Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-08-09
FOR THE FARMER.
usnruL INroRMArIoN ABOUT THE
y. FARM.
The Proper Tine for Tillins the
Ground for wheat 10 Just Before
Seeding Water Fountain Tor
Chlckens-A Front Wheel Brake.

Niw that the grain and hay harvesta
are about out of the way, the farmer
begins to prepare for the full seeding.
The wheat stubble, Mt least the greater
part Of it. will be reserved for corn
next wear while those fields from which
the oats crop has Just been removed
win probably be plowed and sowed to
wheat. Before blowing or while the
work is going on those who are gradual
~ improving their farms by tilling a
few acres each year will find 1t profita-
BILE to provide drainage for their fu-
ture wheat fields. The roads IRE now
In good condition for hauling tile and
the remainder Of the labor can be per
formed about as cheaply as ut any
other time.
The objection which is sometimes Of
fered to thing in summer Is that the
weather is usually hot and dry and the
chances are there will be no water in
the drains to guide the workmen.
While this is quite frequently the case
it merely necessitates the surveying of
the various lines, although this should
be done in all cases and at all times
where accuracy Is desired, and more
careful attention on the part of the
workmen. AS it is true that the soil
is usually dry in summer it is there
fore good time to drain ponds and
marshes which at other seasons con-
tain so much water as to render drain
ing out of the question.
Advantages In Doing the Work
The ground is more easily handled
than In the spring or perhaps at any
other season Of the year unless the sur
face has become so dry as to be ex-
ceedingly cloddy. But even when such
a condition exists the removal of the
surface layer is not So difficult as when
frozen in winter nor so disagreeable as
when the workman is obliged to stand
in cold mud or water throughout the
entire day when thing in spring. Dur
ing wet spring or fall it is almost i'm
possible to haul load of tile into the
fields to distribute them even though
the roads are in fair condition for bring
ing them from the factory.
Where the farmer hires men to dig
the drains paying them a certaint
amount per rod, this expense can be
considerably reduced if the work is
done when the surface Is dry enough
to plow. Following the line of stakes
set by the surveyor, plow few fur
rows. Then with an ordinary ditching
scraper remove the loose soil making
ditch the width Of the scraper Plow
again and follow with the scraper I'M
til the Itch has reached depth of
several feet. This can be done in
very short time and will leave only
about one spade depth to be removed
by the expert tiler. Any man who can
handlea team can cut the ditch with
the scraper and even If that man has
to be hired it will be less expensive
than to have the ground removed with
the spade. By this method the cost of
digging the drains should be reduced,
at least ore-thirl
After the Drains Are Completed.
and the tile have been laid it is nee.
essary that considerable care be taken
in covering them. The ground which
was taken out will very likely contain a
great quantity of large, har clods and
IT these are rolled into the ditch first
SOmo u tue llleS are llaDle 10 De IN.
jured or displaced. Give the tile
covering Of fine earth nearly six inches
thick which will furnish them ample
protection. The remainder of the fill
ing can be done by the use Of plows
and scrapers. The large four-horse
graders, which are. used for grading
roads in many places, have been found
excellent for this purpose.
Another advantage in tiling ground
intended for wheat now. rather than
postpone it until after seeding, is that
there will be less labor lost. BY tiling
after the ground has been sown and
perhaps after the wheat has come up.
a considerable portion Of the crop will
be destroyed. The farmer thus in
ours loss not only in the seed sown
but in the crop to be harvested. The
surfaces of the drains as we'll as mar.
row strips along the sides will bear
nothing but weeds the next spring. It
may be that frequently the time. re.
quired for doing the work could be
better spared after seeding than before
but on the whole the thing of wheat
ground during this month or August
Proves mOsf aafiefaotorv nvonoo T..ls