The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-06-09
Work for th8 Month on th6 Farm.


!: !. !. ]. ].
before ripe. An evenly cured crop of to-
bacco all of the same color and texture
can never be made out of a crop cut In dit
terent stages of rlpenlng. The growing
of this crop under shade is making prog
ress in the New England cigar leaf sections,
and to some extent is being tried in the
South on the Havana and Sumatra types,
but we have not heard of it's being at
tempted with the bright and heavy ship
ping types Fine results have been OBJ
tanned by the types upon which the sys-
TEN has been tried. The cost is great,
however, and seems likely only to be
profitable upon such types as command
high prices. From $500 to $500 per acre
is large initial cost to be incurred. Look
out for the worms and see that the first
brood is closely destroyed either by hand
picking or by spraying. Spraying tobacco
with Paris green is certain death to the
worm and causes no injury to the tobacco
or to the human consumer of 1t. We
would, however, advise that no tobacco
be sprayed with the Paris green after it
begins to ripen or when getting near
that stage, as the poison may stain the
leaf and thus prejudice the sale. A mix
ture of one pound of Paris green to 100
gallons of water will make a solution
strong enough to kill the worms.
The harvesting of the wheat and oat
crops will call for attention before our
next issue reaches its readers Do not let
the grain become over-ripe before putting
in the binder An oVer-rlDe crop never
makes so good sample as one cut just
before being dead ripe. The grain is not
so bright nor plump. Besides this, an
over-ripe crop skaters badly In handling
and the yield is thus much reduced. See
that your binder is in good repair and
order, and that you have reserve of the
principal working parts on hand, so that
in the event OF break you will not have
to wait until repairs can be had from the
makers or dealers Many a good crop hat
been lost from neglect of this precaution
| The careleSsness with which agriculture
machinery is frequently stOrcd-and toe
often it is not stored at all-makes it very
necessary that careful examination and
| cleaning of the machines before using
should be made. 1t is sad commentary
on the farmers care of his binder that the
Professor of Agricultural Mechanics al
| the Illinois Agricultural College has
stated that as the result Of enquiries made
in Illinois, he finds the average life of
binder in that State IS only four years
and the average time used each year is on
| ly six days. thus making the real work
ing life only twenty-four days. We are
afraid that IN this State a not much bet
ter record would be found. For costly
Il machine this Is very expensive hte
With care binder should last many year.
more than four. The scarcity of hands /.
| likely to cause difficulty in handling tht
crop IN many sections. Obvlate this a
! far as possible by looking up and hirine
| the required hands before the crop il
ready for cutting. See that, if possible
You have at least sufficient experienced
hands to shock the grain cut. Ever.
leaf should be In shock before leaving th
field at night-if not prevented by rain
! Shcaves left unshOcked soon begin t
shatter the grain and lessen the yield. Sc,
that the shocks are we'll capped so tha
rain is kept out of the center 1t is ther,
where the damage is done in case of rain
| June is one of the busiest months il
the year for the trucker and gardener
The shipping and marketing of the fal
and early spring planted crops, the cuti
vation of the later planted crops and tn
planting and cultivation of the crops t.
ripen in the fall must all proceed at once
and if any of these are neglected los
must ensure In addition to all this work
where strawberries, rasberres and othc
small fruit are grown. these are now rip
or rpening, and must be gathered an
marketed.
The harvesting of clover and hay crop
Will also require attention. Whilst TIL
drought we are having will, no doubt some
what reduce the yield of these crops, yet tn
growth made in March and April will en-
sure a fair yield. See that the crops ar
cut before the heads are full of seed Tn
greatest nutriment Is found in clover an
hay when in bloom, and the creates
weight of produce can also be secured b
cutting at that time After the seed be
gins to form the nutritive value decrease
and the stalks become dry, withered an
light. When cut do not let the crop re
main broadcast until all the nature
dried out of it and the leaves are crls
and shattering. When we'll wilted rake u
into wind row, and if not sufficiently dr.
to make into cock leave in that conditio
Tor day ana tnen put up lntO COCK |
complete the cure Hay. whether Glove
: or meadow. should be cured in cock.
, the best condition is to be secured, unles
the weather be so hot and windy as t
5 cure it sufficiently for the barn in a te
$ hours, which Is not often the case. Ha
| cured in wind row cock will keep Il
fresh, green color and fine smell and til
fine blades and leaves will all be save'
g Nothing but experience alctate whc
f hay is. sufficiently cured to be satei
9 stored away in a barn; but one thing
certain, that nearly all the hay saved
v the South is overdried before being store
We would rather err on the side of stol
G ing a little too soon than leave it in IT
D field too long If the crop is free fro
. rain or dew and only has natural moistul
: in it. it will, even if carried little tc
t soon. cure out in the barn into good ha.