Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1880 — FARM NOTES. [ARTICLE]

FARM NOTES.

[From the American Agriculturist] Hinns ob Drills. —On clean land drills may’ give the best returns, but, if weeds are plenty, hills will be better, as they allow of cultivation in two directions. Seed about which there is any doubt should be tested before planting to ascertain whether it will grow. Badlykept seed often causes disappointment from its failure to germinate. BniGHT is a quick comer which gives no warning. The best that can lie done is to cut away the portion “struck” down to the live wood. If the tree is badly affected it is best to remove it entirely.

Thinning Fruit.-/Die sooner fruit is thinned after it has set, the better it is for the tree, as all growth of fruit costs effort for the tree to make, and is, therefore, exhaustive. No one who desires the choicest fruit will fail to thin an overloaded tree. Seed-beds of fruit and forest trees need close attention to keep the soil loose and the weeds from establishing themselves. The beds, especially of evergreens, will need shelter from the hot sun, which may be provided by a lattice work of laths, or brush may be used, but less convenient in weeding. Clover.—An early rolling of clover to settle the roots that have been raised by frost will be especially’ appropriate after the open winter just passed. Fiftypounds of plaster per acre will often have as good effect as the larger doses of 100 and 200 pounds that are recommended. Wood ashes on many soils will be found an useful application.

The time of planting corn will, of course, vary with the locality, but it will be better as a rule to secure a thorough preparation of the soil before putting in the seed, even if it somewhat delays the time of planting. Late-planted coin, in a warm, well-pulverized soil will usually take the lead of that which has been struggling from an early- start under unfavorable conditions.

Manures.—Corn, unlike the other cereals, will bear the direct application of manure in liberal quantities. For immediate results, well-rotted manures are always best, but that taken unfermented from the barn-yard may- be applied to corn. Long manure may be placed under, while short manure may be spread upon the surface and worked into the soil by the harrow and cultivator.

Mangels may be sown early- this month. Our practice has been to sow in drills thirty inches apart, using six pounds of seed per acre. A liberal supply of seed is required to secure an even stand, and the plants should be thinned by striking a broad hoe directly across the drills so that single plants will stand twelve to sixteen inches apart. Root crops are often a failure from defective thinning.

Flowing.—-The plowing, and all subsequent preparations of the soil for the seed, should be done in the best possible manner. In turning a sod for corn, any breaks or “ balks” in the work will prove an annoyance in after cultivation, and should be avoided. In many- localities, especially at the West, the Kentucky blue grass (poa pratensis) is a troublesome weed in a corn crop, and it can enly be subdued by careful and thorough tillage.

Planting in Orchards.—There is a general reluctance to give, up the soil of the orchard entirely’ to the trees. While the orchard is young it is best to cultivate it thoroughly, and hoed crops, like potatoes, roots, etc., can be grown as a present pay for the trouble, but, as the trees get older and shade the ground, nothing else but fruit should be expected from the orchard. It is a good practice to pasture hogs in the orchard in clover sown for the purpose, as it is one of the best methods of enriching the soil and at the same time destroying insects.

Corn.—ln the Northern and Western States, corn-planting will be the leading occupation of the month, but this should not prevent a fail- share of attention to other crops that will be needed as a reserve when pastures are getting short, as well as to furnish a variety of feed for winter’s use. A soil in high condition, and thoroughly prepared, will give the best promise of a good—paying—crop of Indian corn. The previous cropping of the soil will have an influence upon the crop, which is nearly as important as the immediate application of manures. A good clover sod, or a grain, or a root crop, immediately after a fair crop of clover, may be followed by corn with a good prospect of success.

Insects.—Tiie potato beetle has become such an abundant and troublesome pest that it should be given no quarter —not even from the stfrt. By combined effort in the early portion of the season the “bugs” maybe kept in check and thus do very little damage. Paris green has been so long and successfully employed that it is scarcely necessary to explain its mode of application. Suffice it to say that the liquid method is the one now- generally practiced—that is, mix the paris green with water and sprinkle it upon the vines. A coffee-pot may be converted into a sprinkler by providing the spout with an extension and arose at the end. The on y source of danger is the careless handling, and the poison should be kept and used with a full knowledge of its nature.