Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15
Thorough Preparation of Soil.

A few years ago the Rev. W. R.
Brown of Empire, N. c., informed
me that upon q certain occasion
tenant commenced laying off for corn,
being, as [ understood it, the first or
leading row through the field. The
row was crooked and Mr.. Brown in
formed him that he would straighten
it if he had to run half-dozen times.
He accordin ely ran q number of times,
cutting from one side of the furrow
and then from the other until he fin
ally got it sufficiently straight to
answer. No person appeared to have
the most remote idea that this extra
p,owing would result in any advan-
tage, other than Strengthening the
row, but Mr.. Brown says that the
corn of this row was twice as good as
that of any of the other rows.
The above shows the effect of thor
ough preparation. A loose bed from
twelve to sixteen inches deep and of
proper width should be made before
planting the corn. In cutivating,
said bed can be gradually widenea
until all the ground between the rows
be broken deep. This deep tillage
will exert an immense influence in
time of drouth. More than this, the
corn in the drill can be twice as thick
as shallow plowing will admit of, and
will then bear better and be better
every way than the shallow plowed.
When the people come to understand
this matter properly they will see that
they cannot afford to cultivate their
land shallow.
1t would, however, be better for the
land to be sub-soiled in the fall or
early winter, but when inconvenient
to do this, it may be plowed deep, as
aforesaid, in early spring, provided
that it is done with narrow plow of
proper construction that will not
throw the subsoil out of the furrow
and expose it to the air. 1t is advis-
able to expose the sub-soil to the air
if done at the proper time, but not
after the winter passes.
If people would cultivate less and
fertilize more they would, as general
thing, succeed far better. They could
then retain command of their crops,
and as result would not lose all in
time of extreme drouth, as is now fire.
queutly the case. Nine times out of
ten when a farmer fails in his crop it
is his fault rather than that of ths
season The soil must not only be
kept up but the fertility thereof gem
orally increased over what il now is.
Glover and COW peas, in connection
with proper fertilizers, are the great
levers that are destined to revolution
ize the agriculture of this country.
The corn rows are preferably wide,
say, seven to eight feet. The corn
should be planted in the drill sut1i-
GENTLY close to make from fifty bush
els per acre up, according to the rich
ness. The COW peas are preferably
drilled midway between the corn
rows.
An excell fertilizer for corn is a
good dose of liable manure, to which
about 200 pounds each of acid phos-
phate and kainit per acre have been
added Stable manure contains an
excess of nitrogen, and it is necessary
to add these elements in order to cor
rect said feature. About 800 pounds
each of acid phosphate and kainit may
be applied TO the peas, III Doth cases
in the drill and we'll mixed with the
soil, preferably several weeks before
planting. The peas at most need but
little nitrogen in the soil they draw
it from the air--far cheaper than buy
ing in the market. By reason of this
fact, in connection with certain chem
ical changes that will take place after
the corn stalks and pea vines are
turned under, the farmer will be ex-
ceedingly we'll compensated for his
outlay. The above quantity of fer
tilizer may seem large, but it will
prove economy in the end. Follow
with wheat and clover, applying one
ana one-half bushels and fifteen
pounds of seed per acre respectively.
Bryan Tyson in Farm, Field and
Fireside.