Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-08-28
Agricultural.
Work for the Season.
" Sir, do you take the newspaper Z?

August. Before the close of this month,
the sythe, the sickle and the cradle will
have passed over many fields and shorn them
of their crops Much of the grandeur and
beauty that have adorned nature the previ-
Gus months will be gone. During part of
August the farmer has some little respite
from his hard labor, yet there is much to do
in securing the matured crops, taxing care
of those that are growing, and doing many
things in preparation for the future which
cannot generally be SO we'll done in any
other season.
Haying is not yet completed in many
parts of New England, and the sooner it is
done the better, as grass dries up very fast
after it is fit for the sythe, and it soon loses
much of its good qualities When hay has
many bushes, brakes, and aehes weeds
among it, put about half peck of salt to
each ton, and the cattle will eat up the
coarse part much better.
Cutting grain.-The greater part of the
wheat harvest comes off in New England
during this month, 1t should be cut soon
after the berry begins to harden, as the
straw is then drying up, and can afford no
more nutriment to the grain. By cutting
rather early, there is often chance to save
it from long storm, or long time of dull
weather, which is often very destructive.
Wceds.-These require considerable at
tention, and yet they have generally been
neglected during the haymg season, and if
not destroyed Immediately, they will seed
the ground plentifuIly. Those that are ma
turing their seed should be burn ed, or pu
into compost and the seed allowed to vege-
tate before the MANURE is applied to the
land
BuSheS.-Cut bushes about the middle Of
this month, and they will sprout but little
less than if cut at any other season. On
my farms IN New England, bushes are nu-
merous, and occupy no small part of fields
and pasture. Their determination would
render the farm more beautiful, more pleas
ant to work land greatly increase its profits
Pruning Irees.--August is one of the
best, if not the best month for this opera.
ton, The bark does not readily start from
the wood and as the tree is in foliage, the
operator can see to thin the limbs Judi.
/, ciousIy. But the great advantage in prun.
ing at this time, is that where the limb is
cut of, the trunk remains sound whether il
heals over soon or not.
Digging WeHs.--ln August or early in
September, where there is severe drought
is good time for digging wells, as it gen.
orally will be done thoroughly. Frequently
there is great loss in attending to this bust
ness when water is plenty, and the well is
not sunk deep enough, and must be made
deeper in dry time at great expense.
Wet Lands, properly improved, are our
most profitable grass lands, and though much
has been done in some sections to reclaim
these valuable lands, in other parts they are
almost wholly neglected, while the gras.
crops are almost wholly neglected, while
the crops are failing on high lands. This
is good season for clearing up, ditching
ploughing, hauling on sand and gravel, ma.
nuring and sowing wet land to grass and
If well done, a good crop of grass will pay
no small share of the expense another year
Weaving Lambs. In this month, or ear
E ly in September, according to their age,
lambs should be weaned while the food is
sweet and succulent, They bear weaving
better at this season than late in the fall
when the food is dry, hard, and nutritious
and the sheep are far better for early wean.
ing, as they have chance to get in good
condition before winter. See that the lamb.
have plenty of good sweet feed on being
separated from their mothers.
Winter Wheat-Prepare for sowing win,
ter wheat, which should be sowed in thi.
month or early in next. Large quantitie.
of this grain are now raised, and generally
5 with profit. The Blue Steam is vare
; ty that succeeds well.
5 Manure.-Mud, muck and peat must be
carried from the low lands, and put in the
t barn-yard, and also laid in proper place
for making compost, and a supply must be
provided for the barn cellar in winter, and
for bedding for cattle where there is nc
cellar, that the liquid manure may be saved
Stone Wal, when the material is con.
venient, is the best and cheapest fence the
farmer can make. Animals seldom attempt
to go over ii, or throw it down and if il
falls down little in the course Of the wear