Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1846-01-15
AGRICU 1t u r E.
From the American Farmer.

WORK FOR JANUARY ON THE FARM.
Winter Ploughing.-All stiff tenacious
CLAWS, intended for spring crops, should be
ploughed either late in the fall or during
the open periods of the winter. But the
breaking up of such lands should never be
undertaken, unless it be in that peculiar
state between moist and dry, which enables
the ploughman to turn it over IN state tree
from danger of its becoming mortar, con-
dition always consequent upon the plough
ing of stiff CLAWS when acet. If ploughed IN
this latter state, it will remain so through
out the season, and of course prove profit
less to ali the purposes of cultivation. II,
however, advantage be ia ken to plough when
the soil is right, neither net nor dry, but
moderately moist, the effect of the action OF
the winters alterations of freezing and
thawing will be, to disintegrate the particles
of clay, render it friable, lessen the labor OF
cultivation, excite the decomposition OF
vegetable matter, facilitate the formation Of
the silicate of potash, and greatly increase
the quantity, and Improve the quality Of the
crops which may be grown upon it.
IKreshing and Cleaning Grain.-As the
prices OF, grain are now remunerailVe, we
would adkIse all to getall they have out, SO
as to be ready for market at any time that
their interest may point it out as the proper
one TO sell at. For years past the raising
Of grain has been ali Improbable concern
but now, when prices offer something like
Just reward for labor bestowed, and nte-
rest involved, grain-growers cannot look toe
sharply, nor watch too closely, to seize up,
on the point Of time when maximum prices
are to be obtained; nor can they be too re-
gardful of not being caught in the meshe:
of SpeculatOrS-those conscientious gentry
who travel on the swings of the wind" te
make money out of the want OF Information
of others, and thus to batten on ill-gotter
spoils.
Grain Fiezds.-At least twice month
the grain fields should have all the surface
drains examined, and every cl0d, stone, o
stick, carefully removed, SO thatno impedi
ment be left to prevent the free progress
the water, as nothing is more destructive t.
the plants of winter grain, than being flood
ed by water in winter or early spring. 1'ha
it is one of the causes of what is callet
winter killing, we have never entertained /
doubt. and We are as clear of doubt that
NAV be avoided by deep ploughing, layin9
dry, by surface drains, and by keeping thos'
drafts free from distractions.
Flrewood.- We hope that You have al
l., ell oft- aIy
have now in your yard sufficlency 0
wood to last you. If such should not b
your situation, let us urge you by ever,
consideration of comfort and humanity L
accomplish that job without further delay
Fencing and FenceS.-Be sure to secur
full supply of fencing timber, and prepar
it, so that you may have it ready to repal
all breaches in your fences-and be as sur
to avail yourself of the first convenient mo
ment. when such work can be done, to hav
every PANEL of fence on your farm or plan
talion thoroughly examined, and as tho
roughly repaired
Stables and Horses.-Keep your stable
clean-sprinkle plaster, charcoal or mar
over that part of the stalls where it can re
ceive the liquid weddings of the horses, an
absorb the ammonia which they contain
These agents, besides being absorbenls, an
as such, the economizers of much manur
that would otherwise be lost, are sweeten
ers also, and in that respect would act so a
to preserve the horses eyes from those in
fammatory diseases which result from fou
stables. Your horses should be provide
with plenty Of straw for bedding, the which
whenever it becomes wet and soiled, shout
be removed to the manure pile. The curr
comb and whisp of straw must be dali
plied-twice week, a gill of salt or ii
same quantity of mixture of equal parts