The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-04-05
THE FARMERS PROBLEMS.

One of the principal subjects dis
cussed at farmers institutes is that OF
cultivating the soil at certain seasons.
1t has been claimed that too much cul-
tivation is injurious, while it is also
maintained that cultivation admits
air, warmth and moisture, the deep
blowing permitting of the greater re-
tention of moisture. Unfortunately.
so much depends upon the location OF
the farm, the texture of the soil, the
kinds of crops grown thereon, the
depth of the surface soil and other
matters, that it is impossible to for
mulate any system that would be ap-
plicable to all farms. Some of the
most progressive farmers have strong
ly advised deep blowing, but were
promptly disputed by those who had
found shallow blowing more advantag-
eous. The fact is that each farmer
who has been sufficiently interested in
the general welfare of all as to make
known his experience referred to his
own farm only, and the result Is that
there have been great many meth
DDS of cultivating the various crops
promulgated that tend more to confuse
than to educate. Every farmer should
experiment for himself. 1t is not ex-
pensive or laborious to use a small
plot for experimental purposes, and
the knowledge gained will be valuable
for the reason that it applies directly
30 60 which tho 70
grows his crops. Farmers who pur-
chase fertilizers are frequently per-
picked as to the proportions of plant
foods to use, and the are thus fire.
quently at fault in their selections in
that respect. The reason is that when
purchasing fertilizers they must take
into consideration not only the pros
pective crop but also that grown the
previous year, as well as the amount
of manure applied. No knowledge of
how to purchase fertilizers can be de-
rived by observing the methods prac-
ticed by neighbor. Each farm is a
world to itself. so far as its manage
ment is concerned.
When field that is fairly fertile
refuses to yield a satisfactory crop,
when cultivated properly, and with
the conditions favorable, there is a
cause therefor. This cause the farmer
must discover himself. He cannot ask
for assistance elsewhere without CIV
ing full details regarding his farm
and his mode of management. 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 a
crop fails to satisfy the expectations
of the farmer there is lack of some
particular plant food, to determine
which the farmer should experiment
by growing sample crops on small
! plots, side by side, and applying diff
ferent kinds of fertilizers or combina-
tions 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 condition of the entire
field, Just as soon as the farmer thus
tests his land, and learns by observa-
ton the results from the use of certain
fertilizers, he will be able to feed his
crops intelligently, and thus save hun
dreds of dollars in the purchase of
plant foods and also gain in the yield
| Of crops.-Philadelphia Record.