The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-03-04
Moisture of the Soil.

YORK experiment StaIlOn. Inc mar
row, besides pulverizing and fining the
soil for the seed-bed, is most efficient
in furnishing a soil mulch. The
spring tooth harrow is in reality a cul-
tivator and its action is similar to that
Of the cultivator. When used as an in
strument to conserve moisture. the
teeth should penetrate to the depth of
about three inches, and to produce the
best effect the ridges left by it should
be leveled off by smoother which can
now be purchased as an attachment to
the harrow. The tillage Of orchards
by the harrow is now practfced extern
sively and nothing short of irrigation
will SO nearly meet the demands of
trees for moisture, particularly upon
the heavier soils. A harrow having
plow-like action of its blades serves to-
pulverize the surface soil, to spread the,
loose mulch evenly. and it leaves
most excellent seed-bed. The cut
away or disc harrow may be beneficial
or of absolute injury. If the discs are
so set that they cover but a portion of
the surface with the mulch, they leave
a ridge exposed to the action Of the
wind and sun and the rate Of evapora-
ton is greatly increased. The discs
should be set at such an angle that the
whole surface shall be stirred or COW
cred. Their chief value lies in their
cutting and pulverizing action on clay
soils, but as conservers of moisture
S,,f IN h
plow-like action or the spring tooth.
Soils which need the disc narrower
should generally be gone over again
with some shallower tool. The mel
lower the soil the lighter should be the
work done by the harrow. On most
heavy orchard soils it will be found
necessary to use the heavy tools like
the spring tooth and disc harrows in
the spring, but if the land is properly
handled it should be in such condition
as to allow the use of a spike-t tooth or
smoothing harrow during summer.
This light summer narrowing should
be sufficient to keep down the weeds
and it preserves the soil mulch in most
excellent condition. With such a tool
and on land in good filth man. can
harrow ten or more acres day.
Spraying Grape Vines.-The advan-
tage of spraying grape vines is not
alone in preserving fruit from mildew
and rot. Even when these are not
present on vines unsprayed, a close ex-
animation Of the leaves will show
patches Of brown, beginning early in
the summer, and gradually spreading
during the season. The ripening both
of fruit and Of this years growth OF
wood depends on the vigor and health
fulness of the leaves during the grow
ing season. Whatever Injuries the leaves
must by so much delay the ripening OF
fruit and injure it's quality. Now that
the Bordeaux mixture applied early
in the season is known to secure
healthful foliage, there should be no
neglect in applying it.
Feather Pulling. There is no sure
remedy for feather pulling. The first
hen caught at it should be killed. Some
smear the bare places with tar, and 9TH
ers trim the edges Of the upper and
lower mandibles SO that the hens can
not hold feather. Others separate
them, combining them for two weeks.
The cheapest preventive is to keep the
hens at work, but as cure is difficult,
it is best to send them to market and
begin anew.-Ex.
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Shaded Ground. The shade Of the
forest tends to preserve moisture, and
this is the all-important condition OF
the soil necessary to promote growth.
The roots penetrating the earth ii all
directions to great depths preserve q
mellow condition Of soil, and these two
conditions are the essentials Of plant
growth, and they Invariably promote
growth to the greatest possible extent
Ex.