The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-04-16
THE FARNs EEe.
From the Boston CultiUator.
PLOUGUlNG.

brother farmers have not all been so much trou
bled MS we have been to find cast iron plough
that would DO the whole work of cutting and
turning the sod without the aid of the foot of
wrestler. This amusement is now out OF date
and the young may not take our meaning-but
in ancient times the best wrestler always
selected to hold the plough because he
could actively handle his feet to aid the imper-
feet machinery bearing that appellation.
Now we have grown lazier or wiser, and are
DESTROYS Of throwing all the hard work on to
our hired men or mechanics that we may not
become to tired at uoon at night to read our
long expected Cultivator, or Gazette.
Poughs for our plain lands require mo re
length Of body than most ofour cast iron ploughs
possess and we believe one reason for making
them short was, fear that long cast iron
mould boards, or rather moulders, would he too
liable to be broken hut since they made Of
better metal than formerly, there is little risk of
breakinga long moulder with careful usage.
Our lands that in corn or potatoes last
year will this spring be laid grass, for need
not, in tolerable plain land, plant more than one
year before seeding down with broadcast grain,
or choosing to disturb the sod. That is wanted
AT Dottom 10 keep me ianu iISnI.
Now how many times must we plough to pre-
pare our lands for spring grain and grass seed ?
Shall we turn under ali the cornsalks, the sorrel
the grass, and the weeds that lie on the surface
then by second, or cross ploughing, turn all
this matter up again for fear it might rot and turn
to manure ? This is what we all formerly prac-
tsed, but can any one justify the practice ?
We must not take the plough to the field in
spring till the ground is so dry MS not to be made
into bricks, yet we wish to begin as soon as il is
fit, for the sooner we harrow in our spring grain
on suitable land the better. Now may begin
to harrow our ground day or two than
we can begin to plough it. The harrow opens
the ground let's in The air and fits the soil for the
plough. Take the harrow then, if you are inn
patient to begin the spring work, level down
hills ifyou made any last year, with this or with
your cultivator,and then plough hut once though
you may take fine a fi,rrow you please
BURY the stalks, the weeds and all The rubbish
underneath, and there let it lie till it becomes
manure. 1t is all wanted below, but none of it
above. AS general rule no land should he
ploughed twice in the same month. Very rough
land must he treated differently. 1t must he
cross ploughed to take advantage of the stones
md the fixed s'umps But It is very absurd, in
plain fields, after have laid the soil right side
up, to disturb it again before take crop.
No unrotted manures should be used for spring
grain. Old and rotten manure, in proper guam
tity, will do no harm, for it works Immediately,
brings your grain forward early, and it often rip
ems before the sultry weather comes on or tits
so far spent before that time it does no injury
Whereas green manure hegins to operate at the
very lime when there is most danger from the
rapid growth of the gran--that is in July--and
if it is very hot and sultry--snch weather as In
dian corn delights in--,he grain grows so rapid
iy as to burstthe stalk open and let OFT its juices
They flow down the outside of the stalk and
form what we call rust upon it.
In confirmation oftlis doctrine we understand
that this rust does not make its appearance in
England That is colder climate and grain is
much longerin coming 10 perfection than in our
country. Hence also we raise better English
grain in cool summers than in warm ones, and
lew summers yield, at the same time, our great
est crops of corn and of English grain.
Though we much prefer seeding down to
grass in September, yet lands planted last year
and prepared for spring grain this ,spring may
better be sown with grass seed also in spring -
If we delay this till fall and plough in the stub
BILE ofthe grain, the seed is not sure to vegetate
from the want of moisture in the fnrrow, and
we lose our labor and our next summers crop.
1.-THE soil is dry and incnng to sand, a few
bushels of ashes spread on after the
grain is up, before, will often prevent the sum-
mer killing of the grass among the grain and
will prove beneficial to the whole crop.
s. From the Farmers Monthly pisiter. az
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