The people's press, and Addison County Democrat. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1838-1841, 1841-05-18
BACKWARD SEASON.

Long and short cold storms, with short in
tervals Of cold fair weather, have been the gen.
eral order of things for more than a month
past. There has not yet been good eppor.
tunity 10 plough and cultivate even light soils,
while the wet soils have been all mud.
Farmers must arrange their business so as
TO guard against the disadvantages of so back
ward season. Though most kinds of small
grains SHOULD have been sowed before this time
had The weather been favorable for this pur.
pose, yet it is not too late.
When wheat is sowed early, il is more likely
10 be injured by the grain worm, but less expo
sed 10 injury from rust than The late sown.-
The rust is generally the most destructive,
therefore ii is best 10 sow early, and TO avoid
the greatest evil, when it can be done conyen.
iently.
Good crops of wheat have often been raised
when the sowing was delayed till the tenth or
fifteenth of May. Therefore. farmers should
not be discouraged, though it is rather late for
this crop-that is, late as it regards the best
imo. On this account, it map be well not to
depend so much on wheat for bread, as il will
be in good season for Indian corn for some.
time yet. 1t is yet in season for sowing bar.
ley and oats, though these crops usually Sue
coed as well when sowed ,olerabIy early, if the
weather be favorable. Peas should be spwed
early, otherwise, they are likely 10 be affected
with mildew, which often proves very desiruc'
tive.
Potatoes and all other root crops may be
planted some weeks hence. The sooner pars.
neps are sowed, the better, if a large crop be
desirable. But this root is cultivated but very
Eel Co. Co. ~
ter when not sowed SO early as to attain large
size.
In the extreme northern part Of New Eng
land but very little corn is cultivated; but in
the region pretty far north, early Canada corn
generally ripens well when planted from the
goth 10 the last of May. Farther south, or in
the middle region of New England, many far.
mers plant larger and rather later kinds Of corn,
and the season for this operation is generally
from the tenth 10 the Goth of this month.
Some plant earlier, especially those whose
light lands favor this course, and from their ex'
posure to early frosts in the fall, require early
planting as guard against this cause. STILL
farther south, later kinds Of corn are cultivated,
and they require earlier planting as guard a.
gainst injury from this cause. This time has |
already passed with some, without an opportu' !
nifty to attend to it.
The most judicious course is for farmers TO
plant, as needs they must, at later period, and
plant earlier kinds of corn. We have seen
corn of pretty good size, sufficiently large TO
yield good crop, that would riPen well in our
coolest seasons, when planted any time in May.
In 1886 and '37, it was planted the 18th Of
May, and was perfectly ripe the frs, of Sep
.ember; and this was more than one hundred
miles north of this place.
With good selection of seed, there is time
yet, and will be for few weeks, TO plant corn.
But it is ofihe highest importance 10 have seed
suited to the time of planting, for one bushel of
rood sound corn is worth several bushels OF
green.
As but very little has been done at farming
owing to much wet and cold weather, il is now
impossible for The farmer TO do at once the ma
~ things that present themselves and claim
attention, of course, some must be delayed till
ate. Therefore, those crops should be atten.
led to that are suited 10 the time Of planting,
md as root crops in general may be attended
%, that are suited to the time of planting, and
some kinds for month or two to come, far.
mers should attend to this busines. 'srgely.-t
Yankee Farmer.