Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1882 — FARM HINTS. [ARTICLE]

FARM HINTS.

Potatoes in Wet Soil. There is no plan equal to planting potatoes on the surface and covering the sets with soil obtained from lietween the rows, which, in this case, should be three and a half or four feet apart It is surprising what fine crops are obtained by this method of culture in cold, wet soils.— Mark Lane Express. How to Kill Quack Grass. Here is the plan adopted in Suffolk county, N. Y., for killing this pest Run a farrow two inches or two and onehalf inches deep; follow in thesame furrow to the required depth with another plow, always turning the soil on the top of the first furrow. Then with the ordinary use of the harrow, cultivator or horse hoe there will be no furthei trouble from quack.— Cor. Rural New Yorker. The Artichoke. The one great drawback on the growing of the artichoke is the difficulty of eradicating it when once in the ground. Careless cultivation will do it, but thorough cultivation for a single season will destroy it. It is more nutritious than the "potato, being very rich in sugar, is readily eaten by sheep, cattle and hogs. It grows -best on a rich loam, where it yields a large crop, even if the land is partially shaded oy trees. In fact, it seems to grow better in an orchard where the soil is kept loose by shade, than in the open field, producing crops year after year without any labor except the first planting.—Massachusetts Ploughman. » Exterminating; Canada Thistle. Mr. G. A. Green writes to the Western farmer from New York State : We have found but one reliable method of extirpation, which is to plow thoroughly early in the spring, and as often thereafter during the' growing season as is necessary to prevent the appearance of a single shoot above ground, say every two weeks. If the roots are thus smothered for one season (they cannot breathe without leaves) they will rot and be converted into plant food, leaving numerous small drains through the subsoil greatly to the benefit of the land. Though this method is laborious, who can doubt that it will prove profitable, considering the long years of loss and annoyance that must otherwise follow. Sorghum for Feed. Sow as early in spring as ground will work well, on ground well plowed and harrowed, one to one and a half bushels of seed per acre, broadcast and harrow in well; when as the machin e will handle well, <mt with a side-delivery reaper. Let the gavels lie one day as thrown off, then turn to cure on the other side, after which bind and shock, and when thoroughly cured stack for winter use (but be sure to let it cure thoroughly before stacking). Your stubble will throw up a crop of shoots that make excellent pasture through August and September when everything else is dry, or if not needed for that another crop as heavy as the first may be cut off and saved for winter, by which means you have got from eight to twelve tons of prime feed per acre of your land. For mules, which, however, are not much used in this country, I would plant in hills three feet apart each way, with twelve or fifteen seeds per hill. Cultivate well until about three feet high, when it will take care of itself, and when the seed is in the dough cut and shock in large shocks to stand until wanted. This will keep mules in prime condition without any other feed, and they may be worked hard all the time.—Correspondence of the Farmer.

Farmers’ Clubs. Farmers’ clubs are proving themselves to be of very great value to tillers of the soil. And this is a natural result. Is it not as necessary that farmers exchange their knowledge and experience in improved methods of agriculture as that members of the professions should hold meetings to consider various questions of importance to their professions, or that business men should associate to promote business interests. The experience of a year with an active and careful farmer will develop many things to him which would be valuable to others. There are many ventures on experiments which would be made needless, or would become no ventures at all if each farmer would keep a careful record of his experiences, his successes and his failures. The successes are most likely td be made known, but the failures would many times be the most instructive. Farming experience is made up through practical results and the application of well-tried principles under varying conditions, which if noted and given with the results may be of benefit to others. Farmers’ club meetings should not all be held in winter. It is then a good time to relate and hear experience and views, but during the working season a half day «pent in exchanging views in regard to the cultivation and handling of crops will be profitable. Such meetings should be mostly out of doors—practical meetings. The object should be,to increase knowledge so as to do away with uncertainty and make the business of the farmer of that character which will insure against failure in every respect except the calamities that come at times through the higher agencies.— Detroit Post. Potatoes. The high price of potatoes for years past should stimulate production to an extent at least to prevent the necessity of importations. Although the seasons have been unfavorable, one great difficulty in obtaining good crops is from lack of thorough cultivation. Soil for potatoes should be worked deeply, making it mellow at least six inches in depth. For this purpose on sod the disk harrow is without a peer. If the soil is rich and made thoroughly mellow to this depth, it will go through a long drought and still produce a fair crop of potatoes. As a rule plant early. Potatoes grow best when the weather is cool and moist, and, if they have a good start early, will usually go through the best. Do not use too much seed; this is a common fault. The best crops we have ever seen were raised when the seed cost $1 per pound, and, consequently, it was made to go as far as possible in planting, using but one eye to the hill. It is possible that extra care was given the crop because it was new and costly, but from the yield it is evident that the smaller quantity of seed answers as well, and without doubt better than a large quantity. While the potato plants are small keep the soil well worked up to the time the potatoes begin to form, and then, stop. If the soil is rather wet we prefer hilling with the plow; and for this purpose a steel shovel with wings does the work perfectly. On dry soil level culture is the best, but should be thorough and deep. The difference in

quality as well as in yield in favor of good cultivation will pay for the whole cost of producing leaving a handsome profit instead of barely paying for growing. -‘-Detroit Post.