lSS(5 



ClLKANtNGS tN JiEE CUtTllRK. 



409 



ihcs3 wlio dj it enter into llie spirit of get- 

 ting rid of tlic stones, filling irii lioles and 

 getting the ricli decayC(i leaves nsnally 

 found in such sinkholes upon tiie surface, 

 they won't consider it very hard work. 

 Some of our boys tliought it was a little hard 

 to go down into tliis nasty mud, but I fur- 

 nislied them a pair of rubber boots at my 

 own expense, and we don't find it disagree- 

 able, unless it is tlie nasty smell that arises 

 when such places are shoveled out. I rather 

 like the s;iiell, because it reminds me that 

 valuable fertilizing material is stowed away 

 there. 



While speaking of the roller, I might re- 

 mark that we consider the tool a very valua- 

 ble one when used judiciously. It should 

 never be lun over plowed ground, however, 

 unless the soil is so dry that it packs it no 

 more than to mash up all the lumps, and 

 level the surface. To get ground real nice 

 for setting out plants, or for almost any oth- 

 er purpost', we go over it with the roller and 

 Acme harrow alternately. lloU it twice and 

 h;urow it twice, and your ground ought to 

 b \ in beautiful order for sowing the seed. 



By the way, perhaps you would like to 

 know how I like to see the ground prei)ared 

 for sowing seed or for setting out plants. 

 But before describing my plan I ^^ ant to say 

 that >on will have to be governed a good 

 deal by circumstances— tlic implements at 

 command, the size of your land, etc. 

 Ground that has been plowed the year before, 

 as soon as it is dry enough, we go over 

 w iih the Acme harrow, then loll it until it 

 looks as if it might do very well for sowing 

 tlie seed. Well, when the ground is soft 

 and line and nice on the surface, we go over 

 it with the manure-spreader, and spread 

 twenty loads to the acre, of the best manure 

 we can find ; then the Acme harrow goes 

 over it again, and stirs the manure well up 

 "with the surface soil, until the ground is 

 line again. It is now ready to be plowed. 



In regard to plowing the ground, I suppose 

 almost any old farmer can tell you more 

 about that than I can, if you do not know it 

 already. We want to do a nice job at every 

 step, and we want nice plowing to begin 

 with. After it is plowed nicely, go over the 

 same operations again; i.e., harrowing it with 

 the Acme harrow, rolling it, picking off the 

 stones, harrowing it again, another putting- 

 on of manure witli the manure- spreader, an- 

 other thorough harrowing; then, if the 

 ground is dry enough, finish with the roller, 

 and yon are ready for putting in the crop. 

 I have practiced subsoil plowing to some 



extent, but so far I have not seen any very 

 great advantage resulting therefrom. 



The entire difference between loss on the 

 one hand and gain on the other, may de- 

 pend on a little management. During these 

 beautiful growing days in the month of 

 May it is of the utmost importance that 

 your work move right along without any 

 hitches or breaks. If you are going to suc- 

 ceed, you can not go visiting very much, 

 nor attend picnics or excursions. If you are 

 going to be guided by me, you must get 

 your happiness from your work. Your 

 mind should be keeping pace with your 

 body. Plan all your work the night before- 

 hand, so as to be ready to take right hold 

 as so(m as you wake up in the morning. 

 When you get through using one machine, 

 have your mind fully made up what one is 

 to come next. Decide whether the wliipple- 

 trecs, ncckyoke, and clevises are all where 

 you want them. Don't go off across the 

 farm to hilch on to a tool, and find you have 

 forgotton the doubletrees, and then have to 

 go back after them. I have known men 

 who would get the doubletrees, and then 

 would go back again to get the neckyoke. 

 If you work in that way you will sm'ely fail. 



Another thing, doubletrees and wliipple- 

 trees frequently break. I do not know that 

 it is practicable to make them so they won't 

 break. It might be done, it is true; but 

 you would have to have them so heavy that 

 you would prol)ably lose in another way in 

 the end. But, be sure of this: That there 

 are surplus whippletrees ready to be put on 

 at a moment's notice. I would also have 

 surplus bolts and burs nicely put away in 

 the tool-house, or wherever your tools are 

 kept. Have oil-cans, and tallow^ also, in 

 readiness, to keep all your tools in good 

 working order. Be sure that wrenches, 

 suitable for the work they are to do, be in 

 readiness near by, and make it your busi- 

 ness, sleeping or waking, to be ready to 

 push ahead in spite of accident and emer- 

 gency. 



When the weather is fine, decide exactly 

 what you are going to do the moment it 

 rains; or, if you keep a hired man, have 

 work saved up in readiness for him during a 

 rainy day. Do not, under any circumstan- 

 ces, let him do work during beautiful 

 weather that can just as well be put off un- 

 til a rainy day. Hired men will do these 

 things unless you keep a careful watch on 

 them. Neither will it answer for you to 

 set a big strong man at something that a 

 woman or child could do equally well. The 



