VOL. LIV.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., APRIL 1, 1899.
NO. 13
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What Is the Fault of a Seedbed that Needs
Plowing Deep the First Cultivation--
Give the Remedy.
1st Premium.—The fault ii not with the Beed be)
but with the man, for<nfact there is no seed bed
there. Nature does not p~epa*e a seed bed bo that
she must go dow n 6 or 8 inches and tear up the soil,
so her nurslings will be able to grow. If we go into
the forest we shall find that nature covers the eoil
with a mulch of leaves. Under the leaves w* find
a few inches of loose, rich mold or soil; beneath
fhis the soil and subsoil is compact and firm. But
\yecan have no leaves or dried'grass to cover our
fields in crop time. We must have the best substitute, a blanket or mulch of fine earth. We must
get all rubbiBh out of the way. So we plow the eoil
and turn all that is on the surface into it. Of course
all the readers of the Farmkr intend to have generally a sod to plow for the corn crop, preferably a
clover sod But are they careful enough how they
plow it, or with what kind of implement they do the
work? We can plow (T) bo that a great deal of
work is necessary to make seed bed, in which a
grain of corn is not ashamed to germinate. Again
we can plow so that a sma 11 amount of labor is necessary to prepare a good Beed bed. Let us see how.
We aha'l for our soil want a good eteel plow that
will cut from 18 to 15 inches; to tha* we must have
a j ointer attached. The j ointer cuts, in front of the
standard a narrow furrow, and deposits this turf
in the far side of the furrow. In do ng this the furrow slice ib beveled, bo that when turned it fits
perfectly down in the farrow leaving no large
open spaces underneath. Such plowing leaves
the surface comparatively level, no edges ot
aod or stubble protruding from beneath. The
kind of tool to follow the plow depends npon
thessiland the weather. It may be the roller,
drag, smoothing harrow or disc. But a plank drag
usually suits us better: then ust the others as
needed. We have from experience fou-d that a
perfect seed bed, which we have at times been able
to prepare wi'h very little labor, greatly lessens
the cultivation of the crop. When a good Beed hjpd
is made we can go into the field before the corn
comes np if necessary, with a steel lever harrow
(spike tooth) across the drills, and put the ear face
soil in fine condition. Then, after the corn is well
op, we harrow or run the weeder lengthwise of the
rows. But do not in either esse take out any teeth,
as the rows need cultivation as well as the spaces
between. In case the seed bed needs plowing
deeply the first cultivation, we would as a remedy
plow or cultivate deeply then roll down with a
heavy roller and immediately harrow. If that is
not sufficient repeat the remedy, for a grave mistake has been made that costs much extra labcr.
Lizton,   O. K. h,
2d Premium.—With too Bhallow preparation no
seedbed can be thoroughly prepared with surface
tools, such as a Bpike tooth smoothing harrow and
rubber or roller. This is true to a very marked extent fn soils that have been tramped or plowed
when wet. The under stratum being cloddy with
air crevices, makes it necessary that the first and
sometimes even the second plowing be deep to pre
pare this under part for the tiny rost'ets, and to
prevent the escape of moisture through these air
crevices. It is thought that moit of our soils contain an abundance of potash to grow mest of our
cereals, and this iB made available for plant food
by extra tillage. So amount of deep plow ng after
planting will make this potash as available as a
deep and thorough preparation before planting. If
we could turn our finely smoothed surface over, as
carpenters do in planing a board, we would no
doubt see the need of a deeper preparation. We
nsed to prepare our seedbeds with surface tools,
and often in riding on the planter we could feel the
roughness of the under part, and some grains
wouTd be a great deal deeper than others, bnt now
we use a cutaway harrow that cuts and brings the
clods to the surface and fills the crevices, as deep
»s plowed, so that we can plant a uniform depth,
»nd after cultivation is only needed to retain the
moisture and keep down the weeds. T M. S.
I-apeL
BKVIEW.
