The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-02-26
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
AoRIcULTURALIST.
some up-to-DAts Hints About CaItiya-
tion of the soil aud Yields Thereof
Hortiesiturs. vttieulturs aud Fiori-
culture.


Torn Nalture
The great Increase In the number OF
silos OF late years has greatly In
creased the acreage OF corn and each
succeeding year farmers who have
never grown corn for fodder before
VIII grow Il 10 a greater or less e1-
tent. and those who have grown II for
years will increase the amount Of corn
grown.
Where 10 Plant-To answer this
question satisfactorily We must know
the life history and needs Of the plant.
We learn that Il Is a native weed OF
America: that is home Is In Guate-
mala, where Il grows as Of old: from
there It was introduced by some In
dian or early traveller into every state
81 the Union and Canada. Thus II Is
seen that Il Is a tropical plant. and TO
get Il 70 grow 10 perfection We must
give II as near natural conditions a.
possible. To obtain these We must
plant Il upon freshly decaying sod
Ccloyer Is the best. In warm soil. with
fair degree Of moisture. but not wet.
The land must be thoroughly prepar-
ed. and TO obtain this Il mus, be plant
ed In the fall and cultivated thoroughly
Ia the spring. so az 70 start every
weed seed that Is Ia the surface soil.
II Il better 10 cultivate In spring
rather than 10 pillow. because all grass
that was turned down the fall before
will be kept more readily In check,
and instead Of turning up the damp,
cold subsoil We get a deep. warm seed
bed and are enabled 10 plant a week
or ten days earlier. also when the soil
Is managed IN this way Il Is better en-
| abled 20 Withstand drouth.
Time 20 Sow Sow as soon as The
soil Is thoroughly prepared. having
| given sufficient time between cultlya
ton 10 allow an weed seeds 70 sDrout
and when danger OF frost Is past. Sow
with the common seed drill, two
sprouts 20 the drill. or II Il be OF
small variety three may be left open
Sow az the rate OF from one 20 one
and a half pecks 10 the acre. Put Il
couple OF inches deep. II dr.
weather Is feared q IS well 10 roll. =
few days after sowing a light harrow
should be run over the Geld 70 breal
the crust and % KIN weeds. and agair
as the plants are coming up. and a
| intervals until Il becomes too high. ]
Is better 70 drag Ia the afternoon, a.
the stocks are tougher then. II tn
harrow "a heavy or the Geld soft o.
full % grass roots this narrowing VII
often DO more harm than good, a.
much OF the corn will be pulled up. !
n suitable harrow Is not az hand on
can be easily made b. taking three *
pine boards and boiling them togethe
IN the form OF q triangle and studdini
them with seven-lnch wire nail
driven up 20 the head II the nail
are slanted backward they will not b
80 likely 20 tear out the corn. Whei
too high 90 harrow start the horse no
and keep II going through the sum
mer. not only as a weed cleaner. bu
also 10 keep the soil loose, so that
will retain the moisture. The cult
walton should be shallow. so that th
roots will not be injured. a harro'
made something ike the one describe
but small enough 70 20 between "a
rows. O. one OF the best tools for cul
/ tlyating the corn. The different kind
OF weeters with long vibrating teet
are coming rapidly into use. Wit
these the corn can be raked until II :
over two feet high. and thus promote
great economy IN cultivation.
IN order 20 get good returns we mus
keep weeds down and keep the surfac
well stirred 20 retain the moistur,
and this latter point is very import
ant Just after a rain In order 20 brea
the crust When the corn Is six O
eight feet high q Is useless 20 contlnu
working. Il Is better 20 SOW rye az ID
rate OF two bushels % the acre an
work q with light cpluyators. Thi
rye will grow rapidly when the cor
Is removed. afford a good fall pastuI
age prevent teaching and washin
away Of plant food aud forms a mic
sod 90 be turned under 10 the sprinl
which will be OF great use In supply
ing humus 10 the succeeding crop.
Varieties Sow as staple Gro
some variety which has proved itse
adapted 10 your locality Where IA
season "a long the large varieties a
Red Cob Ensilage and Mammot
Southern Sweet will doubtless matur
sufficient for the sllo. For a mlddl
section Mammoth Cuban Is probabl
one Of the best, Leaning LAYER
North Dakota, High Mixed and Graz
Prolific are good. while for q nor
northern section an earlier corn. a
Lonsfclow o. Comptons Early. woul
be better G.. f. NJ.