The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-01-24
"A POUND OF BERRIES"
But Tons of Them to the Acre. Noun
tain Streams and Showers Mon
atizad

IL heso OSOh 1iOI uOhOlJ 0ohNo hOH
Sweet got his start. We have run
across a series of articles in the
Rural Nev Yorker, the leading
agricultural paper of the country,
which indicate there was no partic-
ular magic about it-nothing but
hard work, close application and
careful management. As he says,
the "wherewithall" was secured by
selling nursery stock, a chance to
raise the ''wind' that they are now
offering to others.
The new company mentioned
elsewhere, as beng organized to
carry on the nursery, greenhouse
and gardening business, having the
same management under careful
directors cannot help beings grand
success If our citizens give the sub
stantial support they should such a
valuable enterprise to our county.
PARTI.
In 1886 physical wreck left the
city Of Cleveland for Western Mary
land, without much idea of farm
ing, but an intense longing to get
into the cool and quiet country and
indulge his boyish taste for horti-
culture. Only pocket money, but
energy enough for two such bodies,
was his capital, so land was first
leased and afterward bought. For
on ex-professional man at middle
age to strike into an Allegany forest
to carve out a fruit farm, was
looked upon as a wild scheme at
first, but not so as it took shape,
and he was joined by young and
cool-headed graduate, Mr.. G. G.
Shackleford, who had spent some
six years in business elsewhere.
The land secured and a log cabin
erected, the next thing in order was
clearing.
To remove that part Of woodland
which is above ground is vigorous
work, but the most difficult part IS
to kill and get rid of the roots and
stumps. There are several ways of
clearing. When the land is needed
at once and the timber is nearly all
large and of little commercial value,
the small stuff is grubbed and the
trees girdled about two inches deep
as soon as in full leaf. The latter
kills the roots by starvation, for the
leaves make and send down their
yearly supply Of food in summer.
Buckwheat, where it succeeds, is
the best first crop, but any fall crop
will do. The following winter the
trees should be removed, though
one often secs them standing till
they fall or dry firewood is needed.
If land is needed at once for hoed
crops, to cut, pile, burn and grub
is the general course, but is very
expensive, especially if fitted as
carefully as our standard requires
for Strawberries. Several times it
has exceeded 500 per acre, setting
plants included.
When there is time and stock is
kept, an excellent way is to over
stock piece with as many kinds
of stock as possible-goats, sheep,
cattle and housekeeping them up
with grain, but compelling them to
browse for bulk. Another good
plan Is to cut everything in July,
burn perfectly clean in August,
pulverize the surface thoroughly
with spring-tooth harrow. and
SOW to wheat in September The
following spring SOW clover seed,
and whenever harvesting grain or
grass carefully cut all sprouts. At
ter two crops of clover it may be
plowed easily.
AS a practical illustration of the
labor involved, | copy the following
from the farm book, where plans
are recorded for spring work: April
Plot No. 2-fve-eighths acre
strawberries. Varieties, three rows
Parker Earle, three rows Crystal
city, SIX rows Hayerland, repeated
throughout. Preparation (previ-
ously cut and burned): l, pick off
rubbish and any stones; 2 shovel