The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-12-26
FARMER AND PLANTER.
HINTS TO FARMERS.
The Best Method of Increasing the Pro
ductton of Crops.

brought to bear upon a flock of hens
the yield OF eggs would be abnormally
increased Tor one or more seasons, but
the vitality of the hen would be Slapped
and the life force of her progeny would
be run down. 1t is possible to apply
chemicals to soil that will result only
In stimulation to effort instead of i'm
creasing the productiveness. Such
system of fertilization would truly be
hot-house farming instead of being
intensive in the true sense of the
word. We are told that "what is
worth doing is wor tn doing WELL"
but this does not include OVERRIDING.
When we demand crop of the s'moth.
er of us all" we are in honor bound to
provide her with the proper chemical
elements with which, in her most
wonderful laboratory, she may COM
pound the required fruitage, and we
are equally bound to provide such prep
aration and cultivation as will enable
her to apply the elements just as she
pleases. We must wait on her with
the most assiduous tending" when
she begins to build cereals and roots
for our use. Moreover, the gathering
OF the crop must be done SO faithfully
and accurately that we may be able,
as good stewards, to make her full re-
turn of everything she needs in order
to answer our call to duty (?) when we
shall ask of her crop during the fol-
lowing year.
/. PREPARATION.
Determine how deep the laws of
plant life require that the roots of the
vegetable or grain you propose to Gull
ftivate should go into the earth during
= the growing season. Having ascer-
tanned this, proceed to loosen the soil
in such thorough fashion that all the
needed elements in it may be readily
reached and normally absorbed by ma
ture for the purpose you wish her to
serve. BE very sure that if you dwarf
or dlstort the feeding roots, with all
their marvellous mechanism, by leav-
ing them to encounter hard clods,
they will invariably contribute their
moiety toward starving you. If you
see any responsibility here, you will
please apply piow, harrow, subsoiler
or spade until the proper filth is OBJ
tanned. Make this matter of con-
science, even if you make railroad
trip up the River Seine and take a
look at the farming along the rail
way into Paris before you can COM
prehend the absolute need of perfect
filth.
If you can find that some particular
fertilizer will help in this preparation,
use 1t, unless agitation" of the dirt is
to you the cheaper process. In all
this the wisdom resulting from your
own experience, thoughtful expert
ence. rather than my dictation, must
be your guide.
II. CULTIVATION. IL
1t you have properly prepared your
ground, as already suggested, and
have given it all the fertilization that
may be mutually needed by it and the
crop you are to plant, as will be
treated under the next head, your field
is already half titled. In regard to the
depth to which you shall cultivate the
soil while the crop is growing, you
must be governed by the length of the
lateral roots on the particular day
and also their depth in the earth.
This you must learn by actual inves-
tigation. Take no mans opinion on
that subject. Do not injure them be-
you'd their power to grow quickly
into a more serviceable condition
than they were in before you took
them in hand. Investigate and ex-
pertinent until the question of late
blowing has been scientifically settled
by and for yourself.
Touching the frequency of your Gull
tivation, be guided by the condition
dency of weeds to grow from the soil
which you have set apart for your
crop. Do not allow vegetable vaga-
bonds to eat up the food which you
have prepared for the plant children.
Moreover, you must not shut the chill
dren out from it by any failure to
loosen the soil fully up to the row and
between the hills. You must not be
afraid to bend your back in hoeing or
to get down on your knees for finger
work if necessary.
III. FERTILIZATION.
The hints already given along this
line, have been largely thrown out for
the sake of getting your attention to
the entire subject, and as they had .
bearing upon the subject of filth.
Provide yourself with literature that
will correctly inform you in regard to
the chemical composition of the par
ticular crop which you may wish to
produce, and learn, from the same
source, what fertilizer is richest in
the element or elements that have the
chief place in that plant. Let this be
your guide in all dealings with agents
for commercial fertilizers. You may
safely trust the bulletins of your ex-
pertinent station. They can be had
for the asking, and they are inyalu-
able.
Before using any commercial fer