The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-19

AGRICULTURE.
To ensure termination, seed must
come in contact with the soil; this it
fails to do il the ground is dry or cloddy.
Clean the seed under heavy blast, for
in good seed lies much Of our expectancy.
Do not attempt too large an area, but
put extra labor and fertilizer on lesser
portion of ground, and the net reward
will be greater.
With good soil and under proper con-
ditions fax should be grown in almost
any latitude of our country, since at one
time it was an industry Of Egypt. Its
culture for fiber should have greater
interest. Use the very best land, and
on it do not attempts second crop of the
same. Harvest and thresh with view
to saving the straw intact.
A good straw stack, properly used
will materially lessen the quantity of
hay and fodder consumed, and tighten
the expense of winter feeding. Dat
straw is especially valuable when cut up
with little hay and mixed with bran.
OF course, it is not complete food in
ITSELF
Notice that where the ground is-pack
ed by the. horses turning at the edge of
the field the strongest wheat will grow.
Were it not slovenly way, we would
recommend that the cattle be turned
into the field after seeding. when the
ground is dry, that they may firm the
ground. At least this teaches us that
we cannot work nor roll our fields too
much.
A mere accidental squirt" or mon
strosity should never be given the dig
nifty of premium, for it is not in any
way an agricultural triumph. Let the
premiums be given as reward for
earnest, intelligent efforts toward rails
ing the standard Of products, and never
be given unless thus deserved. Greater
interest and greater good would follow.
We're every farmer to select by hand
few ounces of seed wheat, heavy and
plump, plant by itself and observe the
result, we are sure the experiment
would lead to greater care in selecting
all the seed and bring better yields of
grain; and heavy wheat will yield more
flour in proportion to it's weight than
will that which is inferior.
The farmer follows nature in rotating
his crops. When pine s1rsst is cleared
oaks at once spring Up in their place,
and vice versa. When gap occurs in
hedge it is uselee to attempt to refill
by inserting new plants of the same
species, but some other sort must be
used.
The simple points in wheat culture
should be we'll learned. After blowing
the roller and the harrow can not be
used too much; the fertilizer should be
mixed with the fine surface, and not
plowed under, and it should be as old
and fine as possible, that it may be avail
able at once. Sow after a rain, if posi-
BILE, and do not dust" it in and trust to
luck.
1t is criminal wastefulness and
wrong to agriculture that go much
valuable fertilizer is burned up. The
sewage of our cities, the sweepings of
our streets, and the garbage. which is SO
rich in nitrogen, should be put upon the
land. They can be disposed of in this
way as cheaply as they are now de-
stroyed.
Does our Nation feed the world?
Every year we import about fifty mil
lion dollars in products wool. hemp,
flax, fax seed, barley, horses, mules,
eggs, cheese, potatoes, peas, beans, hay,
hops, cattle, sheep, barley malt, oat meal,
wheat, flour, butter, condensed milk.
and many other things. There is les
son here.
There is wisdom in renewing seed
from distance. Vitality seems to run
out, and is renewed by a change of
locality. The general principle is that
we should continually carry them from
the north toward the south, but they
should at least be brought from differ.
emit climate. The same wheat and oats
should not be used for more than two or
three seasons. Produce manure contain
ing the largest possible amount of nitro
gen; then covert this into ammonia.
The more the urine is collected and pre-
served the higher value will the manure
have; litter the stalls and pens with a
good absorbent. and then store to pre-
vent teaching out. To fix the ammonia,
mix vegetable refuse or clay with the
man ure.
SHINE