Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1895-07-23

AGRICULTURAL Utpd|lMtIIl'
NELs GUAM, Norway Lake, MINI.
w. SUMMER & PREPARATION FOR
!. BETTER GRASS.
/ There is q very generalimpres-
sion that piece of ground must
be plowed and cropped before it
may be proitably seeded, even
though it be needed for moving.
This is all mistake. Nothing
on the farm pays so we'll and
costs so little as the hay crop, IF;
and here comes in the key to pro-
fit in both this and other things
if it be properly grown. One-half
to three-quarters of a ton per
acre will damage any man, not
because the grass may not make
good hay, but because in costs
nearly as much to produce it as
to grow and harvest three tons
per acre. Let US suppose taxes,
fencing and harvesting amount
to $40 per acre. and nothing is
said about fertilizing, two plots
of equal fertility being chosen,
one we'll seeded and the othor
lacking grass plants. If one
yields two tons the hay virtually
costs that year but IS per ton.
Which kind of hay can you better
afford to feed where you are maxi
ing two-cent milk? It is no trou-
BILE to decide.
Why do SO many think it neces-
sary to crop every .plowed sod
from one to four years before
seeding? To get manure into the
soil, or from habit very largely?
The latter is. the reason | fear.
Let those who have never tried
it take in hand some of their thin
grass land this summer and as
soon as possible after moving it
Z pillow, roll, harrow and roll it un-
til well fined. Then for a week
or two while haying is being COM
pleted it may rest and rot. But
do not let it alone long. With a
sharp Acme or Cut-away go over
it each week until September.
killing every sign of vegetation.
When cooler. moister weather be-
gins seed to herds grass, using
not less than eight quarters per
acre. Be sure to smooth out
every wrinkle, level every knoll
and fill every cradle hole, using a
float drag before seeding. Then
bush, and leave it perfect for the
mower, decking or rolling in ev-
cry cobble stone. In January
or February SOW ten pounds of
sound clover seed-not later. The
severe cold will not harm it,
while the deep crevices made in
the rost-bakod earth will swal-
low it and keep in safe until the
freezes of late spring cannot harm
it. When it does appear above
ground it will have already grown
a strong root and will go to work
vigorously.
Glover sown in March or April
comes up quickly because of
shallow covering, and if it escap-
es the late frosts it's shallow
growth is often burned to death
by the blazing days following the
first moving: Here is land we'll
cultivated, well seeded and pro-
ductive at slight cost. It has
not been robbed by cultivated
crops nor idle on expense. The
plan permits the hauling of ma
nure upon the soil between Aug
ust narrowing or cheaply by sled
as topdressing in winter. Fall
blowing sometimes serves for
seeding, but is risky, much de-
pending upon the season. No
crop pays better than grass for
the manure used, but it may be
very far from cheap hay if the
yield be small. Rich soil well
seeded will make a farmer we'll.
to-do, while land just over the
fence may run his neighbor in
debt. Which side Of the fence
are you going to be?-Farm
Journal. ~ s;..
ExPER1M ENTS SAITING RI1T,rEB