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70 



THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE. 



Mae. 



us a very superior subsoil plow last season, 

 and which we find capable of loosing the 

 earth to a greater depth ; with the aid of 

 this we shall prepare our potato ground. 

 We plant in the third furrow, making the 

 rows three feet apart. The plow will turn 

 over three inches, covering the seeds of 

 weeds and rubish, the subsoil plow will fol- 

 low seven to nine inches, loosening up the 

 earth ; on this the seed will be dropped by 

 a. boy following after the team. The pota- 

 toes are cut one to two eyes on a piece, and 

 these pieces dropped a foot a part. The 

 next furrow covers them. Thus we proceed, 

 drooping in every third furrow, and subsoil- 

 ing the whole ground. Two teams and the 

 boy to drop, will thus put in two acres a 

 day. 



After planting, the land is left in this 

 condition until the plants begin to break 

 ground, when a two horse harrow is put on 

 and the whole thoroughly harrowed, after 

 this the roller follows, so as to as thoroughly 

 as possible pulverize the soil. In the course 

 of a week they are ready for the cultivator, 

 and are worked with this once a week until 

 they are six inches high, when a shovel 

 plow will give then a slight banking up; 

 before the blossoms are well set, they should 

 have another banking up with a large shovel 

 plow. The cultivator is again used to keep 

 down the weeds between the rows, but not 

 so as to disturb the hills, or more properly, 

 drills. If weeds grow on these, cut them 

 up with a sharp hoe, or pull them. We 

 think you will say that thus far there is no- 

 thing laborious about the culture of potatoes 

 more than any ordinary crop. The crop be- 

 ing kept clean, there is little trouble in dig- 

 ging. The spade fork is the best instru- 

 ment with which to throw them out of the 

 hills. We go in for cheap potatoes^ and 

 plenty of them. 



A Model Excuse. — A teacher in one of our 

 city schools lately received the following note : 



" Please excuse for being late and charge 



the same to my account." 



A few Questions Answered. 



Editcr Farmer — Bear Sir: — Yours an-l Mr. 

 Walker's answers to my inquiries of 1860, about 

 cellars and forest trees were satisfactory, to 

 which I have added a few improvements which I 

 may give you when I have thoroughly tr"ed them. 

 I am much obliged to you and Mr, W., and now I 

 wish to make a few inquiries about the barn and 

 bain-yard, as follows : 



1 A. OughLthe barn to be set highenoughoff the 

 ground to let the hogs or sheep shelter under it» 

 or is it best just sufficiently high to keep the rats 

 out? 



2J. Should the barn be weather boarded air- 

 tight, and air and light it by windows, or is it 

 best to leave the cracks open to let the air pass 

 through ? 



Sd. If it is to be aired and lighted by windows, 

 where wou'd you put them, and how put 

 them in ? What kind of glass is best for it ? 

 If the windows have shutters, which is best, the 

 solid -^r lattice shutters ? 



4th. What kind of flooring is best, cheapest* 

 and most durable for the stalls or stable part? 

 What do you think of a well beaten dirt floor? 



5th. How can the stall floors be drained or 

 kept properly dry and agreeable to the horses ? 



7th. What is the best and most convtnient way 

 to preserve the manure so as to keep it out of the 

 way until time to scatter it on the farm, and 

 keep it from making a disagreeable smell, which 

 is so unhealthy to man and beast, and make it 

 most valuable when scattered. 



7th. Is there any convenierft or practicable 

 way of keeping the barn yard dry without too 

 great expense, I mean greater than common 

 farmers can bear. 



8th. What is the best material for the walks to 

 the barn yard ? 



I ask these questions for the benefit of myself 

 and farmer-reading friends, and all whom it may 

 concern, and will be thankful for any answer 

 through the Farmer, if you think them worthy 

 of an answer. 



I would also be very glad to have a general 

 and pla'n description and plan of a barn and 

 house, with the yard lota and garden, «&c., 

 suitable for a small farm. This may require 

 considerable space, but as I have not seen much 

 given to it in the Farmer, I think it worthy of 

 considerable attention, but perhaps you will bo 

 weary of so many questions. So no more at 

 present. ' Wm. L. Prose. 



Tuscola, Douglas county, Feb. 18, 1861, 



