SUCCESS ON THE FARM. 39 



speak of soils, for harrlly any farm of mncli size but has several varieties of 

 soil and hence need different treatment and modes of culture, and cropped 

 with different kinds of grains. One should ascertain by reading and experi- 

 ment what certain kinds of soil lack to make them the most productive and 

 how they should be treated in order that plant growth shall be the most 

 rapid and enduringuntil the crop is matured. The analysis of the different 

 kinds of grain raised should be well understood ; what properties compose 

 them, what those properties need to best develop them, and then know what 

 soils are best calculated to produce them; in other words, there should be 

 an affinity and sympathy between the soil and the grain planted or sown. 

 Much of this can be learned from reading the scientilic experiments made 

 in this country and in Europe, and though people fail sometimes in applying 

 them, the fault is not with the inaccuracy of the report of the experiments 

 but in the manner of their application. Theory and practice are both good 

 teaclu'rs, and when taken together in a thoughtful and considerate manner as 

 applied to crop growing are generally productive of good results. In my 

 opinion too much farming is done by guess work. A farmer has a field he 

 wishes to plow and sow. In too many instances he considers what is con- 

 venient to him rather than taking into account the capabilities of the lot to 

 produce the best possible results. lie plants a field to corn which is better 

 adapted to the growth of oats or barley, and another to oats which is better 

 adapted to the gi'owth of corn. The result is a loss in both directions. If 

 water is liable to stay near the surface, it is imperative that it be removed by 

 under-draining. If the soil is of too arid a nature then these fertilizers 

 which tend to gather and hold moisture, such as salt, gypsum or plenty of 

 well rotted manure from the biirnyard. Thorough tillage is a necessity to 

 good crops. The land should be so thoroughly pulverized that the most 

 delicate roots of plants may penetrate it and find nourishment. No good 

 gardener would think of putting his garden seeds in a rough lumpy seed 

 bed, because he knows that they would not so surely germinate and if at all 

 will not grow so rapidly and strong. The same principle should be ap])lied 

 in fitting the ground before any crop should be planted. Better fit and till 

 one acre well than two poorly. Good healthy seed should always be used. It 

 is a truth that something cannot be produced from nothing, and it is equally 

 true that you must add to the soil you till as much or more than you take 

 from it, or the soil will become leaner and less productive. This may be done 

 in various ways. An occasional deep plowing, bringing up a sub-soil and 

 placing it where it can come in contact with the sun and atmosphere; by 

 sowing grasses whose roots penetrate deeply into the earth such as clover and 

 then plowing it under. Plaster, as it is called, is good upon crops which are 

 to be plowed under, as it is supposed to have an affinity for any ammonia 

 that may be floating through the atmosphere, thus attracting and holding it 

 until the rains carry it into the earth when it becomes plant food, besides 

 what finds its way by absorption through the leaves and stems of plants, to 

 the roots giving them succor and strength. Artificial fertilizers as a rule for 

 general farming are too expensive for what they contain and the average 

 farmer must utilize such materials as are at his command. To the second 

 question, what kind of grain shall we raise, much depends upon the soil, the 

 nearness to market, and the taste of the farmer. With the low price of 

 wheat, the high price of land and labor, wheat raising alone is poor economy. 

 The comparatively high price of beef, pork and mutton should be an argu- 

 men in favor of raising corn, oats, etc., and it is equally true that thev 



