Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-05-03
work on the Farm for April.

GainSay, tnat the fertility OF SOIL can ne
kept UP where clover does not form one
Of the items in the system Of rotation, we
advise all who may not have already done
80, to sow IL or Is lbs Of clover seed on
every acre Of land which they may have
set i'll wheat. If the wheat is much
winter killed after sowing the cloverseed
thereon, we would further advise them to
pass light harrow over the ground and
then to roll it. These processes we feel
certain will serve to destroy much grass
and weeds, act as cultivation Of the
wheat plants, encourage disposition to
|tiller-in them, and fill up many places
that would otherwise remain blank.
What roots may be torn up by the harrow
will be restored to the earth by the roller.
so that such roots will not only grow
again, but each joint which may be thus
pressed into the soil will form series Of
roots and send forth its. plants to add to
the product of the field.
While we are thus recommending the
sowing Of the cloverseed, we feel it due
to our sense of candor to reiterate here,
that clover cannot be successfully grown
in soil from which lime is absent, and to
state that so soon as the wheat crop may
be harvested, every field which may BE-
thus situated should be lined and plaster
led. Where it may not be convenient for
the owner to put on a full dose of lime at
that time, we would recommend the ap-
plication Of 10 bushels per acre and one
of plaster. With this moderate dose Of
these minerals, if the land be rich in veg
etable matter, fair growth of clover may
be expected. But in advance we will
here adInollish all, not to suffer stock OF
any kind TO pasture on the field during
the first year, as should they do so, their
clover will be destroyed, it being indis-
pensable that the plants should have by
that time to become firmly rooted in the
soil.
Clover Felds.--sow over every acre
you may have set in clover bushel Of
plaster-sow early in the morning while
the due is on the ground.
.Nadors.--If you have any meadows
that are tight bound and which yielded
but indifferently last season, so soon as
the frost is out Of the ground harrow them
thoroughly, then sow gallon of timothy
seed per acre, and spread thereon five or
ten bushels Of lime or ashes per acre, or
one bushel Of plaster, and finish by roll
ing.
Much Cors.-This is trying month
with cows in milk, as well as those in
calf. Attention should be directed to-
wards them-their food should be in
creased in quantity, while care must be
paid to see that they receive daily allow
ances Of SO mething suceulent.
Noch Generaly.-Working, as well as
store animals must be carefully attended
to-. Regularity in feeding, watering,
cleaning and sailing, as well as good lodg-
ing, are especially desirable at this sea-
son Of the year.
Neep.--These should now receive dali
ly in addition to their allowances Of hay,
a gill each of some kind of meal or a
pound Of roots. They should receive
salt, tar, and pine boughs to browse upon.
Early Potatoes. earliest period at
which the frost is out Of the ground and
it can be properly plonghed and pulver-
ised, is the right time to plant early pota-
toes. Before being planted, the seed po-
tatoes should be cut into sets, and they
dried either in ashes or in plaster. If
this be done week or two before being
planted, so much the butter. The ground
should be literally MANFRED and thor
oughly pulverised. 1t might be well to
spread lime over the manure in the drills
before covering up the potatoe sets. We
do not recommend lime as panacea for
the rot or any thing else connected with
the disease Of potatoes, but purely be-
cause it is an excellent manure-for we
eschew all specifies for the potato malady.
Orchards.-The trees in the orchard
should be carefully examined and every
dead limb carefully cut off. The wound
should be smoothed off and plaster of
clay, cow dung and lime, in equal por-
tons applied to it, or plaster may be
compounded thus-2 parts clay, l part
lime, and ! part tar, to be thoroughly
mixed together before being applied
The decayed limb should be cut down
into sound wood. If the trees have not
already been thus treated, paint them
with a mixture composed of one pound Of
flour sulpher, quart salt, and gallon Of
soft soap.
Fences-These should undergo thor
ough examination and repair, SO that
every temptation be taken away from
stock to commit depredations.
Winter Whent.--T The DrM.-The Del
aware Republican cites fact, on the au-
thority Of intelligent farmers in that
neighborhood, strongly illustrating the
advantage Of drilling in wheat. AL
though the surface Of the ground has been
exposed nearly the whole of the winter,
almost every day and freezing
again at night, the drilled wheat so far
from being injured, has been benefited by
this circumstnace--the centre of the fur
rows made by the drill, becoming gradu-
ally filled by the action Of the frost, and
the roots Of the plant covered, instead of
being pushed outof the ground.--Ameri-
can Farmer.
IMPORTANT TO BUILDERs.--Mr. Hovey
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