The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-03-19
asrieultural.
Calender For March, ,

Calender For March, A'
"Ths seasons alter; hoary headed 6osts p, .ris
Fall in the fresh lap Of the crimson rose
the Spring, the Summer
The chilling Autumn, angry Winter, change
Their wonted liyeries and ths amaied world,
by their increase, now know not which Is which,"
MARcH.-Spring has now come, at least
In name. Around the word Spring cluster
q thouasnd pleasant associations. ID n suR-
eestre of soft airs and gentle breezea, and
tho singing Of birds, and opening flowers
and green leaves. But in our northern clime
we must wait patiently for its actual advent
for
"wihter often fingers in the lap Of Spring.
and chills all her ardors, and we not unusu-
ally have occasion to repeat, day after day,
the invocation: 60. :.
"Come, gentle Spring, ethereal mildness, come"
In moro southern attitudes and moro ge-
nial climes, March is pleasant sunny month.
In our southern States the gardens arc often
planted in March. The ground is prepared
for corn and cotton, and much Of the seed
put In. But March is by no means to be an
idle month with us northern farmers. Tho
wood is to be cut and split and piled up
The posts and rails to DO got ready for use.
The walls thrown by frost or cattle, to be
repaired or new portions laid. II the frost
is out Of the ground, posts may DO set, and
oil the fences put in order. Farm imple-
ments should be looked to, and every one Of
them put in complete repair. II new point
is wanting TO plow, do not wait I'LL 1t 10
time to begin blowing, but procure ono now,
so that when team and men are ready, there
shall be no delay. Get all the chains mend
ed, and overhaul the harnesses, and II you
find any weak parts, either mend them your
self or take them to the harness-maker. II
will be vexatious to have buckle draw out
or a strap break while you are blowing or
hauling heavy load OF manure, and hayo
TO turn out the team and lose half day In
getting il merded. See, also, that tho har-
nesses are we'll oiled, and that collars and
hames and yokes oil ct well, 70 that when
you come to put them IN motion, tho work
shall 20 on rapidly and pleasantly TO both
man and beast. The noble horse that ex-
erts his strength in our service, Is entitled
TO all the relief that can be derived ffuu q
we'll fitting harness. An easy, wcll.adjust.
ed yoke for the oxen will contribute much
to their comfort. We saw some yokes. At
the Agricultural Exhibition in Boston, last
October, that might almost tempt the patient
OK 10 desire ''to pass under the yoke."-
With good harnesses and yokes and plows
suited to the work TO be done, and CONSTRUCT
ed upon scientific principles. 1t Ii surprising
with how much more ease TO tho beast, and
pleasure and satisfaction to the plowman, tho
work can be done.
All kinds of stock should bc we'll cared
for this month. The oxen should be 10 fed
that they may be in good heart for the eea-
son OF hard labor that Is before them. The
cows must by no means be neglected. II
cows are reduced In flesh in the spring, II
takes half the summer for them to recruit,
and of course the profits from thom IL small.
Sheep require special attention this month.
A pint Of oats day, or few turnips cut
fine, to each Of your ewes, will DO amply
repaid by more vigorous lambs and the bet.
ter health Of the sheep. See that their pens
and yards are kept dry,lest you find the foot
rot among them, before you suspect it,
March is considered trying month for oil
kinds of stock. They have been so long
without green food, that they begin to suffer
for the want Of ii. II you have kept por-
ton of carrots or ruta bagas for this season,
they will supply the wants Of the animals
better, probably, than any other kind OF
food.
March is the time to fit up the hot.beds.
Every farmer may have, ut trihing cost,
few square feet covered with glass, to bring
forward at leas, some early tomatoes, cab.
bages and cucumbes. Dig out . space a.
large as your glass will cover, about eight
cen inches deep. Add TO tho top OF this
ten or twelve inches Of horse manure, and
cover Il with four inches Of good soil, aud
sow the seeds, put on the frame and cover
with the glass. Or a pile may DO raised
without digging, and the frame set upon II,
banking up about the edges with tho warm
loam and manure. II must be six or eight
inches larger each way than the frame
When the plants grow SO as TO reach tho
glass, the frame may be gradually raised
out Of their way, and in this manner strong
and vigorous plants may DO plentfully sup
plied, The nearer the plants are to tho
GLASS, the better they will grow. Rsiso tho
glass in the middle Of pleasant days, and
occasionally sprinkle with the Watering pot.
The fernenting manure will keep tho soil
warm at the bottom, and tho sun will warm
the top, and thus the terminating seeds wiz
find a warm soil and warm air, which will
put them forward some two or three weeks
earlier than they would come In the open
air, and you win have fine, thrifty plants to
set out about the time seeds are usually sown
in garden beds. 20
When all this has been done, use some
slight cover to protect them from tho cold
night air, and, If needfuL from the black
flies and other insects, and you will have
nice tomatoes and cucutnbers and cabbages,
that you will enjoy very much. Now this
nav seem small matter TO many farmers,
and not worth the tIouble-but II tried will
be found one Of those little things that con-
tribute TO the pleasures Of life-that keep
US cheerful and contented and IN happy
frame Of mind. You will watch the grown
of these plants, green and vigorous before
anything around them shows itself soovS
the ground, with great interest They ten
US Of what is coming. They suengnen
our faith in the certainty Of tho results OF
na,ure,s arrangements, and encourage our
homes In tho future. There Is Subtraction
In getting our carly meas Of peas, or radish-
c,. or lettuce, that woll rcpays al the trouble
3n the twenty second tho sun will havo
completed half bis annual journey toward
tbe north, and have reached the equators
and the days and nights will then DO equal.
hepceforward, until the sun shall have
reached the northern tropic, or turning point,
aud days will be gaining upon The nights,
the the soil will then receive more heat
from the sun in the long days, than i will
throw OF by radiation in the short nighu.-