The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-03-16
The Farm in March.

But few farmers accumulate as much
manure as they desire. Instead Of
spreading their manure over too
much land, it will be better to use only
one-halfof the farm for crops and grow
green material on the other half to be
turned under. In this manner il will
not be many years before every acre
will double its average yield, and the
profits will be larger because the eN-
penses will be correspondingIy reduced.
1t is claimed that we have not yet
reached that stage ofprogress where an
acre ofland will support a cow one year;
that is, without purchasing other food
than that grown on the land, yet it is
done in Europe, because every square
inch of the land is utilized and kept up
to the highest degree Of fertility. II Is
not difficult 10 make an acre support
a cow, but it is not always profitable to
do so, as the labor required To care for
one cow is as great as that necessary
for several. IL is believed that 20 acres
can be made to profitably support 20
cows, however, by judieious distribu-
ton OF labor, but the profits will de-
pend on the kind Of cows. II Is the
cost Of labor that makes the expenses
so heavy;and reduces the profits.
Tools on the farm may be costly when
they are not kept in place. When the
hurry Of work comes the implement
most required may be out OF its loea-
tion-really lost-and new one must
be procured. Some implement msy
then need repairs, which should have
been procured weeks before. Cases are
known in which farmers who have
changed locations found themselves
loaded with tools that they did not
suppose they had, the clearing up Of
goods for removal bringing to light
those that had been put in some Out-of-
the-way place. Another careless class
of farmers is that which stores the
tools in places so safe that they forget
them, and though intending TO be care
ful they endeavor to keep in remem-
branee the location which they cannot
recall. An inventory Of farm imple-
ments and tools once or twice year
would change such conditions
A garden is not complete unless it
contains a full variety Of vegetables.
II should not contain anything that is
not desired. Peas should be grown for
early, medium and late pickings, and
early and late cabbages should be in
the list. Tomatoes are essential in all
gardens. The tomato IS plant that
will have blossoms and fruit at all
stages of growth, even TO ripening, at
the same time bearing a continuous
crop until frost. There is nothing 80
easily grown as early beets and they
are Iuxuries compared with the fields
kinds. Carrots aud parsnips are favor
ties with many, but the seeds should be
planted early. A hundred strawberry
plants will entail little or no labor, and
are net only orr anental, but useful in
a garden. Before next spring the bed
will multiply to over a thousand plants.
They should be set out as early as the
land will permit. Unless the garden
is large such crops as sweet corn and
potatoes should be omitted. Try one
or two plants, for experiment, ofPepper
okra, egg plant and eaulifiower, if not
accustomed to growing such, and they
will surely be added to the crops next
year. The greater the variety the more
enjoyment with the garden.