The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-03
FARM AND
GARDEN ~
INTERESTS
Early Spring Flowing.

Philadelphia Record.
The blowing of the land in spring is an
ordinary matter 10 farmers, yet IL is the
most important work performed, for the
reason that the growth Of the crop and the
yield depend on the first preparation of
the soil. The amount of moisture. warmth
and supply OF plant food is regulated ac
cording to the capacity of the soil 20 alb
sorb, retain and yield 10 the crops the de-
sired clements necessary 10 complete
growth. The time has been when potatoes
were planted in the sod, first laying off
rows and cuitivating the crops after the
plants appeared above ground, and il may
be added that good crops have been secured
In that manner. Nevertheless, better re-
suits have been obtained when the land
was plowed and then worked over until ii
became fine. In proof OF the fact that the
careful preparation Of the soil increases
plot will produce more than a field. az.
though the land OF the field may be fully
as rich IN plant food as the garden plot,
but the difference is that the preparation
OF the soil for a garden is usually complete.
and when the field is treated in the same
manner 1t will not fail TO show the effects
or the better preparation. The foundation
upon which al! good crops are built is the
land. and the beginning of the crop is when
the land is plowed.
Flowing the manure in is one method of
working ii into the SOIL but all farmers
do not pillow their lands the same depth
or turn under their manure in the same
manner. If the manure is put under too
deep some time must elapse before the
roots or the young plants will get down
to IT. 1t will not be very long before the
plants will find the manure and utilize il.
put early In the year Ii is very important
that such crop as corn should get good
start, and the loss of d week at the be-
ginning may have an injurious effect on the
crop should the season come on dry. If
Il a a MI fc h. ,x.I
then worked into the top of the soil with
a harrow, the young plants will be en-
abled TO use them from the start, and the
harrow will also render the soil fine Two
objects will be accomplished by doing
| frst, the manure itself will be made finer,
| and, second, the fineness of the soil will
result in better disintegration of the min
erai elements existing therein, in depend
emily OF the manure. thus providing the
plants with available food at the beginning,
and also throughout the growing season.
Manure that is plowed under will be very
! useful at the time the plants are matur-
| ing, but the more rapid the growth of the
plants when young the greater their root
| power and feeding capacity.
No crop should go into the ground until
the soil is warm enough to terminate the
seed. Corn that begins to grow and is
checked by cold rains, on cold soil, will be
| thrown back in growth week or two, OF
perhaps more, and it is, therefore, better
to wait few days for the soil to become
warm than to lose more valuable time In
growth later The warmth will depend
upon the depth and fneness of the soil and
its dryness. A well-plowed field that Is
! properly drained, will become warm sew.
| eral days sooner than one which has beer
piowed in careless manner The air en-
| tiers a porous soil, and the heat goes wher
ever the air can enter If the soil is fine
| the surplus water can be more easily car
| ried OF, as ii passes down to the subsoi
and reaches the underdrains sooner but Il
| the moisture remains the surface, by
reason of shallow blowing, the land will
be cold until the season opens very warm
| at which season should then be wei
| under way. The rule should be to pillow al
| early as the soil will permit and keep /
| loose with the harrow. 1t is an old remarl
that no farmer can harrow a field too of
ten. 1t may add to the expense for labor
| but the crop will be better enabled to de
| rive plant foods, moisture and warmth al
the fine soil stores water that would be los
in summer on hard soils and gives il I,
| the plants when it is most required