Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-09-17

the pasture. After the cattle are In the
Darn, and the large cracks are battened
with laths or better still with narrow
thin boards, then with bush -scythe and
light axe, let that farmer repair to the
better part OF the pasture and for as much
time as he can spare, work at clearing the
bushes, piling or il thick enough to cover
the ground, allow them to lie as cut until
dry and then burn. Attention shond
then be turned to the fences; let the
material be removed from such portions
OF the pasture as are of little value or
pasturing stock, thus supplying material
Tor such fence as has rotted down, and
reducing be amount to be afterward kept
in repair
II possible have the area inelosed
otg!ded in two lots, allowing a rest occa-
siohhtiy to the parts most frequented by
the stock. II not later than the first part
OF September, n portion of the pasture
having good drainage and freest from
bushes, may be ploughed and lightly
dressed from the manure that has accu-
mulated during the summer, and sowed
to " inter rye for pasturing the last part
of May. Then let the part from which the
fence was taken, to the extent OF three or
four acres, be cleared from bushes and
fall ploughed and got in condition to be
worked the next spring. During the
winter let the farm stock have the best
care, feeding grain to the milch COWS
and il possible have water warmed for
ha, TO- rt,, ~
When not busy with the stock or get
ting supply OF wood, haul in March the
manure (Which up to this time should
have been kept under cover to the
newly broken pasture land and dump in
as large heaps as can be spread easily, and
in such quantities per acre as can be
spread to just give all the surface light
coat probably twelve to fourteen loads).
The last pert OF April or earlier, il pos
sible, let the farmer make arrangements
with the nearest reliable fertilizer agent
and get his ton rates, and at once SOW an
acre of the pasture land to peas and oats
for soiling, using from two to five hun
dredweight per acre Of the fertilizer have
the soil well pulverized. Too much stress
cannot be placed on this portion OF farm
work, using the best pulverizing harrow.
Go over the ground as much as thought
necessary and then repeat.
As the season advances, SOW more of
this land to oats and peas to the extent of
two acres or more if it can be protita bly,
fed, making several sowings at intervals
of week or longer. Should any of this
threaten to become too ripe for green
feed, it may be cured for winter use, cit her
cut green to be made as hay or ripened to
thresh. The balance of this pasture tract
may be sowed with Hungarian grass,
using little more fertilizer than for the
oats and peas. This grass will yield
from two to three tons per acre wit
an ordinary chance, and is especially
adapted 10 new land.
There will probably be two or three
acres OF failow land from which crops
were taken the year before. Let the best
OF this be seeded down to clover and
browntop, sowing it with two bushels OF
oats per acre, or better still, with one half
bushel OF Hungarian.
A crop will now be prepared for, from
which a little ready money may be taken
throughout the summer season the ma
ture OF this crop should depend on the
situation Of the farm. II near a suitab BILE
market, truck garden will pay as well as
anything, and those not old at the bust
ness will be surprised at the amount that
can be raised on one acre of suitable land
nrnnarIv rod for ar mi y hat Nh
acre well dressed and attended will bring
In more dollars than three acres left to
themselves.
For farmer who Is a long way from a
market for this class Of produce, perhaps
the surest crop may be said to be potato
and let me tell Of our method Of cultiva-
ton that am prepared to stand behind.
My choice OF land would be oat stubble
and OF not too light a nature plowed as
deep as may be without disturbing the
sub-soil both in the fall and again in the
spring; thoroughly harrow and furrow
three feet apart at depth OF seven or
eight inches, and making as wide as pos
sible in the bottom; scatter in at least two
and one-half pounds OF any commercial
fertilizer containing eight 10 ten per cent.
potash to each rod OF row, spreading it all
over the inside of the furrow. Drag it in
with a bush and drop the seed, cut to one
or two eyes to the piece at distance OF
eight or ten inches. Cover with a horse,
using a common A harrow, or better, all
Acme, so that the rows, il anything, will
be lower than the surrounding ground ;
the seeds will then be covered three to
four inches and the dirt over them will be
very loose. AS soon as the plants break
ground, begin to cultivate; go deeply al
first and at the third cultivation go very
light so as not to disturb the roots.
A potato plant eight inches high may
have roots fifteen inches long and this
will be found to be the rule rather than
the exception. After the plants are foot
hiph nut short WINGS on the cultlyatOr,