The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-03-08
Aotiellltural.
WORK FOR THE MONTH.

cncy OF last month prevented most farmers
from sowing clover seed, we advise all who
may not have done so, to sow as soon as the
frost is out of the ground, and horse can he
safely trusted on it without danger from
poachng the soil. On each acre in mhedt,
| ~ lbs. Of clover seed should be sown. When
sown, a roller should be pressed over the field
for the double purpose of covering the seed
and forcing the wheat plants into the soil,
thereby encouraging tilcring. Indeed if the
wheat crop should appear to have suffered
from winter kiling-as the term is-wc would
precedc the roller with q light onc-horsc har-
| row.
We Aill here improve the occasion TO say,
that we hold it to be an agricultural truth,
that no soil can be preserved in a state of fer
;ility, unless clover or grass, forms a portion
Of the system of rotation of crops, with the
view Of returning to the land the materials
for forming mould, to replace that which is
taken of by the crops.
In connection with the subject of sowing
clover seed, we will remark, that our opinion
is, that both the hay and pasture would be
improved if besides the quantity Of clover
seed per acre which we have named, bus!lel
oforclard grass seed per acre were also sown.
Clover and orchard grass, blossom about the
same time, which reader them proper seeds
to be sown to"e her.
If the field on which clover may be sown Is
supposed to want lining dressing of ten
bushels Of Sakcd lime, and the longer it
may have been slakcd The hcttcr,--livc BUSH
us Of sakcd ashes, and one bllshel Of plaster
per acre, may be very advantagpousy applied
aS soon after harvest as possible. Stock Of
all kinds should be kept on the field the first
year II may be set i'll clover and every spring
thereafter, it should receive Il dressing Of one
bushcl Of plaster per acre.
MGADCws.-lf yonr meadows be tight
bound, and yielded IEdiitrcnlly last year.
harrow such as soon this spring as the frost
is out of the ground, spread thereon five or
ten bushels of ashes, and one bushel of plas-
ter or lime, per acre, and finish by rolling
Five bushes Of asncS, two bushels of bone
dust. one lushel of plaster, and one buShcl Of
salt, would still he q better dressing. If the
latter mixture be used, it should DC narrowed
in and rolled.
If ilc grass stand thin on the ground, the
meadow would be greatly improved by SOW
ing gallon of timothy seed per acre, and
narrowing them in with The top-dressing.
OLD flELps.--Od fields, being thoroughly
narrowed and cross narrowed, If top-dressed
with five bushels ofhme, five bushels CLASHES
one buShcl Of plaster, two bushels Of bone
dust, and one Of salt per acre, and shut up
for year, and protected from stock, may be
converted into fair pastures. The top-dress-
ing should be narrowed in and the ground
then rolled.
PREPARATION or CoRS GROUND.-Thc
| time for preparing corn ground must Deepen Il
upon its locality Therefore, it would be futile
to attempt to name any day for the commence
mcnt of such work. The proper time every
where may he said to be, when the frost is
ont Of the ground, and when tic soil is sutli-
GENTLY warm 10 encourage the termination
Of the seed. But though it may lie, and
doubtless is, too carly over Il great part of
the corn growing region to commence plough
ing, still it is time to begin TO prepare for the
crop. AS soon as from the nature Of the
ground the Terms can be advantageonSly put
TO work, they ought to be engaged in hauling
out the manure. The manure, as being re-
moved from the cattle and other manure yards
prior to Icing put in the carts or wagons,
should be Shovcled over and mixed with pas-
ter i'll the proportion of one hnshcl to every
20 two-horsc cart loads When hauled out
and placed in position, the piles should be
covered over with earth and pattcd down SO
as to prevent injury from the weather. If,
" Htii tliC w VuI IL lllllC W
plough, the manure should be evenly spread,
at the rate Of twenty two-horse loads per
acre, as evenly as possible. and ploughcd in
AS soon after being spread as practicable, in
order that as few of the volatile gassts be lost
as possible to prevent. We have named
twenty two hon Sc loads Of manure per acre !:
this we deem moderate and safe quantity
to ensure a good crop, the season being favor
able; bat if twice the quantity of iarn-yarl
manure could be supplied, none need apple
bend any danger from Il surlrit. as the corn
plant has IL stomach like an ostrich and the
appetite Of London Alderman scarcely
anything in the Shape Of manure comes amSs
while its powers Of digestion dcridcs the idea
Of repletion.
As to dapli Of p!onghiag.-In all sound
land where corn may he planttd-that is,
land not naturally wet, or with a wet subsoil
we 90 for deep p!oughng, say eight inches
i'll dcplh-thorough pulvcrizaton by means
OF the harrow and roller If the field be a
clovcr-lay, or grass sward. after manuring, it
should be ploushcd carefully and truthtuly
without balks, to the depth Indicated above,
the funows should be laid .fat then the rot
Ter should be passed over the field to close up
the seams, the harrow should then DC used
| in the direction of the burrows, until fine
filth be obtained. TOO much pains in this
respect cannot we'll be taken, as thorough
preparation before planting cannot be too
highly valued it ensures congenlal bed for
the plants TO extend their roots through, and
saves much labor and time in after culture
Before laying oil the ground for planting, the
soil should be rolled.
For dlstonce Of rous.--This is matter
which We will not pretend to settle, as it is
one of those questions which will ever be con-
sidcrcd dcbatcable one. 1t has often been
mootcd and discussed, but never settled; and
as we believe never will be. The proper dis
lance is to be regulated by the circumstances
Of each caSc-location, climate, soil, kind Of
corn, are all considerations to be looked to
III determining distance Of the rows. So far
as our own experience goes, we have found
four by !hree feet an eligible distance, leaving
at the time Of thinning out, three of the b st
stalks in each bill; but to support that num-
Der Of stalks and ensure their bearing fine
well filled ears, generous manuring and clean
ly culture are Indispensable.
As 10 The application Of hme to the corn crop.
With regard to the application of lime 10
the corn crop, we do not know that we eau
| perform a more acceptable service to our pa
irons than by transcribng the views Of Dir.
| William DARLINGTON of West Chester Pa