The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-12-24


Clay LAID i hi us3zllF 80 badly
sEhsUsfe1 - 81 sze-ls % b. fgr & y
naturally rsnssEfITs q plant food.
Tb0r91gb cultivation. which viii
mellow IL - : goat 1sy;b. VII often
bring : good crop from land which
fOr years may Mt have produced
engugh for wOrki1Z IL MznurinZ
and good draining. IL addition 70
iiilsgs. always tsl upOn s1eh
ground.
Wherever VOE have land which
tan De prepared in siEns il viii pay
% son ne: il keeps the ErOu11 CIV
cred ia winter; d gives Al early
spring feed almost before there 81
anything else % give = bite Of green.
and after feeding there il = residue
% turn under fOr the benefit Of the
soil
The English farmer thinks that
10 fewer than three bushels Of seed
wheat % the acre will do. but NE have
4 learned ia this country that tbCE-
Ough cultivation d the soil before
sowing msyttaks the place Of this
extra seed. Fewer pecks 20 the acre
give the plants more room 20 iilleY
ont. AID the seed saved will alone
4 cancel the extra cost Of cultivation.
Why should the farmer move 10
the city and Be nobody who had
been q prominent and influential
man in his old community? His
complaint is that lie can not get
good help and must do too much
Z himself II be would pay a hired
man what be practically gives a
tenant. and allow him some Of the
same liberty, there would be no
trouble in procuring help.
Farmers do not appreciate the i'm
I pOFtance Of humus a. ameliOratOr Of
land. II il usually supplied in the
form Of green crops. stubbls or
swaTd. and barnyard manures.
When hHmus IL absent sandy soils
become too loose and leachy and
hot. and clay soils bake and become
lumpy.
The wind mill will not only raise
water for the stock. but will grind
or chop the feed and irrigate the
garden; there are few large farms
where it will not well repay its cost.
Those who have them wonder how
they got along without them.
There can be no arbitrary rule as
10 the amount Of clover seed 10 SOW
an acre. for much depends upon the
soil and the time Of sowing. II all
the seeds grow there is enough in
three quarts 10 make fine stand ;
but we must usually SOW as much
more, to provide for losses aud fail
uTes.
To save the peas and beans for
seed in good condition, free from the
weevil, place a small piece OF gum
camphor among them. A very small
lpiece in a closed package will pro-
tect bushel.
The self binder has improved tbs
cost Of wheat producing about II
per cent. and we must reckon this
when comparing prices past anC
present. Thinking farmers agree
that with few practical improve
ments In methods of culture tine
: yield an acre can be increased, anC
that wheat growing may yet be 1
source Of profit to Us.
The exhaustion of the free public
domain, the surprising foreign de
mand for our productions, and tbs
general movement toward bette
roads, are all present factors in in
creasing the value Of farm lands
This is quite as likely TO com
in the older settled districts as il
the new.
Let US take up the cultivation o
grass crops more earnestly, pursu
sslr 1T a n
our farm operations. There SHOULD
be reform in handling our gras
lands, as grass is the basis upo
which our prosperity in many othe
lines rests.
Certain investigators have de
clared that the ideal seed potato is
, smooth one Of the form peculiar t
its variety, and about the size of
hens egg, and is to be planted with
: out cutting, one in hill. From tn
several eyes but two or three stron
sprouts will grow. 1t will resist ur
favorable surroundings and give
more perfect stand.
Never disturb the seed potatOe
until planting time. Every time
sprout is rubbed off an increase
number will grow. Continue
( sprouting Injuries the vitality of tn
seed. IF the first sprout be left ur
til planting time, and then be re
moved close to the potato. the v
tally OF the tuber is but little less
q ened.
Early varieties Of potatoes shout
IL be planted as soon as the soil can b
got in condition. Plant later kind
about the middle of June. Try t
avoid having potatoes reach the SET
ting stage during the period q
drouth, liable to come during Jul
and August. Those planted in Ma
are often caught at just the wron
time.
An old pasture is often a synonym
" for poor pasture; whereas it shout
. become better with age, and wi
with proper care. Many of the bes
S, grasses which make butter an
cheese of the very finest flavor d
not attain much growth until thre
years old, after which time the
continually get better.
1t Is well to remember that the e.
port price for our products is I'll
main factor in determining Il
home price for the whole outpu
and that we shah serve our best il
- terests by growing and handling a
crops and stock in such a manner 1
will make them available for expo
" trade.