The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-05-29

Randolph county correspondent
.r.t.-. You do not know how l
.... to read YOUR letters. for they
r..,. neen Of much help to me. | am
,.t, poor man. Began farming s
...01hS AGO with nothing but one
f.aa which luckily WAS my right
t..l OF course | have to 90 slow.
Fortunately / have good health. j
..faht TWO horses. ) head Of COWS
..l TWO fine Poland China sows, and
...., irving 50 far as in my power to
,.I,,, your advice. Sowed peas last
...st.,cr after wheat. and cut two
acres for hay. and find it excellent.
want 10 make success OF TafmlnS
exanined the roots Of the peas and
r..tnd plenty of the little knots on
,I,. roots that get the nitrogen from
++.. mir. Never knew this before.
gY not own the land till, but have
.,.,,.t. to the conclusion that can buy
ir and pay for it, SO | ann gong 10
make, the venture. ! want to sow
three acres in peas this spring and
trtlize them especially for hay.
ann making a good pasture and think
u
cows and make more manure. | write
tHr- ~fmnIv because | consider it my
.Hrr 10 tel you how much help YOU
f.te been to me since | began 10
farm. Last fall year sowed !,
,.crt.~ i'm wheat and got 81 bushels.
.u<y haze ten acres in wheat that
feaaz~ ,tS though it would beat the Il
acres. II is after peas. ! want 10
>uu some clover the coming fall and
r.auH like NOU to tel me what kInd
ro SOW. and when | must SOW nl,
first peas this spring TO make the best
ual""
.-rtcre like this. from the plain toll
.4- .n the farm encourage one to
..eD ON working for the uplifting OF
the farmer. If can help one Strug-
gHa- man into Independence and
.-r-er use Of the soil shall feel that
me 'aGor has not been in vain. \ on
srr on the right track. my friend.
Ear land may be poor now. but peas
.#I "u\v manure Will bring it out
win me aid Of hard work and good
..fwe. You can probably get your
land at IoN figure now. and YOU
;e right i'm determining to buy. m
..std Of renting it. for if YOU go on
81. t3u have begun. the land viii be
grttiae more valuable. and YOU Wouid
after Il while be obliged to pay more
fox il because of your own improve
m.ut. Keep on diligently with the
CONS and peas and YOU Will get there
and own the land clear shortly. Now
.~ 10 sowing the peas. rs YOU want
io make hay OF them. YOU should
sow a variety best adapted to hay /
~aoHld SOW either the "tlay' or the
Il uknoWn." as both are strong grow
rr~. Early sowing IS best for nay
making, as the pea seems 10 make 1
heavier vine growth than when SoWn
after a grain crop. Therefore If |
wanted TO make the best hay | would
~or in Nav as soon as the ground IS
aarm. say about the middle OF the
month. Prepare the land we'll and
sow one bushel Of seed per acre.
~o~a at this time the peas should
be- ready to cut by the last Of July.
Then if YOU give the peas good
dressing of acid phosphate and lit
tIr potash. say six parts acid phos-
pHatc to one of kaint. and use 800
pounds per acre, YOU will get good
crop Of pea hay. Now run diSc
harrow over the pea stubble and get
tf lu fine order but try to keep the
s.uDbIe ON top as much as possible.
afd about the last Of August SOW -
pounds of Crimson clover seed per
acre With Il thin sowing Of winter
oats TO shade the young clover plants
..om the sun. This clover is an an
HtaI and viii give you very early
crop in the spring. 1t will be IN
"|""m and ready to NOW for hay IN
time 10 plant the land in corn, or YOU
t*H turn the whole under for corn III
Narch or April. and YOU will have a
Et ff,r Ia, e
ever II YOU do not wish to SOW the
"'at"r ON this land. You can keep IT
for wheat. If YOU use it for wheat II
"dt be best to let it be pastured after
.tr peas are cut 10 prevent its grow
ing Hp m weeds. Then in the rail-
#@fh ~ up fine with the disc harrow
"'h make the surface as fine as pos
.'l' as preparation for wheat. Sow
0" wheat after the first frost TO pre-
'#f The fly from getting into it. The
."ha NOW in wheat can be Sown too
peas after harvest and these peas
.'' cam he cut for hay. and the stub
@pWn ~ Crimson clover mt
ID" 2rt Your land up into good hear
"'d'd not attempt TO grow the or
."'f\ red clover. In fact, DO no
~" mat would ever grow it in this
".+1'r ON small farm. for YOU can
WIN tn" peas and The winter grow
Hmson clover all that YOU cai
go Win the perennial red clover ane
g." 81" 1t IN one-fourth he time. |
w." Wn' write me all about your land
~," on the farm and the charac
@ '' " more fully. | will be bette
heIp YOU. and Will always b'
u" "Hef any suggestions in m
ON any point about which 70,
"'~h help.