Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1846-03-12
USEFUL HINTS.

USEFUL HINTS.
The following, from the March number
of the American Farmer, we recommend to
the attention of our readers. The Orchard
and the Garden are, or ought to be, consid-
cred of much interest to persons living in
the country, where they can be kept up
with so little trouble or expense; but with
us, we are almost inclined to belief thai
in many cases the Orchard and the Garden
do not receive that attention due to their
invaluable worth.
Oats.-So soon as the frost is out of it.
and the ground which you intend for oats
is dry enough to bear ploughing, put all
your force to work to break it up-harrow
and roll it, then let it remain for week so
as 10 let the ground settle before you sow
your oats, as they thrive best when the soil
is compact. Whether you plough or har-
row them in, take especial care to see that
the roller be freely used, in order that the
earth may be thoroughly pressed around
the seed, and termination thus ensured Ii
would be well, too, TO SOW a bushel of
plaster and one of ashes, over everv acre of
them-the first will provide food from the
air for the growing plants, while the latter
will dissolve the sand and thus form the
silicate of potash, which enables the stem
10 resist the pressure of wind and weather.
Every grower of oats should recolect that
the earlier they are sown the greater GER
talnty is there that they will head we'll and
yield abundantly.
EARLY Potatoes-ln years gone by, St.
Patrlck's day, the. 18th OF this month, was
the usual time at which early potatoes were
put In the ground; but as the seasons have,
like men, undergone vast change in this
country, that period may possibly be too
early, yet, although it may be too soon for
planting, it is not for preparing the ground;
therefore, the sooner the better the ground
be broken up, as an additional ploughng to
all root crops operates advantageously. In
selecting the seed for planting, none but
sound roots should be taken. The sets
should be cut at least week before being
planted, and as cut should be dried in lime
AS preventive against the rot, soak the
potatoes before cutting them in a solution
of salt and blue vitrol In addition to the
soaking and drying in lime, we would re-
commend, when the potatoes first come up
that mixture Of one part salt and two
parts lime be sprinkled over each row, so
that, should the ground be infested with the
mushrooms described, they may also receive
their quietus. If the disease be caused by
fungus, we can see no reason why the soak
ing and drying in lime should not prove
equally eficacious in preventing the recur-
renee of the disease, as it is relieving the
wheat crop from the smut.
Orchards.-Let the trees in the orchard
be carefully examined for dead limbs. These
should be carefully cut off into the sound
wood; the wound smoothly faced with al
drawing knife-this done, let a plaster of
the following mixture be applied over the
wound. Take equal parts of fresh cow
dung, clay and Stacked lime, TO be Mixed
together into the consistence of mortar
face the plaster with a covering of thick
paper to turn rain. The dead limbs being
cot off and the wounds dressed, take hard
brush-the clamp of scrubbing brush will
QO-anQ ruO GOWN the entire body OF the
tree, then with paint or white-wash brush
apply the following mixture to the body of
each tree as far as you can reach, extend
ing down to the roots. Mix together 5 gal
Ions of soft soap, l lb. of sulphur, and /
gallon of salt. When perfectly incorporated
together it will be fit to be applied.
II The orchard has not been recently ma
nured and in culture, gentle dressing of
compost made of 5 parts forest mould, 2
parts rotten dung, and l part lime, would
greatly improve the quality of the fruit, by
being ploughed in shallow-or if it should
not be convenient to plough it in, harrow
ing will answer; but whether the plough
or harrow be used, care must be taken not
to injure the roots of trees.