There are two reasons why crops flourish on vir-
giniofl. One is the abundance of soluble plant
food. The other is the splendid condition of the
seedbed. The seedbed in natural soil is much
firmer than one likes to see it in our fields Do we
not have a false notion as to the firmness of a typical seedbed? Dig into a natural seedbed and see
bow mellow it is on top but how firm it is a little
way down. One would be tempted to say at once
that it is too hard for corn. But plant it in corn
even if you don't break it more than two inches
deep and see if it don'.t grow off nicely.
The corn roots as we all know run from two to
six feet deep. So it is true that in our most com.
mon soils our break-ng is only to mellow a little
surface ofthe ground actually used. This furnishes a good Bprouting bed to start the plant in.
After it has a little growth it drops its roots quickly
down Into the lower soil which we have not dis.
turbed. I have seen good corn grow in places in
new ground where the seed was planted on top of
the ground.
I mentioned two conditions that make a crop
thrive in a virgin soil. There are also two that are
not appreciated in preparing an artificial Beedbed
Tlie first is thatthe plant needs a much firmer
seedbed than one may think. And the other Is that
our bed is unnatural because ot lack of humus. I
have seen one running the cultivator deep in small
corn when the ground was so mellow that I could
twiBt my foot down as deep as it was broken. This
bed was too loose, already and was actually injured by deep cultivation. This bed was nude by
turning under a whole clover crop. And this had
been repeated every third year,
We say that nature plows her bed with frost, but
the most universal plow in her hand is roots. She
is forbidden the use of frost in the warmer climates. Yet there she grows the best crops. And
we find her bed a model one. Her most efficient
and universal plow is roots. Boots pry apart and
crumble the soil in a thousand little »artf. and in
leaving their carcasses for humus they give a parting blessing.
'Let us put it in this order, roots, humus, frost,
nature's trinity. Burrowing animals, worms, microbes and Insects, many of which dig for food, are
also her instruments.
Now let us look at that clay knoll. We have
worked out the mold. So the plant roots have no
power to penetrate the soil. No roots no animal
life in the soil Down it goes to a firm bed on its
way back to rock. Now we must improve our tools
to stir and stimulate it. In the virgin eoil we needed
few tools. Now we can't afford to do without the
best. What then does it mean for us to find that
we must cultivate deep the first plowing? Do we
not notic* that this is necessary mostly on the clay
kncl'e? We remember the clover did not s ick on
the c ay hills, and we had only a light growth of
what cid stand. We clovered our land every third
year Yes, we did, but not the hills. We sowed the
hills but didn't clover them. I was much interested
in listening to Mr. Terry a whole week as he addressed the Short Course students a fewweeksago
I also talked with him at his room an hour. He
has been uging mannre different'y from our custom. While he saves the liquid better than many,
yet what I want to mention is his sparing use of
manure. He says he thinks a great deal of the element of ferment it contains That he would rather
put five loads on an acre, if short, than on half an
acre. That it sets up a ferment in the soil that
greatly increases its efficiency. Mr. T. watches
these knobs and resows them. Patches (he clover
on them, even harrows or rakes the seed in if nee
essary, and feeds it if hungry.
Prof. Huston said a little lime* to 5 bushels per
acre on those sticky clay hil's will work wonders
It makes it floculent and granular so the air ard
m isture can enter. Many soils would b* helped
by ashes which in some localities is very cheap
t speak at some lenuth because in so many institutes the complaint is made of not a stand of clover. Many expect the remedy to lie in the time of
sowing. This varies with the c'imate both in place
and season. To look for it there is like ths search
forthe Holy Grail. And we •hallflnd tlie remedy
in a better seed bed rather than in an infallible
time of sowing.
In conclution let me say that no one can hope to
make deep cultivation really fill the place of humus
in the eoi\ It is at best only a poor substitute. It
may be the best we can do just now but it is a good
index to note that when our soil runs together s<»
as to need deep cul'ivation the tlrstplowing.it is the
result of bad farming.
In writing for this department pleaie give the
name and address on all copy. If one wi«hes an
incog he can write it in place of his name. Hut he
should always give his true name and address. I
do not think itis fair to give a premium toon* who
does not give the paper for which he writes his
name and address We now want the address of John
Meyer of Spencer Co., of W. T. K. of Vermillion
Co , also of B. D., and of Mrs. W.ishington of Floyd
County.
