contain lime in
combination, hence no lime is necessary
as an addition with such fertilizers.
II mistake is made in selecting va
riety Of apples, pears, peaches or plums.
IL may be three or four years before the
error is discovered, and ii will then be
too late to correct the mistake. The
greatest care should be exercised in or
der to be sure Of the varieties desired.
To make wheat start off RAPIDLY
change 10 a green color. and yield more
grain, apply 100 pounds OF nitrate Of
soda per acre. or even half that quaint
". The effect Of the nitrate will be
quickly noticeable. and the crop will
more than repay the cost of the fertilizer.
Kainit, crude sulphate of potash, is
nearly as cheap as plaster, but more
soluble, and for that reason il may be
advantageously used TO prevent the loss
Of ammonia, by sprinkling it over the
manure when working up the heap. 1t
is also excellent with absorbent material
that may be used for preserving the
liquids
Nothing is gained by planting seed in
cold ground. Even II the plants come
up they will be sickly, and make no
progress, if the seed is planted before
the soil is warm Under proper condi-
tons the seed that is planted in warm
young plants overtake those Of the early
planting.
Failure is usually the result when a
new orchard is planted on the location
of an old one. This is due to the fact
that the long occupancy Of the plot by
trees that have borne fruit for years has
deprived the soil of the most available
food for the young trees. When planting
new orchard use a location that has
not before been given up to fruit trees.
When planting a special crop this sea-
son, and using manure and fertilizers,
keep in view the crop that is to follow
next year. On some soils the effects of
an application Of manure may be noticed
for several years, and the benefits from
the same will consequently extend over
a corresponding period Of time. This
may be assured by proper rotation OF
crops
It Is a mistake to dig up trees and
vines because prices are down. as there
may be profit al times when least ex-
pected. Thousands of grape vines were
dug up few years ago. owing to the
ravages Of the grape rot, but now that
the rot can be greatly prevented the