The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-14

ture. Where soils are subsoiled from ten to eighteen inches ceep this loose peo will store a sufficient amount of moisture to carry crops through dry weather when otherwise they would perish for want or water. Then, too. when there IS an e< cess of rain. the furows or trenches VIII gradually carry of all surplus water after first filling the loose seed bed ana thus prevent wash and drainage of the soil. The work of subsoilng should be done in the fall or early winter, in time to get the benefit tf our early rains In filling or storing up moisture. In many sections of the south where the rainfall is heavy even in the spring months the work may be safely performed in the spring. The danger of doing this work in the spring is that we may not in many sections, get moisture to fill up this loose bed of subsoil. and crops planted on 1t would ry out.
 The roots of many of the leuminous plants also act as supsoilers, and do much to help this work This Is especially true of all clovers, and stock or COW peas so that these should be used literally, both before and after the subson blow. The fact is that it is almost impossible to grow fine paying crops of potatoes without commencing a year ahead in pre- pairing the soil. There Is no use in vast ing time and money trying 10 grow pota- toes on white stiff sdlls or thin sandy soils until such soils have been fully re- claimed and enriched. after the directions as outlined In ths bulletin.
 In the south land wanted for crop of early potatoes should be plowed late in tho fall when the scil is perfectly dry, and a good plan would be to SOW winter rye on the soil, the rye to hold and pro tect the soil from washing and to pre- vent or hold the food. However, not more than than one-half bushel of seed rye should be used on the acre The rye may be pastured off with Ut stock, but stock should never be allowed on the soil when 1t Is wet neither should the soil ever be plowed when wet Should the rye not be wanted for pasture. II may be turned under a week or so ahead of time for planting the potato so that it may have time to rot The rye should not be allowed to stool out and ske too much | growth before being turned under. The better plan would be to keep poultry, lambs and pigs to eat down the rye. After 1 the necessary drainage and subsoiling has been prepared and just before plant Ing time, the soil should he cultivated and narrowed until made very fine.
 Now soil preparation, drainage and sub soiling are matters that depend largely upon conditions, and while we may out line a course of general directions. yet no iron clad rule which will hold good for all sections and conditions can be given
 These are matters that farmers need to educate themselves upon. and there Is no better place to obtain their education than that of the farmers winter courses | of institutes, and no better way than for farmers in these institutes to take up all such bulletins as this eriticise them se- verely and find where they may meet your requirements and then put same to practical use. The general government, 1 the different states are all issuing these free bulletins, and it is from this concert ed effort of all these agencies. combined. the railroad buletins included. that the farmers of our country may obtain all | information needed. In order to succeed with any crops. We cannot too strongly urge upon the farmers the necessity of organizing these farmers institutes all over the country and who-e organized carry on this campaign of agricultural education. It Is the shortest and surest way to success. All such bulletins as this together with the free course of lectures as offered to the farmers institutes. will be of great benefit Tn iaet the-a ngen- | cies are all the shortest route to success in all farm operations