The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-05-05
Work for the Farmer. lei


duty itmay be said that April is not the
month, irasmuch as the whole force of
the farm or plantation will be called to
the performance of labor Of more imme-
diate and present interest. True, this
may be the case, but we doubt very
much whether on farm of 200 acres
and upwards, hand and team might
not bs more proftably engaged in the
collection Of materials. and in the for.
nation Of compost heaps from this till
next winter, than in any other way
The woods, the bitches, the branches,
the heads and shores of rivers and
creeks, the marl.pits, the marshes, the
road sides. the lanes and yards, and
headlands Of almost every homestead,
unfold SO many resources, and contain
SO many substances, that may be con.
converted into manurs--and manure
being the life-blood of every soil--that
one cannot but be surprised that so few
Iandholders avail themselves of them.
By proper attention to this particular,
there is scarcely any owner of farm
that might not collect. and manufacture
sufficient quantity Of manure every
season to give his corn and truck ground
a heavy dressing Of the very best ferti.
lizsrs, and thereby increase the prodec.
tive capacity Of his lands from one to
three hundred per cent, and conse-
quently enhance his annual income in
the same ratio. We have often been
panied 10 hear. agriculturisis of intelli.
gence say, that they could no. get ma.
nure to put in their corn with, whose
forest lands, and those other places we
have named above, were filed with the
very best materials to compostinto ma
nure, and which required nothing but
the exercise Of energy, to render them
available. = We recur 10 this subject
now, in order that il may excite at
least some Of our readers TO- think, as
we are confident that reflection is all
thai is necessary to induce them TO act.
The expense of team and hand, thus
employed, could not exceed, for six
months in the year, $loo or $l25 at the
furthest; whereas, in that time, mate.
rials could be collected and made into
manure, which would oe intrinsic.IIy
worth from $3.50 to $1,000, at a mod
erately estimated value.sa CEe2 .acYI |
Potatoes.- Towards the end OF April, |
or the firsta.sn days of May, will be a
good time TO get in your main crop Of
potatoes.o 'Repudiating all specifics for, |
and representatives. against, the rot, we |
are inclined 10 believes, after having |
read almost everything that has been |
written and published on the subject,
that the greatest security against that
scourge is to be found in early planting
and ecleanly culture. Having made |
this declaration, we will state our plan
for the cultivation Of this root-a plan,
by the way,th we rarely ever failed
in making good yield, where the sea.
son did not defy our exsrtions. aaS ase
Soil grass.sward is generally the
best; the soil in which the potatoe most
delights isaidecp, dry mould, the fresh.
sr the better; though, with plenty Of
manure and good cuttnrs,it will grow
in any soil which issound and NO, wet;
the largesty yisldwssver had,wa grown
on sliHfre clay, which had been tho.
roughly prepared and highly mdnured.
- Preparation ofgthe SoiL--P Plough
deep as your team can apene,
rate the earth--and lay the furrows
IA. osIfit be agrass ley or sward, run
The roller iengthwise the lfurrow, imms-
iistely after ploughing; then harrow,
and rdll agains That done, lay off your
north and south, three feet
vide, and four inches deepas The lay.
ng off the furrows should be dons at
he time offplanting. a't9b eya ylagwil
! Propagation of oftths SETS. Gut The po,
atoas se asl toleavs two or,lrss eyes