Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1890 — FARM AND GARDEN. [ARTICLE]

FARM AND GARDEN.

In a wet season seed potatoes cut some days prior to planting and allowed to dry out some what will best resist rot. In a dry season the seed should be' freshly cut and planted while containing the maximum amount of moisture. ? The reason why it is better to spread manure in ibe fall than in the spring is becaush the soluble parts are then carried into and incorporated with the soil through the fall and winter, and are in readinecsjtojlend their aid to'the very first growth of spring. The. principal district for growing the famous Newton pippins is along the Hudson river, in the vinoinity of Newburg. They are also grown extensively, sometime under the of the Albemarle pijfein, in the Piedmont region of Virginia and in the uplands of North Carolina. The most northern peach region of any importance lying eastef the Sierra Hkvadas is that in the state of Michigan, along the east side of the lake of the same name. This oxtends as far north as 45 degrees, and is one of the most noted and profitable peach districts of the United Stated. A narrow tire wears out a road twice as fast as a heavy. There is no law which will compel a man to use a “broan tire, but toll reads could work a revolution in this matter if they would graduate their tolls according to the width of the lire, and such a discrimination would be wholly just; as the man who wears out the road should pay for it. Vegetables are tenderest whpn most rapid in growth. maturing late are likely to be tough and usually scarce, nor would we consider them as healthful. That farmer is fortunate who has some means of irrigation on his farm to push his garden and his fields in time of lack of moisture.

The strawberry growers about Centralia, 111., during the last season handled their crop through a local fruit-raisers’ association and saved in expence about 5 cents a case over former years. On the crop of 53,436 cases this amounted to $2.171.90. Cooperation can be applied to almost every branch of agriculture, from buying the seed to selling the crop, and in every branch—labor, transportation, etc— with almost unfailing good results. “In unionAfaere is strength” is a motto that is being practically applied by our leading manufactures to-day, and agriculturists should not be slow to take the hint. A row of shade trees is often desired along the edge of a cultivated field, especially if the field borders upon the highway, but an objection to it is that it injures the adjacent crops. The injury is done by the roots of the trees rather than by their shade, as the same soil can not well nourish two crops at the same time. To remedy this, and yet to have botfh the trees and the crop, dig a trench along the row, inside the field, say two and a half feet d'eep. This will sever the tree roots upon that side, without any serious injury to their growth. Fill in the trench, and the ground may then be successfully cultivated with almost -any crop, In a pecuniary point of view the profession of the farmer seems to grow less and less profitable. Because of this his lands are rated at a less value than formerly. It is harder work to meet taxes and debts, to sustain credit, and most of ail, to maintain an exact and perfect procedure in work. Though there De more than one reason for this, doubtless the chief one is that the land has become less fertile, What is to be done? There is necessarily a confusion in the mind of the general farmer over all that is said in regard to fertilizing and fertilizers. The majority can not grasp the question scientifically, and, therefore, not intelligently. As a rule, to follow the best of his counsellors would require more time or work or outlay than he could afford. Are there any means of relief that are simple or inexpensive? What is the best manna? <if fertilizing at a minimum cost? A contributor to the agricultural columns of one of our exchanges gives the subject a thorough overhauling. He clearly indicates means that are simple; effective and cheap, and certainly deserves not our contempt. The whole story is—clover and sod. Chemically they furnish us more nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid than stable manure or bone dust, and. in fact, furnish elements that chemical and mineral fertilizers do not. The soil needs a large supply of vegetable growth or organio matter. Barnyard manure can not be applied as cheaply as prepared fertilizer, nor in sufficient quantities to give the requisite dressing to all the , cultivated fields. After hi 9 comparison j of real values he shows plainly that j the fertilizing power in good clover sod, together with the root values deep down in the Boil,—the chemical and vegetable agents—is far more thaD we usually measure it. The vegetable matter makes porous the soil and fits it for holding moisture. The sod also favors tho taking up of nitrogen, which the soil so much needs. The sod protects from wash and waste. Its effect is not lost in one season. He ends up by wondering that sod is not appreciated more as a fertilizer, even though the others aro in the market | and ready to use on short notice.