The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-09-16
Agriculture.

to become cracked at this time of
the year, because the cracks admit
air and hasten evaporation from
such soil. Keep all these openings
closed with fine soil, filled into them
by frequent cultivation; and then If
cultivated soil dries off and remains
crusted after rains, enormous IL the
amount of water which will evap-
crate in a hot, windy day; it is
claimed that the amount will reach
100000 pounds an acre. Stir it.
The theory that we must SOW some
grain with clover will hardly hold
water. Oats are just as hard on
clover as are weeds on corn crop,
and they do not need shade any
more than does the corn. Let it
grow and stand alone, moving off
the tops of the young weeds.
The man with large farm does
not get rich because his farm is
large. OF two farmers with equal
mental and physical attachments,
the one with small farm gets more
comfort and satisfaction from his
work, and quite as much net profit
az one who tills his very broad acres.
Most of our losses come from care
lessness. A low spot in the corn
field which might be drained by
running a pillow furrow through it, a
similar place in a wheat field where
the water will stand all winter, or
even a board off fence or like
trivial thing, each NAV lead to a
large loss in the end, and in almost
all cases this loss might have been
averted. ., ...
Even if we have to wait until the
middle of August, sow the turnips
after rain. If sown before a light
rain the seed swells and dies, if be-
fore a heavy rain, a crust forms
which prevents the plants from
coming through, or it dries out and
stunts the tiny growths. ..
On good soil it should be the usual
thing to raise 100 bushels of corn to
the acre. How to increase the aver
age yield should have our deepest
attention. We must not be slack in
draining, preparing nor cultivating.
We should break up the clay soils
in the fall. We should use all our
skill in selecting the seed, and
should broadcast all the fertilizer
needed. The harrow or cultivatOr
should be at work all the time. We
must brace up to the necessity OF
thinning ont the hills to two OIL
three stacks. Nor must we spar5
ourselves if little work is demand
ed with the hands and the hoe.
There is no gain in small yields
Competition is going to make better
farmers of us. The foreigner, with
his low prices, will swamp the
Yankee" who does not learn tC
raise more than 100 bushels of pOta'
toes to the acre, or more than 30 OIL
40 bushels of corn.
Imported potatoes are not so good
as the home grown, and we need moi
fear that we shall be crowded out
vet our farmers should be awakened
by the fact that enormous cargOes
are imported every year. Potatoes
near a good market, are more profit
able than corn or wheat.
In more senses than one is the
average farmer content to go in the
old "rut;" but if he is still content
to haul his 20 bushels to market
where he might haul 80, let the wo'
men take up the question of goOC
roads, for they have been prisoners
long enough through the long win.
tiers. Legislators will do nothing
until they are spurred to it by their
constituents. The old Romans, the
Peruvians and MeXicans were fal
ahead of us in this regard, and theiI
grand highways astonished the
world. This enlightened generation
must get out of the mud.