No. 161, April 8.—Give us tho story of
your grape vines. What buildin« may they
climb? How do you grow them on buildings
and on trellises?
Premiums of $1 75 cents and 50 cents will bo
given to 1st, 2d and 3d beet articles each week.
Let copy be as practicable as possible and forwarded 10 days before publication to
Oarmel. E. H. Collins.
POSTAL CARD CORRESPONDENCE.
A i.i.kn tv , Ma ch II.—The prospect fer wheat is
bad,so is the clover: stoc* haa wintered well; fool
many iheep in this part of country.
P. Johnston.
Wahakii Co., March IS.—Wheat is suffering very
badly by the freezes. Farmers are making arrange-
to sow their wheat fields to oats; stock looks well;
feed plenty; roads very muddy. K. M. T.
Lai'Ortk Co., March 14 —We had a snow fall on
the I2d of six inches which covered up the whesj
nicely, some of the wheat w.ll b* winter killed,
can'* tell how much yet; snow on yet and no farm
work done; no spring days yet; some sugar made
Mkw. B. A. Davis.
Waukkn Co., March 28—Freezing at night and
thawing in daytime is very hard on wheat. H^nd1*
very bad, dirt nnd gravel. Much loss of pigs; many
nre weak and never ftand. Other stock doing well;
no oats sown yet Many s.-iles of stock nnd implements; selling well generally; but little fat  stock.
J. A.J.
Wavnk Co., March 2.5.—Our bees have come
through this far all safe and sound, though it was
prophesied in the Farmkr that there would be a
great loss of bers We expect a great honey season
Wheat is looking fine. Stock has come through
the winter in flne Bhaps. We have the grip badly;
several died of it, Our squashes are all safe, and
we did not build a fire either. W. B. Q.
Harrisix Co., March 15.— Growing wheat is
looking better, but much of it was sown too late to
make a good crop. Some plowing for corn. Few
potatoes planted. MoBt stock looking well. Weather very changeable. Health tolerable; some have
the grip, trices: Wheat 63 cents: corn 40 cents;
oats 85 cents; potatoes $100 to $111) per bushel; eggs
Scents per dozen; bntter 10 cents per pound. JTay
15.00 to 16.00 per ton. Cattle scarce and high; hogs
4 cents. T. L.
imi'l diamond, which he found in the streets of
Chicago SO years ago, and for which he has never
been able to discover an owner.
Lieutenant Hobson has a brother at West Point
who'is being hazed. He was to commit to memory
and repeat long accounts of his brother's doings,
and whenever tho family name is mentioned must
point to his breast and Hay solemnly, "That is I."
It is claimed that there is a special kind of salt
in nuts which is especially good for softening the
muscles of the arteries and elderly people who tuf-
ser from the stiffening of these muscles are especially benefited by eating nuts.
Irish stew is a dish never seen in Ireland.
Mexico ie spending about #200,000 a year for
I'nited States furniture. s
There are more than 40,000 mud cabins in Ireland
which contain only a single room,
Brazil is now tlie principal coffee-producing
country of the world. InlSftS the crop was estimated at 7,000,000 bags.
HHorses, giraffes and ostriches have the largest
eyes of all terrestrial animal*, but among marine
animals there are cephalopods or irk-flshes which
have eyes as large as a plate.
More than a century ngo a meeting place was
erected at the head of the Tuckahoe liver, near
Tuckahoe, N. J„ and it was paintei for the first
time three weeks ago.   Ked was the color.
Hawks have been seen to follow ih the wake of a
moving railway train, to swoop down on small
birds that were suddenly di*turbed and frightened
by the noise, and therefore for the moment were
off their guard.
MXutc _*zxos.
An effort is being made in Henry oounty to stock
the farms with Mongolian pheasants.
Ten boys have been arrested a^ Kokomo for
stealing brass and selling the ume to junk dealers
and nine more are under surveillance. The boys
knocked brasses from machinery in mills and factories, and it is said that in gathering up two carloads of the plunder they dismantled machinery
valued at lis,000.
