The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-12-12

A seed bed for wheat is Improperly
prepared which is not fine and compact.
These qualities are not procured in
day. Plow early, and then cease not to
roll and harrow until time for sowing.
No better way to learn something new
than to experiment. Never mind who
laughs. He who experiments for him.
self learns many times more than he
who tries to get it all by reading.
Tillage is manure, but manure is not
tillage. fit is aquestion between tools
and labor or an abundance of fertilizer.
have no hesitation in making choice of
the former.
Any kind of ashes has it's use to the
farmer. That from coal worked into the
soil makes it more friable and easily
cultivated, while wood ashes help it to
retain moisture.
Put jacket of straw paper about the
celery lunches before banking up. 1t
| will bleach better and be more free from
rust and worms. Some proper substi-
tute will do.
Labor saving devices we're intended to
enable us to cultivate more thoroughly;
but their chief use has been to enable
us to cultivate more ground. This is
not thorough age.
In one thing should farmers be unan.
imous-the loss sustained in carrying
produce to market over bad roads is a
direct tax upon agriculture which
should be abolished with rush.
Local demand should not be our en-
tire guide when planting. Growing for
the home market first is all right, but
the American farmer should remember
that his market is the whole world.
Cover your silage with foot or two
of dry straw, and throw away the heavy
weights you have formerly used, then
your silage will be as good at the top as
at the bottom.
Good hay depends largely upon quick
work. With a full complement of
hands in the field and the best hay
making machinery, grass which is cut
in the morning should be in the barn by
night.
A silo is necessary in intensive farm
ing where land is high in value and
storage space limited. A carelessly
constructed one is extravaganza. Do
not trust to temporary structures.
Store the winter potatoes in bushel
boxes for convenience in handing. One
tier of boxes on another is favorable to
the free circulation of air all through
the mass of boxes and potatoes.
There is continual growth in good
and useful knowledge which is simply
invaluable. The accuracy of farmers
knowledge is largely to be gagged by
the extent in which he comes in contact
with his fellow workers.
Doubtless many of the products of
this country are notyet developed. We
have lesson in the discovered value of
cotton see ]. Sunhowers are grown for
their oil and for stock feed.
Agricultural organization, lectures
and reading circles are good; but greater
incentive comes from specially equipped
colleges, with system, apparatus and
mpanionships.
The potato is compelled to stand more
abuse during harvesting than any other
crop We grow. How much better it
would be to place the tubers carefully
10 boxes, baskets or barrels. and lifted
in and out the wagons.
After the manure is scattered over
the fields let it be mellowed by a few
rains. and then go over it with har-
row. which will cut it up and evenly
distribute it. Do not wait until spring
to spread on the clover pasture.
Many farmer has been kept poor by
buying more implements than his crops
will warrant. Only the specialist can
afford to have the best tools always. At
least do not buy next years mower until
you see your crop.
Mastery OF details embraces not only
knowledge of methods, but the reason
for certain procedures and the causes
which lead to effects. 1t is only this
master farmer who gets to the top.
Undertaking is permanent inves-
ment and improvement, and one gets
back from each succeeding crop high
er rate of interest than he could from
any other disposal of his money.
Seeding wheat upon stubble without
blowing may bring good crop in
favorable season, but it is shiftless
farming. One takes many chances of
failure which he would not run other
wise.
There is an easier way than to stop
and scrape the pillow in the furrow. If
cleaned and creased at noon and at
night it will clean itself even in sticky
clay ground in wet weather.
STOCK.