Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1873 — Experiments upon the Farm. [ARTICLE]

Experiments upon the Farm.

The farmer has abundant opportunities for acquiring a knowledge of his business throughexperiments, and he should not fail to use them to the utmost extent. We do not mean hy this that a man should be continually changing products or systems of culture, but that he shall keep himself sufficiently unbiassed to adopt new things and plans which are likely to be of practical utility. All men are more or less prone to follow the beaten path made by their predecessors, and few have the courage to diverge from these lines and strike out for themselves. We often forget that general rules in agriculture admit ofnlany exceptions, and It is only those of a specific character that admit of a specific application. For instance, a deep soil is conceded to he more valuable than a shallow one; hence the general rule that, deep culture should be practiced in order to produce great results; still there are many cases where a man would no doubt he the loser by adopting such a system. It is only through carefully conducted experiments that we can learn what is best either in systems of culture or the crops raised-. Different soils require a 'different treatment; climate and exposure may also necessitate a variation in the mode of culture-, as well as in the kinds of crops cultivated, and these are the things that the intelligent farmer must learn if he would be successful. In some portions of the country wheat sown with a drill is not so liable to be injured in winter as when sown broadcast, while in others the difference between the two systems is scarcely, if at all, perceptible. A few experiments will show the farmer which is the best, and then he can choose for himself without regard to what others may say. But if he never tries but one system he will not know whether it is the best or not. Mulching winter wheat is also highly recommended by those who have tried it in regions where there is little snow in winter, and theoretically it seems to be the one thing needful in all regions where the young grain is liable to be exposed to cold winds in winter, as itis in most prairie countries; but experiments would soon settle the question definitely,. A few rods square or acres might be covered for a few years in succession, and by noticing the results the farmer could determine whether it would pay him to adopt the system upon a larger scale. That which is best in one locality may be the worst in another, and this is one great argument in favor of local personal experiments.

It may be more profitable to the Western farmer,, to feed his hogs and cattle corn on the ear than to shell and grind it, while the Eastern farmer would find the exact reverse of this the most economical, for practice—must vary to accord with circumstances. Among stocks we find breeds that are better adapted to one. locality than to another, but how is a man to ascertain this fact, except through experiments? If a man desires to sell beef, be would select quite a different breed -oh animals from those usually kept for the dairy, at least if he was a man of intelligence, and understood bis business thoroughly. The same is true in regard to fruits, vegetables, and all kinds of grains, and one needs to be continually experimenting in order to learn when, how and where to make a change,' if such should be necessary. If you have never tried subsoiling, give it a thorough trial, upon one field, at least, for it may be just the thing required to enable you to raise large and remunerative crops. ..*..We know that there are thousands of acres of what are called worn-out lands in the Eastern and Southern States that only need deep culture to restore their long lost fertility. Their owners will not experiment in this way or any other direction, and the results are well known ;-t r q jevery one who has studied scientific agriculture or traveled through these desolate regions of country. Because one crop fails it is no sign that another might not succeed, even upon the same soil, and be cultivated with profit It is not enough to do well in fanning, but every one should try to do better. Neither is it safe to pursue a system that is impoverishing the, soil and gradually lessening its products, although this istlie practice in. all new regions of the country, and in many of the old.— N. 'T. Sun \ * *- A man who has been engaeed in petty thefts from Btores in Concord, N. H.,Went to them the other day, and made ample restitution, declaring, with tears in bis eyes, that ha could neither eat nor sleep, the matter lay so heavily on his conscience, He had not been suspected.

The Eagle Distillery at Indianapolis cost $46,000, but was sold recently for $21,000, leaving $25,000 to be charged to the new teroperghcela\y, j.;. ■ - . Consumption.—For the euro of this distreseliig disease there has been no medicine yet discovered that can show more evidence of real merit than Allen's Lung Balsam. This unequaled expectorant for curing consumption, and all diseases leading to it, such as affections of the throat, lungs, and all diseases of the pulmonary organs, is introduced to the suffering public after its merits for the cute of such diseases have been fully tested by the medical faculty. The Balsam is, consequently, recommended by physicians who have become acquainted with its great success.

A New Departure in Medicine.— There are "new departures’’ in medicine, t»s well as in politics. The latest anil most successful of these J 3 the bold movement of Dr. Joseph Walkfcf, of California, who has actually had the effrontery to produce a Vegetable Tonic and Restorative, without any alcoholic basis, which is curing disorders of the stomach, liver, botVelsj nerves and pulmonary organs, with a rapidity-that fairly entitles him to the anathemas of the Old School of Physicians, and the praise and confidence of the New! His California Vinegar Bitters may, be safely pronounced the most popular remedy of the age. When it is considered that this now famous specific was introduced some two years ago, 4*,s present sale, which is at the rate of 3,000,000 bottles per annum, can only be ascribed to its intrinsic merits. It is believed that the history of "patent medicines” affords no example of a success so "rapid aid coffi'pl el®. The uo null unity- insists that this success la thoroughly deserved, and we have no inclination to dispute its dictum. The Voice of the People, if not exactly that of Omnipotence, is generally the voice of Common Sense, and “fl they have had ample time to take a sober second-thought on the subject, it may be assumed that in this instance, their opinion is creditable to their sagacity. _ . A prudent business man will be ns careful to insure his life as his goods. Insurance is absolute protection when secured in good .Before (dosing any contract to insure your life exjirnfne tlre plans - and look -into -the practical workings of the oid New York Life Insurance Company. If there is an agent of the company in your vicinity, invite him to your place of business and he will give yon some interesting facts, and, if not, send to the home office, 316. and :B'‘d Broadway,. New York, for a statement of the vast, business; done, assets, and dividends paid; We have seen it stated in various papers throughout the country, that Agents tor the sale of Sheridan's Cavalry _ Condition Ibiedfrs were authorized to refund the money to any person who should use them and not he satisfied with the result. We doubted this at first, but the'proprietors authorize us to say that it is true, Johnxord s Anodyne Liniment . is, without doubt, the safest,'surest, and best remedy that has ever been inventertfor internal and external use. Ttifl applicable to a great vafiety of complaints, and .is equally beneficial for maa~er-beast.— ——-. ■ ' / / v msTADOTUVS Jb-YCELsion Hair Bye stanris uiiTivaH-ed. aiid=flkme; its imctUs lcivc. biieii rd 1114-versally-acknowledged that it would T»e a supererogation to descant Ou tlreiriaiiy further—nothing can beat it. Fi. Ann's Ins i an t llruv? lias stood twenty years’ test. Is warranted 10 give hnnu’J.uilc r>li<f to all jtliciimatic, Neuralgic, Head, Ear, and Back AClles, orinomy refunded. Throat Affections and Hoarseness.— All Buffering; from irritation Of the Throat and Hoarseness will be agreeably surprised at the almost immediate relief afforded by the useof “Brown's Bronchial Troches .”