The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-04-14
Farm Topics.
Fr,.n the Agrlcnl,uraI Epl,omI.t.

PENtfolNc idiusffo Hfc AiNdl iDpr-
ing after the necessary small improve
ments in the home surrounding On
many farms these simple little matters
arr put off from time To time, and keep
ace1mulating until there are 50 many
things needing attention that one
doesn't know where 10 begin. In that
case il is wise to lay hold Of the first
thing one runs up against.
Where the lay Of the land will per-
NIT tine fields should be long, as this
form saves time and labor in plowing,
harrowing, cultivating, moving, in
fact, in all team work. We have seen
men farming little square or three-cor-
nered patches year after year to their
own disadvantage, when a little fore
thought and labor would trans
form their inconvenient patches into
long, narrow strips with fewer fences
TO keep up.
There is always some risk in buying
the smaller field seeds from strangers
on account of the liability Of int-oduc-
ing noxiOIIs weeds. ) seds Of the COM
mon weeds already on the farm are not
of 50 much consequence, but such pets
as English plantain, daisy, prickly
lettuce, Canada thistle, etc, are very
often contained ia farm seeds that are
bought in the open market. We once
had severe fight with Ox-eye daisy
and again with English plaintain that
came in clover seed. 1t pays to buy of
reputable seedsmen who send their
names with the seeds.
That it doesn't pay to work land
when wet has been proved many times,
yet the pushing farmer often finds il
difficult to hold back when his injudi-
cious neighbOr or one with drier ground
is in the field at work. Some men even
lose their heads aud start the plOw
When the soil leaves the mold in glist-
ening rolls anc water follows in the
furrow. As rule, elOds, weeds, poor
crops aud poor land follow in theic
wake, and the man who waits, wins,
provided he pushes as soon as the
ground IS in order.
The rapid and often inexcIsable de
pletiOn of soil fertility which is allow
ID to occur on many farms il, we be-
lieve, one of the most potent causes Of
the dissatisfaction which many young
persons feel in regard To farm life.
they look out upon rundown fields
given over TO lOw-grade plants of little
value, when they know that clover
should be growing instea1, and feel
that through the mistakes of their
fathers they have been robbed Of their
inheritance. These are exceptional
conditions, bat they exist, and il is no
wonder that the apparent social and
BUSINESS advantages of city life present
a pleasing contrast
Some of the most thrifty farmers We
know 60 over the farm every spring
regularly with wagon loaded with
fence material, thoroughly examining
and repairing all farm fences before the
rush of spring work comes on; thus
they often prevent injury to crops and
stock, and save themselves much hard
labor later on.
1t must be mighty discouraging on a
sultry July day, when all hands are
rushing the hay into the barn and the
dark clouds just appearing above the
western horizon, to have the good wife
send word that she has no wood to get
supper with. Ii wood is the summer
.uel it should now be in the wOOdhOuse
Or piled near the kitchen door.
Coal tar is the best preservative of
fence posts that we have ever used; p1s
it in large, iron kettle, hang over fire
or better have an arch to set kettle
Overcome man stands post in kettle
while another with broom or white
wash brush with long handle swipes
the hot tar up aud down the post thor
Oughly covering it to a point or s
inches above the ground line when set.
Let posts drip a moment, then lay
D. Il
ed before treatment.
Those who compile the bulletins Of
our experiment stations should not for
get that farmers who most need in
structiOn along the lines of advanced
agrieulturs are not well versed in tech
meal scientific terms, and that it is
often difficult to get them to read good
literature even when it is made attract
i've and interesting as well as instruct
i've. Farmers bulletins should, there
fore be eouched in language which can
be readily understood by the farm hand
as well as the college graduate.
One good up to-date farmer moving
into community that is little be-
hind the times, and going quietly about
his business in an intelligent way, will
often set influences at work that will, in
time effect a compile revolution in farm
management, increasing the profits
and lifting the farmers family to
higher plane of living. Though his
''book farmin' may be laughed at, he
will one day be recognized as leader
and public benefaetOr.
Ducks are much easier to raise than
chicks. The eggs hatch better than
the young grow much faster: Ducks
are never troubled with indigestion
and apparently never get quite enough
to eat. Young ducks will eat twice as
much as young chicks, bat will equal
ize matters by making more than twice
the growth of chicks of same age.