The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-15
WORK FOR THE MONTH.


The work OF preparing th' ~ W
crops Of all kinds is that winch now
calls for the constant attention CT Tue
farmer. DO not lose Il single opportu-
nity If pressing forward this work. Tie
! dry and open winter which we have mad
has Afforded almost a continuous oppor
tnnity for work ola the land. Ilere
| has not been n mnoth. and scarcely I
week. since last years crops were har-
vested. when the teams could not work
in the fields. and this should nave put
every farmer in the position OF pushing
his work rather than his work pushing
him. This is Il most satisfactory posi-
ton at this season Of the year, when
we are apt TO have heavy rams, which
| compel Il suspension of work just 1T the
time when it most needs to be done.
The only complaint We hear from TAR
merS is the absence Of moisture IN the
land. This is Il complaint we had 10
make 4 year ago. The summer ana fall
were dry. and the winter has been cNcep-
t~ionally dry. and there *. especially in
middle and Eastern Virginia, Il marked
absence Of water i'll the depths of the
earth. Almost daily we have complaints
! from farmers Of scarcity Of water in
their wells. and this is 4 serious condl-
ton of affairs at the commencement Of
another spring. and should warn farmers
10 use every effort to economist such
rains as may fall during the spring. The
only way to do this j. 10 ploW ana sub
soil as deeply as possible. and thus 10
make q preamble bed of soil which Will
act like II sponge and conserve The
moisture for the future needs OF the
crops. A. an illustration how effective
this is in times Of drouth. We had 4
call q few days ago from Il farmer Whost
90 - III ST.
land is situate III Il SectloH OF the State
| which last year suffered more severely
from drouth tan amy other. we knew
that nearly every farmer in that sec
ton had suffered serious loss III his
crops from THAT cause. and, therefore.
expected to hear a similar complaint
from this one. On the contrary, III reply
to our query as to his corn crop, he SAID
he had seldom or never made Il better
crop. He said that he had acted on our
advice. plowed his land in the late fall
and early winter as deeply as he could
plOw il. and followed the plOw with Il
| subsoiler, and worked the land in the
spring As deeply and as fine as he could
before planting the crop. and had after
wards cultivated it shallow and Level.
never allowing Il crust to form on the
surface. and his corn had grown right
along and made a fine yield. 1t would
Ie i 1tIlU HOW IL III N1lltt tllt IIi IL
tina fall and winter blowing and subsoil-
ing was not profitable. Had the sea
son been a wet onc,an equally goodeffect
would have resulted from Such a sys-
tenn of working the land. The super
abundant moisture wonld have been
drained away into TIE depths of the
earth. II the soil and subsoil only
AVE retained uch water as would have
sufticed to Saturate it, and this is not
more than the corn crop could well have
utilized.
If well forward with the blowing Of
the land, 90 not De tempted to pillow
more acres than can afterwards be COM
plctcly worked and fortified: nor yet
be tempted to IN planting crops
too early. Utilize any spare time III
more completely and perfectly preparing
the land already plowed. There are
very few acres of land in the South
which receive all the working which
they ought to receive before the. crops
are planted in order to their producing
, the greatest yield possible. This neg
lect of a perfect preparation of the land
Is one great cause for failure in the
yield of our crops. 1t is too late to make
this perfect condition Of the land after
the crop is planted. 1t cannot be done.
Do it now instead Of partially preparing
other acres.
1t is too early yet to SOW or plant any
crop except oats. Canada peas. Irish po-
tatocs and grass and clover except in the
more Southern States and OH the coast
lands. In Eastern North Carolina and
Underwater Virginia Irish potatoes may
lie planted: but elsewhere they are bet
49,. -{ e - ,-4 I
vet. In our January and February is
sues will be found full information on
planting and fcrtilizinG this crop. Oats
may be seeded ut any time when the
| laud is i'll good working order. 1t is
full late now to sow the Virginia winter
oats except III late and cool sections:
better sow the Rust moot variety. Oats
and Canada peas seeded together nov.
make an excellent forage crop either to
he cut green Dr to be made into hay.
Sow tie peas first at the rate of Il hushc!
or Il bushcl and Il half to the acre. and
either plOW down or work i'll with
Il cultiyator. and then SOW the oats. Il
scant buShcl to the acre. and harrow
i'll. Grass and clover seeds should be
sown as soon as the land is in good
working order. We have so frequently
advocated the seeding of grass alone tina
orr views on this subject are we'll known,
we have seen no reason to change Oul
opinion that for securing Il good and
satisfactory stand. seeding grass alone
IS far better and more certain to be /:
success than when SoWn with Il grain
crop. The one condition precedent t,
securing a good stand of grass and clio
Yer is well prepared rich land. Th,
seed bed should be plowed and worke,
until as fine IT'S 4 garden bed before
4 seed is sown. Then seed literally
not less than two. and better still. three
. bushels of seed to the acre. and cove
with the roller or brush harrow. w
prefer to use the roller even when WI
use the brush barrow. rs it consolidate.
the soil around the seed and ensure:
quicker and better termination. Ior
nyer bottoms ana rich low ground
/ Timothy and Italian rye grass are th,
} hest. For and subject to overflow. re,
, top or herds grass is Il proper var..t,
TO SOW. On high land tall meadow GA
; grass and orchard grass are the beS
t hay grasses. If intended for pasture