Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-04-15

nurt toe plnntA. except one here and
there. and II killed all the little weedl
aud grass that were just starting. Hou
that corn did grow. II sprang up a.
most like mushrooms. II seemed &c
Sam that the dark green stalks fairly
laughed In the loose ground that he
had made so rich with manure and
ashes.
The young farmer cultivated the
| ground level nnd never allowed q weed
10 take root ON that acre. He pulled
and went over II once with a hoe. bni
most OF the work was done with a
pillow. The first time or two he plowed
Il tolerabIy deep. but as the corn grew
larger and the little roots began 10 run
out across the middles ne pl0wed very
shallow TO keep from cutting the r0ts
and injuring the corn. HIT there was
another reason for shallow blowing
Deep blowing In summer causes the
soil TO lose moisture when the crop
neeuD u uONt.
Sam stirred the top Of the ground I'LL
there was a layer Of dust TO hold the
moisture below. He wanted TO keep
all the water he could for the growing
corn, and hs knew that the sun can
drag water up through crust In
hurry, but can't draw II through a
layer Of dust-or mulch. as II II called.
He kept the soil this way. BE never
plowed when 1t was too wet. for that
makes clods. But after rains. rs soon
as It was dry enough. or when weeds
began to appear he went over the patch
with plow or harrow and stirred the
surface till 1t was all broken up and
loose.
Bill Googe and Miles Pagan had quit
laughing at Sam. They and others In
the neIghborhood often stopped In
passing and looked at the corn and
wondered.
II reckon it's jes'. an accident" Bill
remarked to Mr.. Pagan one day, "but
that boys kinder got one on rs, Miles.
I told I'm before he come out here that
he couldn't grow peas on that ground.
But dog my cats. II that amt as tine |
corn as ever saw. That acre patch Is |
better than the rest. but tell you they |
amt none o. his crops to be sneezed
at"
~ don't exactly understand It."
Miles Pagan replied. but jes' Between
you and me. Bill. | guess they must be
In the governments way q
dOin' things. You know that kid
don't know nothin' about farmin ex-
cept what the agents told I'm. But
look at that acre of corn and then look
1t mine across the fence. And It amt
IN the land. I know that This land
J mine. II anything. Is better than his.
Of course it's bound to be In the fer
ilizer he's usin' and the way he's cul-
ivatin' the ground"
The comparison suggested by Mr..
Pagan was enough to make any one
top and think. Sans corn was nearly
waist high and had big stalks. while
hat OF his netghbor in the field across
|
high and the stalks were spindling.
But Pagan understood the cause Of
he difference In the two crops a good
leal better after Mr. Burns happened
Llong one day little later ard stopped
o talk to him and Sam. who were
in their respective fields.
Hello, Mr.. Pagan" the government
gent called out as he rode up. How
8 1t your corn is behind Sans here"
Pagan grinned. "It's because he
planted earlier" he said.
How much earlier?"
"Two or three days." replied the
'armer.
Mr.. Burns laughed. "That won't do,
VLr. Pagan he said. 1.-TWO or three
lays difference in planting would
make hardly any difference in corn"
At this point Bill Googe, who had
been blowing near by, came up and