Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-05-10

In Journalism, "a In the ministry, met
are often called 10 give advice and sug
gestions. We keep sowing the seed
realizing that we shall never know th'
extent OF the harvest. The aim Of IN,
agricultural writer should be: first, t6
render assistance that will enable hi
readers TO get the largest returns FOL
their toll; second, to keep constantly
before them the advantages Of farm lif'
and suggest Ways for them TO get tn,
greatest possible happiness and content
ment. Much seed falls on barren wastes
but the continual growth Of the sub
seription list Is strong evidence that
HONEST EFFORTS
are appreciated. To be told that one de-
psrtment alone is worth more than the
paper costs, does one more good than q
raise in salary.
A Vermont farmer wrote TO me last
spring that he intended TO plant IL acres
Of potatoes on field which he described
ana he wanted information regarding
fertilization and cultivation. | gave him
the best advice that | could and ht
writes: Thank you for the Information
given me on potato culture last spring
although did not follow your advice
fully, IL helped me TO some ideas that
were of benefit.
His field WAS plowed In the fall OF
1896, aud "a soon ss the ground WAS dry
enough, April a1th, he began 10 harrow
with two teams, using a wheel harrow
first and following IL with an Osborne
spring tooth until the soil WAS well mel
lowed, finishing with Thomas smooth
ing harrow. He then marked the rows
3 IL feet apart. He uses two-horse
Victor sprsyer for potato bugs. and finds
this space gives him none too much room
10 get through and keep of the hills.
less liable 10 rust where there IL plenty
Of air and sunshine between the rows.
tERrILIZING POTATOES.
After marking the rows he took a
special brand Of fertilizer for potatoes,
said 10 contain 10 per cent potash made
by Bradley fertilizer company aud strew-
ed in the marks about 500 pounds per
acre, then = fine tooth eultivstor with an
attachment on the middle tooth behind
10 keep the mark WAS run through the
rows; IL mixed the phosphate nicely and
left the ground mellow. He planted the
potatoes with an Aspinwsll planter,
using about 800 pounds more fertilizer
per acre, making !. 100 pounds altogether,
After planting he went over the piece
With a roller and firmed the ground,
leaving il ss smooth ss au onion bed
Before the potatoes were up he went
over the ground with Thomas smooth.
ing harrow, and after they we're up used
a weeder until the tops were so large he
could not run il. He cultivated and
hoed once aud finished with = horse hoe,
hillirg up some.
People who saw this field said IL was
the incest piece OF potatoes they ever
saw. The blight killed them before they
were full grown. Our correspondent
got 1870 ushels from l. acres, With fe~
rotten ones. He intends to plant /.
scres on same ground this year, and Is
getting il ready now. He adds: II en-
ioy YOUR letters in the Farmer and Home
and find good things To practice both IL
your letters and la the familiar talks ol
Mr. Ch..yer.
Our friend had good crop consider
ing the season. His theory about all
aud sun between the rows asa
PREVENTATIVE OF BLIGHT
appears plausible. nut | doubt II results
will prove u correct. The spores ol
rusts and blights fost In the air, and
v hen they begin TO multiply they will
reach every hill that has not received
the Bordeaux mixture, no matter ~hs'
the di>tsuce Ia between the rows.
Expert. nee hiss made me tirm sdvo-
cate OF the plan Of working fine the sur
face Of fall ploued land with the harrow
and then turning this mellow soil under
with \ plow and narrowing the surface
sgsin until il Is ready for the seed. The
increase in crop will pay handsome
dividend for the time spent in piowina
and reharroaing. trust my friend VII
try this plan on one or more acres anc
give u results. This extra preparation
costing s. per scre ought To increase the
WELD several times that sum. we neee
experiments on this point.-Cor. In Ne"
England Farmer.