Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-20
FREQUENT TILLAGE,
Secretary McKeen Says It Guards
Against Droughts.
A Few Very Practical Sections Taken from
His Board Bulletin.

and comparisons in re-
gard to the manner in which the diff
ferent sections of the State are affect
ed, and also the difference in the way
the soils We're affected. He observes
that the soil that has been worked the
most is affected the least.
Possibly some of the sections in this
regard may be of interest to the agri-
cultural readers of the Journal.
While travelling in several sections
Of the State during the severe drought
we hav7taken opportunity to carefully
observe the conditions of the crops on
new and on old fields. We have found
it universally true that the fields near
er the pillow show far more encouraging
of fair crop of hay. The
lesson as thus presented must be APP
parent to all 1t is that we must have
fewer old fields. The farmer who tills
his land often and thoroughly, al
though he may have no more fertiliz-
ing material than others is always
ahead at the harvest. Keep near the
newly applied fertilizer and near the
pillow. should be our motto. A nimble
penny is better than a slow siXpence.
Turn your land and your capital over
often. The average farm crop requires
more moisture than the usual rainfall
affords. This moisture must be drawn
from somewhere, and can be secured
largely by thorough tillage.
Then. by keeping the upper inch of
the soil in our hoed crops thoroughly
stirred, the evaporation of the moisture
from below is prevented and the maxi
min iS Sapnrnl for the
ing crop. Cultivate often while the
drought continues. but let nothing
tempt you to cultivate deeply. Guilt
vate after every rain or shower, keep
the surface fine and level. Keep the
potato fields level as long as possible.
The severe drought.reaching asst does
over a very large area, has had ten
dency to materially lessen the amount
Of the hay crop. This is not alone true
of Maine, but reaches all through the
New England states and probably
farther.
This probable shortage of the hay
crop will make some crop or crops to
take its place a necessity. These crops
should also be grown to supplement
the pastures. 1t seems particularly
fortunate that there is a large acreage
Of corn. as this will materially add to
the amount of fodder for winter use,
but there should be something more
than this provided to feed early as the
pastures begin to fail. 1t is not yet too
late to SOW Hungarian on we'll pre-
pared land. This makes a valuable
crop to feed green, and what may be
left can be hayed and stored for win
ter use. This will be particularly Valu-
able on those farms where there is but
small variety of foods for winter, as ii
is readily eaten by all animals. and If
not allowed to stand till too mature 1t
makes a palatable, nutritious food.
When sOWn on land that it is not de-
sired to seed to grass at the same time,
one bushel Of the seed may be sown
per acre. but if grass seed is sown with
it not more than three pecks should be
sown. particularly if the land is in
good condition. AS Hungarian IS In
iured by frost it will be Of no value as
late soiIing crop. Oats and peas, or
barley and peas, or barley or oats
sown alone will make an admirable
feed for late fall. These crops will
stand bright and green even until the
heavy freezes Of late fall, and will be
readily eaten DS All dlllIlldIS.
About three bushels of either oats or
barley should be sown per acre if sown
alone and about one and one-halt
bushels of either with the same amount
Of peas. if sown with peas.
Winter rye sown, about one and
one-half bushels per acre, the last Of
August or first of September Will
afford some feed this fall and then may
be cut or fed early in the spring. thus
extending the season for succulent
feeding materially. In this connection
il may not be amiss to say few words
In relation to the silo. and to urge upon
all the advantages to be secured from
being prepared to take care Of our corn
economically and at the same time IN
such a manner that it shall be OF the
greatest possible value for feeding pur-
poses. as it will be succulent ana
nalatable and can be fed without any
waste whatever. The silo IS an
economiZer of food and an economlzer
If space. Many farmers are 50 stu
ated that their stock carrying capacity
can be increased 80 per cent in very
few wears by the extensive use OF the
corn plant and the judicious use OF the
siIo for both summer and winter feed
ing.
Then Mr.. McKeen had very good
Introduction to his series of letters on
bav making. He worked some OF MS
avn practical ideas into the little ar
ticIa, besides telling of some of those
advanced He believes In an Garner
haying season. He sald:
THE business of hay making mas
changed fully as much in recent years
ae any of the farm operations. Inc
moving machine. the horse rake me
horsa fork. the tedder, have all come
into use within our memory In TACT
a,r earlier work in the hay field as
bov. and young man, was an uo,ls
u.;tbout any of these aids. Inc
r,arorv of the hand scythe and mana
axe and heavy pitch fork is very viVlu
witb rs While none Of US can for
,,omant wish to return TO these
nrimitive tools, still it may be well 10
ran,ind ourselves and those to whom
these improved tools come as natural
aa,saouence. that different conditions
oroa visited and that we are living III
an aee when. by well directed efforts
F{,,a nav accomplish far more with the
sa,,o amount of manual labor imam
formerly. The fact will also be press,
.1