Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-04-18
AGRICULTURAL,
WORK FOR THE MONTH OF April.

WORK FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL.
FENcEs.-Reparing and putting in complete
order every fence on the farin, and particularly
road and division fences, is one of the first aud
most essential OF Spring labOrs. IL it has not
been done in March, don't neglect it in AprlL
Common rall fences are best secured at The tops
by caps. Stakes OF durable materials so placed
will keep fence in It's place for years.
PLoUeBINe.-It will prove injurious to soil
to plough il when So wet ms TO smooth over nnd
render compact the suriace moved ny the Iinpe"
ment as it dries into kind OF uhburnt bnck, ia
tai to all hopes of good crop until again puIver-
ised by frost. Clay soils, and those undrained,
are most MT to suffer from this cause, which locks
I'D all nanures, aud reudets the part consolidated
imperyious 10 all atmospheric agency. Lonmy or
sandy soils may be ploughed without danger Of
being rendered compact.
SPRING GRAIN-As n general rule, the farmer
will find it to his advantage to put in his Spring
grains, such as wheat, harley, oats, &c, as early
as the soil can be fiued FOR their reception The
grain from early sown crops, when properly put
in, is always more valuable ihun from later ones (;
being better filed, heavier, and Of a finer quality
in other Respects II suffers less, also, from the
injurious effects of dry summers. by which
the later sown is prenuturely ripened.
The pea is one of the crops which should he
put in early rs possible, particularly if intend ed
to be followed Ivy wheat. The ground Tor this
crop should he in good condition, and not too
heavily manured but such as would be suitable
for wheat crop.
MANUREs may now be drawn upon the fields
for the crops to which they should he given These
should he cori potatoes, and other roots, all Of
which will bear high manuring; while If the ma
nure is applied TO the grains directly, the product
is very apt TO he more straw than berry There
is scarcely any one thing in which farmers are
more deficient than in the management of nnn-
ures. A compost made of two-lhrds swnmp muck
lirI ,,l,
makes manure as valuable, and produce as good
crops of hay, grain, and roots rs If stable manure
alone was used yet how few there are who ever
used load Of muck to enrich their lands, when
perhaps they have thousands OF loads on their
premises. Stable or barn-yard manures, when
put unfermented upon land, should be covered,
that the earth may absorb the fertizing gases en-
voved during the process Of decomposition. II
they are made into compost with muck vegeta-
Die earth, and deeomposed in that state, they will
be sufficiently Incorporated if spread on the sur
face aud mixed with such earth with the harrow
Compost manures are the most proper for top
dressing and renovating pastures or uieuJows
where ploughing cannot be well adopted but its
application should be accompanied with fresh
seeding, and n thorough narrowing.
POTATOES require a oamy soil one aboundng
in vegetable matter, and moist rather than dry.-
Gen. Barnnm, who has raised greater crops of
potatoes than perhaps any other man in the United
disturbing tie plants in billing after the rooIlets
Tor the tn6ers begin to form his method Of per-
forming that operation being to bring rich earth in
horse cart, the wheels of which pass between
the rows, and from this dropping n shovel full
upon each hill. This furnishes a bed of rich,
fresh earth for the tubers and avoids all interer-
ence with the roots
The KITCHEN GARDEN will require much al
tentlon this month; as all plants which are not Ii.
aDe to spring frosis should now be set out or
sewn. by beginning ia season, we may secure
two or three crops of many valuable vegetables in
single season. Salads, radishes, potatoes peas,
&c may now be planted or sown. The earliest
varieties OF each should Of course be selected for
the first planting. Asparagus and strawberry beds
should he cleaned off dug over, and manured.-
None but compos tnianures Of the best kind should
be used for such purposes.
DOMESTIC ANIMALS were not given TO men 10
be nisireaed aud starved; and no man has
right 10 undertake to keep more than he can sup
ply amply with food. Accident OF disease may,
however, cause the occasional loss of an animal ;
aild when such is the case, don draw il out into
the field TO invite the dogs and crows or leave it
by the roadside TO offend The ofactores of the
traveller, but take it to your field aud throw on
few bushels OF lime, and cover the whole with
earth. Decomposition will take place with little
or no exhalalon, and the mass used rs manure
VIII rival the most powerful There is not more
dlsagreeDle sight TO good farmer, or one more
indicative OF an umhrhy one, than 10 see the APP
pie tees around the barn decorated with dead
lambs, or The adjoining meadow strewed with the
deiunct carcasses of older sheen. If an animal is
weak sick, save it if you can but fit dies, bu
ny it where it will still profit YOU
AsHEs-We hope all our readers will remem-
Der our advice, not 10 sell their ashes and uct upon
It, There is scarcely any kind of soil on which
ashes do not produce decided benefit and for
the grasses which require much seate of pot
n 10 linn IF H. III
indispensable. We therefore urge farmers 10 kee y
and use their ashes on their own farms 1t is a
good plan To SOW plaster and ashes on your lands
as soon as the vegetation has received sufficient
start to be acted upon by them.
BIRDS. DON'T allow your boys, or your neigh
bors' boys, or any biped who calls himself man,
to he sirolng about your fields and orchards with
gun, popping away ut the beautiful little birds
that are such effeciua aids in extirpating check
ing the progress of the whole race of miIlers bugs
grubs &C that commit such depredatons on the
farmer. II you allow this vile slaughter of birds,
DO not he surprised if your apple trees stripped
oy the canker worm, your apples destroyed 10y the
iarA@ Of the cooling moth, your pums 10y the cur
cu'lo, your cabbages by the black grub, and your
peas ny the pea grub. These little birds are the
farmers best friends. True they occasionally
take as reward for their labor some of The fruit or
seed they have been 80 active in preserving bur this
is no more than equal and exact justice. The per-
son VINO couId not dispense with the early caro-
OF the song sparrow, the merry song OF The bobo.
link, or ihe sweet notes OF The bro n thrush, may
possibly be an honest man, but he has no ear for
the fDe melodies OF nature : he has no music ia
his soul Condensed from The Cuitrator.
BRiLLlAN l. WHITEWASH.
Many have heard of the " brilliant stucco white.
wash" on the east end OF the Presidents house al
Washington The following is receip, for ma
king il, with additional improvements learned by
experiment:
Take hnlf hIshel nf nice unslncLaJ limo