Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-04-21

As the spring opens and we turn our
attention to the preparation of the land
for the crops that are to be produced the
coming season, we trust that every farm
er will bear in mind the Importance of
thorough culture. One acre well pre-
pared and thoroughly cultivated is more
remunerative than two acres upon which
but little labor is expended. The in
creased income from intensive culture is
more than propOrtionate to the increased
expense in labor. This does not neceS-
sarily mean that only small areas should
be titled. Large areas may be cultivat-
ed with profit provided they are given
the requisite care and attention.
In our institute work last year We tried
to impress upon the farmers the fact that
cultivation is fertilization. Those farm
erS who cultivate most receive the most
bountiful crops. Through cultivation
the plant food, which is still contained
in large quantities in our soil, is liberat-
ed and put in such a condition that it
can be readily assimilated by the little
rootlets of the plant, which take up their
food in solution. IL the soil has been
thoroughly pulyerized for hoed crop,
half the battle is Won.
Cultivation should be kept up until
the plants are nearly mature. Especial
ly should cultivation follow every rain
storm. in order that the surface may be
broken up and a dust mulch formed
which will prevent evaporation and thus
protect the crops from loss OF moisture.
On those fields of potatoes and corn I"
which we gave our personal attention
last year, we found that by cultivating
three times as much as the ordinary
farmer would cultivate the yield was
increased fifty per cent. We hope that
some of the farmers who read this bulie-
tin will have experimental pieces upon
which they will try the effect of thorough,
frequent cultivation, cultivating twice
as much as has been the usual custom,
and report to us at this office at the time
of harvest what success they have had
with these plots. We shall be surprised,
and their experience will be different
from that of farmers who tried this last
wear, if they do not receive from % to %
per cent more from the land than when
il is under ordinary cultivation.
We trust you thoroughly understand
the Importance of spraying early and
often, and that spraying should always
be for two purposes, to extermlnate
insects and to prevent rust and blight
Spraying with Bordeaux mixture, for
potatoes, should be done as often as
every new growth of six inches appears.
The formula for Bordeaux mixture is rs
follows: Copper sulphate. pounds;
fresh lime (unslaked), 5pounds; water oO
gallons. Those who are growing pota-
toes TO any extent should spray with a
power agitator, as great deal depends
upon the mixture being properly stirred
when it is applied to the plant, and
horses do not tire as easily as men and
consequently the work is more apt to be
thoroughly done. The piece should be
SPRAYED both ways, so that every leaf OF
the plant will be covered by the spray:
While watching the experimental
pieces of potatoes last season, we observ,
ed that those potatoes that were sprayed
thoroughly and often grew more rank In
the growing season, and remained green
and continued 10 grow longer than those
that were sprayed but once or twice,
during the early part of their growth.
The yield on those plots where spraying
was kept up during the growing season
was abundant to pay all the extra e1-
pense, and % per cent of the potatoes
were merchantable.