Mrs. McMullen, of the Bobinson's chapel neighborhood, one ofthe oldest pioneers, has just celebrated her 91 birthday anniversary. She is in good
health, save that she is suffering from the effects
of a fall.
Earl VanAtta is the Tippecanoe county farmer
whom the S'ate health oflicers reported as having
filed two abandoned wnlls on his farm with dead
hogs. Investigation proved the correctness of the
report, and an arrest and flne followed.
The dead body of Frank Wiles, 18 years old, was
found on ia* father's farm, near Olcnw od, with a
bullrt-hole in the region of the heart and another
in the tem.jle. Although the boy had his *ifle with
him, his relatives do not accept the theory of *ui-
cide, and are inclined to belitve that he is a victim
of foul p'ay.
William Itorders four miles west of Rushville,
wae dangerously iojuredbya vicious horse. He
was leading the mi mal with a halter, when it
reared on its hind quarters and leaped on Mr. borders.   His arm and several ribs were broken.
A walnut tree was cut down on the Woods farm
inWabash county .nine feet in circumference at the
ba^e and measured (X) feet to the first limb.
A "ghostly habitat in the attic ofthe Wenter home
at Lawrenceburg proves to be a swarm of bees,
which took possession last spring, and utilized an
open gable window in storing away 40 pounds of
honey.
(Sonera! lEXzxos.
Knox sportsmen report floe duck shooting on tlie
Kankakee.
Counterfeit quarters bearing date 1S91 are circulating at Valparaiso and vicinity.
A Waldoboro (Me.) bachelor, while Watching be.
side the c.uich of his sick father this 'winder, ha,
made three as fine quilts as were ever produced at
an old fashioned quilting bee.
A Qermai tailor who died at Breslau in 1S37 had
such keen sight that he was able to see two of Jupiter's four moors with the naked eye.
Senator-elect Hayward, of Nebraska wears upon
his watch-chain a valuable child's ring, set with a
Mr. Terry's Success Accounted For.
Editors Indiana. Fabheb.
Do you think it possible to achieve as great
success on average Hamilton county soil as
T. B. Terry did on his?
I have visited Terry's section twice, and his
home once. Aleo Mr. Chamberlain'*. In
studying the conditions of success I was Impressed that they were not eo different from
other people's opportunities. There were
neighbors all around Terry that raised poor
crops and made little money. In fact the
farm Terry bought had starved its owner Out.
Somehow I can't help thinking there is more
ln the method and the man than we are willing to admit. That very farm starved one
man and fed and boomed another, and that
under practically the same market conditions.
There is something peculiar ln Mr. Terry's
make up that Is hard to follow. I studied him
often, and this past winter especially. I am
not married to any man so that I can not see
his faults. But take it as you will the facts
are here; they stare us in the face. Until we
can answer them we must respect the cause.
In everything but politics facts are stubborn
things. The successful life is here; let us see
that we get from lt Its lesson. Mr. Terry, if
asked would answer promptly, as I have often
heard him say, "I do not pretend to oratory,
I havo a simple story to tell. It is purely a
story of farming on business principles. If
the land is treated kindly it has unlimited
possibilities. I have simply farmed the best
I knew, and have taken pains to know."
Who should be able to give a better answer
than Terry himself?
Mr. T. says that the market conditions are
different now, thatthe Dakotas have monopolized the potato market. Mr. T. says he is
is not maklDg esmuch out of potatoes as formerly, except as he sells them for seed. But
in this life opportunities do not cease; they
only change .places. As long as man gets
hungry and pants bag at the knees there will
be opportunities. Sometimes they lag a little during depressions, but soon 'return. And
if Mr. Terry were to come to Hamilton county today twenty years younger he would find a
way to make as great a euccess as he did ln
Ohio.
I can hardly close without saying that to
me Mr. T's. success means Thoroughness.
Also a clear tact ln seeing how to top the
markets. There was no greater mystery about
it than thero is in the succsss of one railroad
president and the less success of another.
E. H. 0.