Litchfield enquirer., 1838-04-19
SPRING WORK

A cold March however does not prGgHos-
tieate "a cold season.; but rather encOur-
ages the hope, that if we lave our cold
weather n"w, tireie will be some warm
weather due 10 US early in the present
month |; and when vegetation is once staff
ed ii will go forward without Interruption.
| The Season is favorable 10 making all
necessary preparations for IA vigorous CAM
paigm. One of The farmers first objects
should be to see that all his utensils are in
order; that his pioughs, l,arrowS, roller,
forks, shovels, hoes, carts, yokes, aud
chains are all repaired, Sharpened, bright
ened, and ready for immediate service
The next step is /" arrange his plans and
fully make UP his mind, il he has not done
1t long since, how lie will manage and cul-
tlvale this or the other piece vi land. Ev-
cry rejecting man, who has looked into The
writings and memory Of Washington, will!
see with establishment how amidst The most
arduous aud perplexins cares Of state he laid
down perfect system Of agricultural ope-
ra'ions for his farm at Mount Vernon, and
pointed out an exact and minute detail VIVA!
should be the management of every part OF
IT.. Let ii mans farm be small or large,
let his business indeed be Of The most hum
bic character, he will find the greatest con-
ven'ence as we'll as advantage in order and
systematic arrangement, and in being ear
Iy decided as to the course, which he deter
mines TO pursue.
One Of the first things to be done at this
season, for the farmer, is to see to his
fences. Let him do this for the sake of
his own reputation. Nothing is more dis
reputable 10 farmer than "a slovenly aud
dilapida.ed condition Of his fences. Let
lim straighten the crooked put up the
fallen; see that all is sound aud secure
and not merely bo,ched up for the present,
and especially let him see that his outside
fences are of the legal height. Let him do
this on account Of his own interest that he
may secure his crops, and secure his cat
tie; and especially that he may not cor
rupt the good morals of his cattle, who will
soon learn to lrcspass under the encourage.
ment Of poor fences. Let him do this Tor
the sake Of peace. Good fences secure
good eighboIhood but few things make
more i'll blood among neighbors than bro
ken, low, imperfect fences, throug h which
The cattle are consequently finding their
way into ncighb.r's enclosure, and help
ing themselves to the best, which his fields
afford. We have much more advice to
give; but we refrain from giving it all IA,
one time and making the dose too strong
at once.-N. T.. Farmer.
Indian Corn is as indispensable to the
Yankee as the polatoe is to the IrisLn,an,
or tho oat to the Scolchman. 1t is not
only meat and meal To his family, but it is
food for his cattle, and manure for his land.
II is therefore very desirable crop, and
hence it is often cultivated at an absolute
loss. 1t requires grea, outlay Of labor /;
yet il the soil is dry, and clean, and rich,
and the season propitio"s, few farm crops
make a better return. 1t never should be
planted, in this latitude, upon wet or cold,
or poor lands. The shorlness Of tho SUM-
mer is serious objection to its culture
There are several things, however, which
may be done to obviatc, or at least to les
sen, this objection. The early varieties
ripen fortnight earlier than the late varie-
lies. By making the land dry. we may
raise its natural temperature. BY the lib
eral use Of INTERVIEWED manure, spread
and well turned under by the plough. the
warmth of the soil may be further incrcas-
ed, and the growth and the maturity Of the
crop thereby accelerated. Ii the surface
be fiat, and the crop like to suffer from
heavy and pro.rac,ed rains, throw your
land into ridges for three rows, or into mar
row ridges for one or two rows. which will
render il more dry and warm. La the cul-
lure Of This crop, have found the harrow
and the cuIIivator, far preferable 10 the
plough. The latter cuts and bruises the
roots, which are ordinarily ofgrealer length
than the tops, wastes the manure and robs
the plants Of moro than half their pasture.
Earlhing or killing the plants, is also in
great measure dispensed with in modern
husbandry-it being found that good cul-
lure consists merely in keeping the ground
clean, and its surface mellow and open to
atmospheric aud solar influence. In har-
vesting, it is decidedly best to cut tho crop
at the ground, at the ordinary time Of top
ping IL, when the kernels have become
glazed, and Immediately to set il in shocks
TO dry and mature. The advantages Of
this practice are, first, it secures the grain
and fodder from the njurions effects Of ear
ly frosts: 2ndly, it gives more and bette:
corn than when topped in the old mode:
and lastly, il affords much more and far
better fodder than any O.her mode Of l,ar-
vesting. The laws Of vegetable physiolo-
gy show that the elaborated or descending
sap Of plants constitutes their true and only
food, and hence corn can receive no Access
sion Of growth, after il has been diveSlcd
| Of the leaves. the celebrating organs. which