The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-06-09


one, ~ large supply can be secured
from an acre Of land. The growing Of
turnips for winter Is during the sum-
mer season, but, while the growing Of
turnips is done somewhat carefully AZ
ter the ground Is ready for the
seed, the proper preparation Of the
ground is not always made. Weeds
grow rapidly during warm weather,
and to protect turnips the ground must
he plowed now, narrowed, and the
weed seeds sprout, using the harrow as
often as may be necessary to destroy
them Just before seeding the turnips
| usually in july the land should be
worked deep with a cultivator and
then narrowed down again "a fine as
possible. This will not only cause few
er weeds TO appear, but will also in
crease the crop Of turnips both in yield
and quality.
The mower Is an excellent destroyer
of weeds and every piece Of land that
is covered with them should be now
ed before the weeds go 10 seed. IL is
the seeds that do the damage, and
they are often overlooked when the
weeds grow in fence corners and loca-
tions not reached by the mower; hence
a close observation should be made in
order 10 not let a weed escape.
BY the Use Of ensilage the ration
can be greatly eheapened, but ensilage
is not balanced food and must not,
therefore, be used exclusively. A IA
tion Of - pounds ensilage, eight
pounds clover hay, one pound Of bran
and one Of linseed meal will cost about
10 cents a day and be as nearly baiane-
ed as could be desired. This ration
will be better digested than one COM
posed mostly of dry food, and the en-
silage can be grown from silage corn at
cost below that of any other food
that can be produced on the farm
Good results have been obtained by
trimming gooseberry bushes in tree
form, which is done by allowing only
one shoot TO grow from a root. This
makes a strong and upright bush, and
the berries are larger than when the
bushes are thick. The free circulation
Of air also assists in preventing blight
and mildew, as well as permitting Of
cnltivating the bush much better than
by the old method, thereby destroying
spores that produce fungi.
In England beans are grown for
sheep, the long vine varieties being
preferred. When the beans are ma
tured both the seed and the vines are
fed and they are considered profitable
to grow for that purpose. Land in
England is expensive, and if farmers
in that country can make the bean pay
as fodder crop it could probably be
made profitable in this country.
At this season repairs for reapers,
mowers, plows, etc, will be required,
many of such being necessitated be-
cause of exposure Of the implements
during the winter. II is unfortunate
with some that they are compelled to
buy new implements and tools every
year, which might be avoided with
care in keeping those on hand. Every
farmer should also keep his tools sharp
and always ready for work.
Farmers who rely upon the fertility
of the soil for success may be disap-
pointed if they do not give good prepa-
ration and thorough cultivation TO the
crops While the soil may possess
large amount Of plant food, yet it must
be presented to the plants in the most
available form. Much Of the matter
of the soil is inert and is reduced by
the roots Of the plants, but this can be
done most effectively only when the
soil is in fine condition and every por-
ton of it within the reach Of the plant.
Growing Strawberries in stools gives
large berries, but growers prefer the
matted rows, rs they can, by the liber-
al use Of fertilizer, get larger crops
than by stools. II grown in stools the
runners must be kept down, butting or
pinchiDg, as fast as they are remOy-
ed the plants send out more which re-
q1ires too much time for their re-
mOval if the field is large one.
a German hortieulturist states that
he has fund solution of sulphite Of
lime in water, with glyeerine added
proportions not stated, harmless
remedy when used on trees, but surely
destructive Of all insects injecting
them.
Glover for hay should be cut before il
fully natures; that is, just as the heads
are beginning to turn brown. II cut
before the sap fully leaves the roots the
plants will send out new shoots and
will be in better condition for produe-
ing crop the next season than would
be the case II the clover is cut after the
heads are brown.
Begin early for stalking tomato
plants, 80 as to keep them Off the
ground, as they cover a large space
when matured and keep the ground
somewhat damp, thus conducting to
the rot. If the plants have plenty Of
room, and are held up off the ground
by stakes, more air will circulate and
the fruit ripen earlier and better as
well as being more exempt from dis
/ ease than when the vines are on the
/ ground.
The strawberry plants will now be
throwing out runner, and if the soil is
loosened and the young runners placed
in the rows the work of cultivating
will be easier next season and fewer
pants destroyed.
CutwOrms prefer to work during
cool nights, and they cause heavy
loss Of early transplanted plants. When
plant has been cut off search for the
worm in that hill and il will usually
be found. IL is difficult to use reme-
dies to destroy them in large field.
BY wrapping each plants with thick
paper an inch below and an inch
above the ground the plant will be
protected.
The potato beetle does great injury to
growing tomato plants and Paris green
Iols - Al.