The Elements of Agriculture Part 37

By careful attention to the foregoing points, weeds may be kept from increasing while those already in the soil may be eradicated in various ways, chiefly by mechanical means, such as hoeing, plowing, etc.[AN]

Prof. Mapes says that six bushels of salt annually sown broadcast over each acre of land, will destroy very many weeds as well as grubs and worms.

The _common hoe_ is a very imperfect tool for the purpose of removing weeds, as it prepares a better soil for, and replants in a position to grow, nearly as many weeds as it destroys.

The _scuffle-hoe_ (or push-hoe) is much more effective, as, when worked by a man walking backwards, and retiring as he works, it leaves nearly all of the weeds on the surface of the soil to be killed by the sun.

When used in this way, the earth is not trodden on after being hoed--as is the case when the common hoe is employed. This treading, besides compacting the soil, covers the roots of many weeds, and causes them to grow again.

[How may much labor be saved in removing weeds?

What is the Langdon horse-hoe?

Describe the _universal_ cultivator?]

Much of the labor of weeding usually performed by men, might be more cheaply done by horses. There are various implements for this purpose, some of which are coming, in many parts of the country, into very general use.

One of the best of these is the _Langdon Horse Hoe_, which is a shovel-shaped plow, to be run one or two inches deep. It has a wing on each side to prevent the earth from falling on to the plants in the rows. At the rear, or upper edge, is a kind of rake or comb, which allows the earth to pa.s.s through, while the weeds pa.s.s over the comb and fall on the surface of the soil, to be killed by the heat of the sun. It is a simple and cheap tool, and will perform the work of twenty men with hoes. The hand hoe will be necessary only in the rows.

CULTIVATOR.

The _cultivator_, which was described in the preceding chapter, and of which there are various patterns in use, is excellent for weeding, and for loosening the soil between the rows of corn, etc. The one called the _universal_ cultivator, having its side bars made of iron, curved so that at whatever distance it is placed the teeth will point _straight forward_, is a much better tool than those of the older patterns, which had the teeth so arranged that when set for wide rows, they pointed towards the clevis. It is difficult to keep such a cultivator in its place, while the "_universal_" is as difficult to move out of a straight line.

IMPROVED HORSE-HOE.

[What is the improved horse-hoe?]

The _improved horse-hoe_ is a combination of the "Langdon" horse hoe and the cultivator, and is the best implement, for many purposes, that has yet been made.[AO]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 9]

HARVESTING MACHINES.

Until within a comparatively short period, but little attention has been paid to the production of machines for harvesting the various crops.

During the past few years, however, many valuable inventions have appeared. Among these we notice Ketchum's mower, Hussey's mower and reaper, and Wagener's grain and gra.s.s seed harvester. The latter machine gathers only the grain and seeds of the crop, leaving the straw to be plowed under the soil, thus maintaining its supply of soluble silicates, and increasing its amount of organic matter. After taking the seed heads from the standing straw and gra.s.ses, it thrashes them, blows out the chaff, separates the different kinds of seeds, and discharges them into bags ready for market. It consists of a car containing the machinery; to this may be attached any required number of horses. The inventor affirms that it has harvested the grain of two acres in one hour, performing the work with accuracy.[AP]

There is much truth in the following proverbs:

"A garden that is well kept, is kept easily."

"You must conquer weeds, or weeds will conquer you."

[What are the two great rules in mechanical cultivation?]

It is almost impossible to give a _recapitulation_ of the matters treated in this section, as it is, itself, but an outline of subjects which might occupy our whole book. The scholar and the farmer should understand every principle which it contains, as well as they understand the multiplication table; and their application will be found, in every instance, to produce the best results.

The two great rules of mechanical cultivation are--

THOROUGH UNDER-DRAINING.

DEEP AND FREQUENT DISTURBANCE OF THE SOIL.

FOOTNOTES:

[AL] Field rollers should be made in sections, for ease of turning.

[AM] The beneficial effects of mulching is so great as to lead us to the conclusion that it has other means of action than those mentioned in this book. Future experiments may lead to more knowledge on this subject.

[AN] It is possible that the excrement.i.tious matter thrown out by some plants may be sufficiently destructive to other kinds to exterminate them from the soil--thus, farmers in Maine say that a single crop of turnips will entirely rid the soil of _witch gra.s.s_. This is, undoubtedly, the effect of the excrement.i.tious matter of the turnips.

This subject is one of practical importance, and demands close investigation by farmers, which may lead to its being reduced to a system.

[AO] The improved horse-hoe is made and sold by Ruggles, Nourse & Mason, of Worcester, Ma.s.s., and Quincy Hall, Boston.

[AP] This machine is more fully noticed in the advertising pages.

SECTION FIFTH.

a.n.a.lYSIS.

CHAPTER I.

[Why does true practical economy require that the soil should be a.n.a.lyzed?]

At the present time, when such marked improvements have been, and are still being made, in the practice of agriculture, the farmer cannot be too strongly advised to procure an a.n.a.lysis of his soil, and for obvious reasons.

It has been sufficiently proved that the plant draws from the soil certain kinds of mineral matter, in certain proportions; also, that if the soil do not contain the const.i.tuents required, the plants cannot obtain them, and consequently cannot grow. Furthermore, in proportion to the ability of the soil to supply these materials, in exactly the same proportion will it, when under good treatment, produce good and abundant crops.

[Can each farmer make his own a.n.a.lyses?

Why will not travelling chemists answer the purpose?

How must an a.n.a.lysis be used?]

All admit the value and the necessity of manures; they are required to make up deficiencies in the soil, and consequently, they must supply to it the matters which are wanting. In order to know what is wanting, we must know the composition of the soil. This can be learned only by accurate chemical a.n.a.lysis. Such an a.n.a.lysis every farmer must possess before he can conduct his operations with _true practical economy_.

An important question now arises as to whether each farmer can make his own a.n.a.lyses. He cannot do so without long study and practice. The late Prof. Norton said that, at least _two years'_ time would be necessary to enable a man to become competent to make a reliable a.n.a.lysis. When we reflect that a farmer may never need more than five or six a.n.a.lyses, we shall see that the time necessary to learn the art would be much more valuable than the cost of the a.n.a.lyses (at $5 or $10 each), setting aside the cost of apparatus, and the fact that while practising in the laboratory, he must not use his hands for any labor that would unfit them for the most delicate manipulations.