Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1892 — AGRICULTURAL TOPICS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AGRICULTURAL TOPICS.

A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR OUR RUftAL READERS. Effect of the Flow on the Moisture of the Soli—A Milking Yurtl Convenience— Bow to Make a Wagon Jack—Fool try, Eta. THE FARM Fralnlng by Flowing.

THE plow has no small effect on the moisture of the soil. It found the Illinois praiX ties, for exam pie, \ covered with waiter; but breaking ijijjijup the soil injereased drainage K /until the excess Mm has been much reduced. In Kansas the plow has increased the moisture in the soil. Breaking up the ground -* has allowed more

of the rain to penetrate, and the increased capillarity of the soil has better regulated the amount of moisture in it. Of course other agencies were at work in both cases: but the part done by the plow is none the less real or important. But by keeping the desired point in view in plowing, and plowing accordingly, we may multiply the effect of the plow on the moisture in the soil, either to reduce or increase the amount. If there is an excess, then we are to plow in such a way as to favor the escape of water. The most convenient method of plowing is to plow around the outside of the Held or of the “land.” But on flat land this method is suicidal. It makes in time a ridge around the margin of the field, damming the water on the field. " If we divide such land into narrow lands and begin in the center, throwing the furrow in, the water not only can, but since it must run down hill, it must drain to the ditches along the fields. On flat land there is no danger of gullies by mak-' ing’the land furrow at the same place each year. On land more rolling, gullies may be avoided by moving the land furrow a little to either side each year; this is easily done by making the outside lands narrower or wider. Hilly fields, frequently having a lijht soil, should be plowed in the opposite way. They are _apt to lack mositure. because the water so readily and rapidly flows off that 'much of it does not sink into the soil; and the upper parts of the hills, at least, are usually far above the influence of the ground water. In plowing such fields we must also consider their aptness to wash and gully, especially when they are in cultivated crops. It is hare to keep these fields up, because of the carrying away of the soil. If, in plowing, we throw the furrow out each year, we soon have an embankment around the margin. This will break the force of the currents from the higher ground, retard the flow of the water, and thus give it more tfane to sink into the soil. The embankment will also soon catch the greater part of the soil brought down from above, and oy this means will be increased, in extent and effectiveness. Instead of the soil being carried off the field and lost, it is deposited 'On an ever-widening strip. Thisstrip, thus fertilized from above, will not need manure; and twice the former amount may be applied to the higher-ground. Thus this higher ground also will be enriched, and,for the further reason that the wash from it is less. It is desirable that the furrows should run up and down the hill, although some prefer the opposite. But the water will cut across the furrows and make deeper gullies than jvhen each furrow affords an exit for the comparatively small amount falling on it. It may be necessary, therefore, to plow each year a headland along the foot of the hill. To hold the embankment well in place, seed the margin—the fence row or the bans: of the stream—well to grass. The soo will hold firm, and the grass will catch much of the soil brought over. It. is apparent, that by so plowing, the’foot of the incline is being constantly raised, bringing the land nearer to a level and hence more favorable to an ample supply of moisture in the soil; while the Ipss from washing ai»d gullying is <rea,tlv reduced.—John M. Stahl, in American Agriculturist. Home-Marfe Wagon Jack. The following is a description of wagon jack I made for my own .use, and which I find to fill the place of an expensive shop-made one to perfection. Ais a piece of 2x4 scantling about 4 feet long; 18 inches from end make mortise for B, also one near

the other end for C. Bis 2x4 and length to suit height of wheels. For my wagon it is 22 inches from bottom of A to top for D (wheels low), with open mortise in top of D. C is 28 incnes high with two notches cut open below and hooking above to catch D when wheel is raised and D. lowered. <f>. is 14x3 at larger end and 5 teet long, with hole 8 inches from end, at B, for pin, and cut to fit notch at C.—E. M. Inman, in Practical Farmer. Top Dressing Mowing Landa. Upon most farms there are some fields ofapermanent mowing that are continued from year to year in grass. Because these give a fair return is no* reason why they should be neglected, although if unfed and no aftermath is removed, they may not suffer at all by the continual cropping. If a very light top dressing of well pulverized manure is occasionally applied, its effects upon succeeding crops is almost magical. An application ot ashes also shows its infiuence in an increased growth and in causing a luxuriant growth of clover where there was none before. More hay means more manure, and more manure, better crops.