The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1901-11-30
Farm Notes..
TIE FARMERS PROBLEMS.

On" of the principal subjects discuss
cd ut farmers Institutes is that of cul-
| tlvating the soil mt certain seasons. 1t
mas been claimed that too much cultiva-
ton is injurious, while it is also main
| tanned that cultivation admits air.
warmth and moisture. the deep blowing
permitting of the greater retention of
moisture. Unfortunately. so much de-
Ponds upon the location of the farm, the
texture Of the soil the kind of crops
grown thereon. the depth of the surface
soil and other matters. that it is impos-
sihic to formulate any system that would
be applicable to all farms. Some of the
most progressive farmers have strongly
advised deep blowing. but were promptly
disputed ~ thoac who had found shall
low blowing more advantageous. The
fact is that each farmer who has been
sufficiently interested in the general wei
fare of all rs to make known his expert
cnce referred to his own farm only. and
the result is that there have been Il great
many methods of cutivatng the various
crops promulgated that tend more to CON
fuse than to educate. Every farmer
should experiment for himself. 1t is not
expensive or laboriouS to use Il small plot
for experimental purposes, and the know
ledge gained will be valuable for the rca-
son that it applies directly to the farm
upon which the farmer grows his crops
Farmers who purchase fertilizers are
frequently pcrplcXrd as 10 the proportion
Of plant foods 10 use. aud they ar, thus
frequently ut fault in their S"in"tiuns in
that respect The reason is that when
purchasing fertilizers they must take into
consideration not only the prospective
crop, but also that grown the previous
year, rs well rs the amount of manure
applied No knowledge Of how to pur-
chase fertilizers can be derived by OBJ
serving the methods practiccd by neigh
Dor. Each farm is a world to itself, so
far as its management is concerned.
When II field that is fairly fertile re-
fuses to yield n satisfactory crop, when
cultivated properly. and with the condi-
tons favorable. there is Il cause therefor.
This cause the farmer must discover him
self. He cannot ask for assistance else
where without giving full details regard
ing his farm aud his mode of manage
mcnt. His farm may require drainage,
may be deficient in lime, contain but little
humus, has not been properly rotated,
or even the system of cultivation may be
wrong. Usually, however, when crop
fails to satisfy the expectations of the
farmer there is lack of some particular
plant food. to determine which the far
mer should experiment by growing sam
pie crops on small plots. side by side, and
applying different kinds of fertilizers or
combinations of fertilizers. which will
give him demonstration of their effect on
the crops. An analysis of the soil will be
of no value, as the very portion selected
for analysis may be from a few inches of
soil previously MANFRED in some manner,
and which may not represent the cond-
ton of the entire field. Just as soon as
the farmer thus tests his land. and learns
by observation the results from the use
of certain fertilizers. he will be able to
feed his crops intclligcntly, and thus save
hundreds of dollars in the purchase of
plant foods and also gain in the yields
of crops.