The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-05-23
Here and There on the Farm.

If possible have long rows for the gar
den, 50 as to permit Of the use Of the
horse hoe or enitiyatOr. By this plan
farmers who give bat little attention to
the cultivation Of a garden viii be Undue
ed to grow quite a variety { garden crops
at but little extra cost of labor. The
aversion Of farmers to the nee Of hand
tools. such Is the hoe. rake and spade,
debars them tom making the garden a
speciality, bat hy using a seed dFill, and
planting in long ross. 50 as 10 cultivate
with the horse hoe. garden viii entail
bat little extra work FOR some crops.
No mechanic viii attempt 10 perform
a f1ll days work without sharp tools,
yet farmers viii use the same tools a
whole year without sharpening them u
IS as Important to keep the farm tools in
good order As it Is to have q sharp Ak, as
the better the condition Of the tools and
implements the less effort IS required By
the teams and the better the work is per-
formed
The sprayer Is not only useful on trees
but for preventing or destroying vermin
on stock. When kerosene emulsion Is
sprayed over cattle in the form Of ine
spray it reaches every portion Of the
body and bat a small quantity is reauir-
ed. The emulsion is not injurious, and
does not irritAte the skin as IS often the
case with uuadulterated kerosene.
When the ground Is worked to 4 fne
condition the roots penetrate the soil
more easily, secure a greater share Of
plant food, and grow more rapidly than
when bat slight cultivation is given tie
soil. Careful cultivation thus increases
the yield Of crops by affor,ling greater
feeding capacity 70 the roots Of the plants.
Sameness Of diet may lead to consti-
patton Of the bowels. This results when
cottonseed meal or eornmeal are fed con-
tinually without change. The remedy IS
variety Of food, giving linseed meal,
ground oats and green food Medicine
is unnecessary, if the animals have a
varied diet
Horses that work every day and are
placed in their stalls at night 70 come out
for labor the next morning. are compeil-
ed 10 subsist on grain, hay and other dry
food. At this season Of the year green
food Of some kind IS almost a necessity
with them, As il regulates the bowels and
cools the blood. If but a small quantity
Of grass could be cut and placed in the
manger for them once a day, il viii be
highly relisAed by them, and viii also
promote their health.
All kinds Of garden crops may 90 in
now, and there should be no delay. Pro-
cure good seed, as failure % germinaie
means 4 loss offime that cannot be re-
covered. May is the busiest month in
the year, and all work that has been de-
layed should be finished az once, even if
more help must be secured
There are many good farmers Who
make the mistake Of imagining all the
money spent in making the home beam
t:ful and comfortable Is 30 much lost and
they viii invest thousands in barns and
converiencss for stock and stock feeding
and keep their families in c-amPed and
uncomfortable quarters
Floger beds should receive attention.
Clean up the old beds, apply ammonia
ted fertilizers, keep down the grass, and
stir the surface soil around the plants SO
as TO keep it loose.
Peaches are regarded as uncertain
crops in SONS sections. but those who
guard their trees against insect enemies
viii prol0ng the usefuiuess Of the trees,
and procure larger crops Many suppos-
ed diseases Of peach trees are due to the
work Of boreTs that have secured lodg-
ment in the trees unn0ticed.
It Is more important to retain moisture
in the soil than to endeavor 10 get rid Of
it. Drainage IS essential for removing
the excess Of water in the lower soil, but
% LElAAA nc VALET near AlAc 1-lA4lcf ttA
the use Of plants, Is important. This
may be done by keeping the soil con-
stantly loose With the cultivator, the ine
soil on the surface serving as 4 covering,
or mulch, and thereby preventing rapid
evaporation.
Roses viii not give satisfactory results
unless grown on very rich soil Procure
strong pot-grown plants, and keep the
soil loose around them on the surface. 10
/ prevent grass from getting 2 start. Sc
/ lect only the gell-knOwn varieties, or
such as haze been observed when IN
bloom, and be on the watch constantly
for attack by rose bugs
/ L is better % use too mueh seed, and
! thin cut the surplus plants, than to be
/ economical in that respect. The saving
I Of i few ounces CT seed may mean the
loss Of half a crop NJ farmer ever sav-
ed anything by eeonOmizing closely
I xith the use Of seed.
CroEding plants does not increase the
I yield. Each plant must have room for
I feeding and growing
U