The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-10-31
AGRICULTURE.

where about the farm. Scatter it about
the stables and upon the manure pile
Place little in the water trough, to
keep it clean and free from scum. Do
not forget to renew it from time to
time.
The smut parasite differs from rust in
its manner OF reproduction and growth
also, in it's point of attack upon wheat
In no way, 90 far as observation goes,
does smut injure the straw or the foliage
OF the wheat plant.
1t has been found that deep subsoil
ing every three or four years causes
the ground to retain moisture better
in midsummer absorbing and storing up
the water from the spring rains; it also
aerates the soil and produces better
crops.
Forests protected or replanted, marsh
es restored to their pristine condition
less clearing of the underbrush, careful
study of the constituents and needs of
the soil, and an effort to return to the
soil the elements annually used or
wasted, may all be needed reforms.
A sweet potato which is we'll matured
and not frost bitten, neither bruised,
cut nor abraded, with ordinary care will
keep equally we'll as corn. Keep them
dry, cover lightly until they have gone
through sweat, then protect them
with plenty of earth. IL in bulk, let
there be sufficient ventilation.
Land value, commerce, education,
comfort, health, happiness. investments,
all demand reform in the line of good
roads. They will increase the power of
the team, save vehicles and shorten dis
tances. The age is awakening on this
subject, but it can not act too soon.
We are slower in this than in any other
thing.
One hundred bushels of corn an acre
has been raised at cost of nine cents
bushel. How about the man who spends
the same 50 an acre and then raises but
% or 30 bushels? Only the skill and
cultivation which produce large crops
can keep ahead these days.
1t is SO yet and it always will be so,
no matter what the conditions of the
times, with no other occupation can
working man, with small capital sup
port his family so we'll, save little
money, and live in such easy. free and
wholesome conditions as the farmer.
Something can not come from nothing.
The man who attempts to farm without
fertilizing soon gets to the end of his
string. This fact should require no
other teacher than common sense.
Even settlers upon new lands should
recognize that stock raising is an es-
sential adjunct.
Competition is going to make better
farmers of us all. There is no gain in
small yields. The foreigner with his i'm
portations at low prices, is fast swamp
ing the shiftless among us. Where one
thing is not profitable we must find one
which is. When wheat and corn fail US
we must feed it and sell more profita-
BILE product.
-Four hundred years ago the Peruvians
built roads which put ours to shame.
why we are content in this age with
ruts through the mud it is hard to un-
derstand. 1t may be idle to expect
much in this line until the matter comes
under general management. 1t might
not be unwise for the Government to
establish such department.
Buckwheat can come after another
crop very we'll without extra fe rtilizing.
1t is an excellent crop to SOW on land
where ats. barley or corn have been de-
stroyed by bad weather. Such lands
seeded to buckwheat at once will help
the owner of such field out of diff
Guilty, and save him from complete loss
of crop.
The common field pea is the clover of
the South. 1t will grow where clover
will not. 1t will furnish more forage
than clover, and will improve land more
rapidly. 1t can be sown in a crop OF
corn. thus improving the land without
losing years use of it for cultivation.
Peas are coming into general use in
more northern ATTITUDES, especially as
land improver. as they will not mature
seed there so we'll.
Inventive genius has always been
equal to the demands upon it. II some
one will invent satisfactory pea har-
vester and a good pea thresher he will
not only make fortune for himself but
he will bring a b essing to the South.
1t will increase many fold the growing
of field peas, just as the cotton gin slim.
ulated the growing of cotton. Peas
would then be crop of export.
1t is seldom best to allow potatoes to
lie upon the ground for any length of
time after they are dug or in the ground
after they are matured especially if the
weather is showery. They are very apt
to sprout out and make a second growth,
which greatly Injuries them. If there is
not sufficient help to pick them as fast
as dug. stop the digger and gather them
after each round.
STOCK.
When large numbers of stock are fed
together the stronger will continually