The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-06-14
Fittlng the Soil For Crnns.


When was boy my father used 10
say, well, H.. this land is well
adapted for corn, potatoes, or beans,
and | think we better break up a
piece and try IT,
Sometimes the pieces thus selected
were pretty thoroughly pitted with
large rocks not easily removed, to say
nothing of an abundance of small
stones, thus making it a difficult mat.
ter TO turn over the sod nicely.
AS we had only n common A-harrow
to pulverlZe with in those days, there
was considerable backache invested in
the crops we raised. Very often good
crops were obtained, notwithstanding
the unfavorable conditions: but as
look back, upon that time it seems rs
If 1t was a good way to make boy
disgusted with farm work.
Removing large stones with a good
team is pleasant enough, and picking
up small ones is certainly a paradise
compared with trying to raise crops
where large and small are permitted
to remain on the lot during plowing
and cultivation.
l am not sure that farmers would
ever have given up the cultivation of
such rough lots had not Western com.
petition forced them 20 ii
1t is certainly an expensive luxury
nowadays for farmer to hire and pay
good wages and do much hand work
Improved implements in recent
years have very much lessened the
backache of the oldcn time, and those
old times were not good times either.
Farmers returning from work at night
often had the appearance Of ralnbows
minus the gay colors.
Repairs amount TO considerable when
expensive implements are used on
rough lots. To make a good job every.
thing in the way should be removed
This takes time and money, but it is
a satisfaction to see an acre nicely
cleared, highly fertilized, with a crop
on it. showing by signs not to be mis-
taken that at harvest time the ledger
will show balance on the tight side.
Fertilizers cost considerable, and one
sometimes draws only a Hibernan
dividend after using his best efforts
to make success.
1t is still more expensive to cultivate
a large area with small amount of
fertilizer; the results are pretty sure to
show the truthfulness OF He that
soweth sparingly Shall reap sparingly."
to say nothing of the mortifca ton of
the owner at seeing a poor crop.
The excellent results usually obtained
by using literally of high grade phos-
phate for nearly all kinds of garden
truck, are, no doubt in a measure, ow.
minuted. Fine gardens cannot readily
and quickly find suitable nourishment
in large Jumps of stable manure.
1T it is true that plants take their
nourshment only in liquid form, it be-
comes matter of the first Importance
what the mechanical condition of the
manure applied may be.
II one has q disk harrow. and n firm.
smooth piece of land near the barn. the
condition of the stable manure can be
improved by spreading as much as de-
sired for garden truck, and giving it a
thorough going over with the harrow
before using.
The commercial fertilizer can be
thoroughly incorporated with the ma
nurc by this operation If one wishes. If
one can afford the money it is usually
better to use the stable manure else
where. and apply the phosphate for
garden truck. The labor of keeping
out weeds is much lessened.
Very many farmers spread consider.
able manure on their mowings in the
spring.
Where no manure spreader is avail
able 1t is evident that improving the
mechanical condition CT the manure by
tht use of a disk harrow rs above
indicated would result in more even
stand of the grass. Handling the ma
nure twice would, of course, add to
the expense.-Henry ], Vets, in Massa-
chusetts Ploughman.