The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-04-05 00:00:00

'arming,

THE LOOK OF TIIE FAR 11f TIIIS SPRING.
We ',hold(' lie incline I t • fix the advent id Spring at
March 21, of eumnier on dune 21, of autumn on
September 21, and of winter on Deemnber 21. Simmons,
however, actually vary from four to ..ix weeks, as is
Proved by the different periods at which harvest com-
mences in a series of years. The pros fit season ilaol
^lamed favourably. We cannot complain that there
has been but scant opportunity for epring sowing,
nvth.er need we be alarmed with fears of the frost
nipping prenaature blossoms of apples and peen. The
land has dried, and the precious • !arch dust has ap-
peared in abundance. Early spring keep for sheep, in
the form of winter rye, rye-grass, and early rape. has
come forward hopefully to take the rlace of feet
rotting and fast disappearing swedes. A few day* ago
fine; became oppressive comforts, anil winter clothing
a•wearinese. The advance of the season, howe%er, as
metal, received a chock. Spring always enjoys taking
a few step, backwards, and often indulges in the gouge-
step for weeks together. But a few days since +the
seemed inclined for brisk onward movenient. Barley
which we sower! on Friday was grown out on the Mon-
day. The weather then chang.(l, *Tel the g.wilms-st,9
has been going on now for several days. The recent
dry weather must have benn very welconin to clay lead
fanner',. Since last October up to about a fortnight
since we cannot recall any opportunity for working
really clay lands. A good deal of lend intended for
wheat must have remained unsown, and will now pim
bably be planted with oats or barley. After bowler
sowing the next works I,f iniportance are the sowing
of grass seeds and spring rolling. There is, after r.ll.
no reeling hurry for grus "cede, and we should
recommend other work to be pressed hewer.' in pre-
ference. Clover is too apt to become too strong for the
barley, and to prove a ecrious hindrance at harvest.
We think it desirable to wait a til toward+, tho middle
of April, when most of the barley is well above
ground, before sowing the " small see-ds." We find it
almost imponsible to obtain English gi,iwn min( .
For two 5.5311011,1 the crop hoe proved a failure, and the
few samples offered are only t, be bought at extreme
prices. It will 1.0.0 lie time for getting in sonic early
rape. We meet shortly think not the subject of KUM-
mar fodder and winter keep for the corning season, and
adjust the cropping of our farms to the requirements
of live stock. We may now venture to plant early
potatoes in the field without running too great a risk
of the tops being cut by fret an injury they Nation:
recover from. For the rest, we came,t be to, brisk in
getting forward with our spring cultivation for early
turnips, mangel and kohlrabi. —de llaperF.
FARM WORK IN 111:VON,I KIRK : March 21.
For more than is week we trive le, I dry,
warm weather, very favourable to livid work, which
is generally much behind, owing to or much wet a 1
through February and the beginning of this month.
Many fields of oats have been tilled on the hills, but
the low land is scarcely dry enough now, and to-day
the weather has changed again, enow, rain, and hail
have fallen heavily, and the wind, which is high, is
very cold. Great looses are reported in sheep and
lambs from almost every (limner. The ewes are
taken two or three days after lambing, and are soon
dead. One farmer, livmg not far from me, has
already lost twenty ewes and twenty-eight lambs.
Cattle generally have done well, and are making very
high prices. I fear so high that very little pr fit will
be left to the grazier. Al winter Nei very plentiful ;
in many instances more will be left than we had last
year altogether. The wheat plant is looking very
well, and is reported so all through the county.
We now have plenty of men for our work, and
onasequently they are much easier to manage, and
seem very contented; and well they may. for they
never had better times, good wages, and all they
require to buy selling very low.—.T. H.
TR' WRICKIS WORK IN GARDEV.--The Wall trees
will soon be in full bloom now, therefore have the
protecting materials got in order for immediate use.
Continue planting, setting. and sowing, whenever the
ground is in a favourable condition. Thefl young
plants in the need beds of winter greens will seen
require pricking off; get a piece of gmund ready for
them. Attend to the tomato,, in frame., and nee that
thole
beenme pot-bound. Pot them all in a good rich
which are to be planted out are not allowed to
compost. Pot on • few plants for finishing under
gia„,e, and as these heeeno. well rooted It them be
well supplied with liquid manure.