Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-09-13
Random Farm Notes.

Random Farm Notes.
FIND OUT THE WANTS OF YOUR FARM
AND TEST ITS PowERs-EXPERIMEN
AT HONE.
1t is a splendid thing for a farmer to
know just what his farm needs to make
it produce most. Not all of US are able
or have the time TO go away to take a
course in the agricultural college, much
as we might wish to do, so but most of us
have other ways of finding out where
our farms are lacking.
The experiment stations send out
bulletins that are of great value in this
direction. We might have these by ask
ing for them. Not all farmers know
this yet. We are not all quite up-to-date
in this respect. And, then, the expert
ment stations of many stateS-perhaps
of all-stand ready to make an analysis
of soils which are submitted 10 them
for this purpose, and to suggest methods
of treatment where some elements seem
To be lacking. Still another thing a
man may do for himself-he may ex-
pertinent little on his own hook. This
calls for time and patience, but the re-
suit is often highly encouraging. What
a man finds out about his own farm he
is quite apt to turn to the best possible
advantage.
The trouble with many of us is We
are in too big hurry. We are so busy
this year that we cannot afford the time
to make any original Investigations.
Next year it will be different. But
when next year comes it is the same old
Story-there is no time. Now, one to-
day is worth dozen to-morrowS. In
fact, We are not sure that there ever will
be any to-morrows for us. What we do
must be done to-day. Ii pays to try
some experiments every year on our
own account. How shall we 60 about it!
Nature suggests various things. When
soils get sour and cold, nature brings in
a growth of Sorrel. Taking the hint,
let us give our land treatment of lime.
Ii may be run on in the spring when we
are sowing oats or other grain, through
the drill; or we may 60 out and scatter
it broadcast by hand. Any way, geS the
lime out. Ii corrects the acidity and
brings the land back into condition.
Then, a scanty crop of grass shows that
the seeding is almost run out. The soil
is getting short of humus. 1t needs a
heavy dressing with barnyard manure il
We have it, or treatment with com
mercial fertilizer. And so on through
the list of our farm fields. The man OF
keen observation will many times be
able to determine what his land needs
to keep it in good working order.
Over in Iowa the Agricultural Depart
ment is making a test of twenty-nine
kinds of oats this year. Besides this, a
private farmer is testing three kinds,
under the direction of the state college
10 see which will be the best for the
farmers of the state to grow for heavy
yields and for feeding horses. Now
these experiments are just what we need
in every state. Every up-to-date farmer
may go into it himself. A little piece
might be sowed every year, and the re
suit made known to the world. Suct
tests would have the value of actual
experience behind them, and probably
would carry greater weight with them
than the more elaborate experiments OF
the state.
One thing especially marks the hom,
of the up-to-date farmer, and you viii
see it nowhere else, and that is, Close
attention to home surroundings. The
day of foul closets, perhaps built as al
appendage to the dwelling house; o.
cesspOols, into which the slOps of th'
kitchen are emptied, and of the general
ly slipshod appearance which used t
mark the farmhouse, has gone by, ant
gone forever, with the up-to-date farmer
Now we know that health cannot bt
had where the surroundings are bad
that there can be no true love of th'
farm unless the house yard be made a.
beautiful as possible, and that life OF
the farm must be made as bright an(
CHEEKY as it can be, if We would attrac
men to the country.
But what does the up-to-date farme
do along these lines? He begins will
his cellar. This is made just as clear
and wholesome as the parlor upstairs
The walls are plastered and, perhaps
whitewaShed. The floors are of stone o.
cement. All cobwebs and stray parti
cles of decaying vegetables are CAREFUL!
removed. Lime is scattered around th'
sides of the cellar, and in all damp
mouldy places. Nothing will Absorb
the bacterial germs of disease like lime
He drops powdered copperas in TIT
drains and sinks. He removes the close
far from the house, and provides
proper receptacle for receiving deposits
with plenty of road dust and other dis
infectants to keep all pure. Frequen
attention puts the origin of disease a
far away as possible. The barns arr
kept clean, and all poisonous odor'
banished.