Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-09-13
Farm Work for September.

make on their low lands. September affords
more time to make permanent changes than
any Of the months from April to December.
Men are now strong, for they have had the
seasoning of July aud August They are
Injured to summer sun and now expect cool
breezes to cheer them up.
In some years corn has been so forward
that farmers began to cut the tops by the first
of September. This year corn is at least ten
days later than usual in producing ears fit for
boiling Warm and dry weather may yet
bring it along SO as to escape any frost that
may come by the middle of the month. Last
year we had killing frost on the morning
OF the 10Th.
Farmers who continue the practice Of cut
ting the top stalks before harvest time have
the advantage of curing them and getting
them out of the way before the busy month
Of October comes, when corn and potatoes
also are to be secured; for they cannot har-
vest these till October comes.
The top stalks arc more easily secured and
with much less risk than hay--for they need
but very little drying before binding them up
in bundles--onc good day is sufficient; for
the bands need not be drawn tight to keep the
blades in place Then the bundles will not
be subject to mold under the bands.
After one days summing you can bind up
in bandles and put these into pikcs-ten or
twelve III a pike. In small fields all the
pixies may stand on the margin, In large
fields rows of pixies may be placed in central
parts Of the tield-Dot to be removed till The
corn is 50 far advanced that rows may be cut
to make way for the cart to carry the stalks
home.
The pixies, or shocks, should stand in the
open air, to be cured and sweoleued, for two
or three weeks. Then open them to the sun
one good day, and you may pack them close
on your hay mows, or stand them up in any
out building
Stalks cured in this way at sweeter and
richer than those that lie in the sun three or
four days before binding.
Some farmers have an idea that by letting
the tops remain on tire coru till late in the
season the frost will not be SO likely to nip
the ears. But this is a mistake. The top
stalks only serve TO prevent the free circua-
ton Of the air through the field. And free
circulation ofCon keeps off the frost Thus in
a windy night no frost appears. High grounds
exposed to the Winds are royor 50 frosty as
low grounds, where there is less ohanco fer the
circulation Of air
Gut your stalk, therefore, as soon as the
corn begins to harden, aud you stand q better
chance than by leaving your tops to protect
the cars.
Drains on low lands may now be cut to
advantage. Some writer's urge US to drain
all our uplands, aud they will endure dry
weather the better There are clayey uplands
which are benefited by d aiming. But in New
Itnglaad our low lands need more draining
than our high lands. We have much low
ground which we can greatly improve by
draining. OPoa d aius are geuor2ly best, as
they are cheapest, and more easily KEEP free
than under drains.
September is an excellent month for SOW
ing grass seeds. They may be sown wi
winter grain, and they may be sown without
grain. Low and fiat lands, which are unfit
for tillage, may now be turned over and sown
at once With gaass seed. A thorough harrow
Ing, with Il little top dressing, will be ncces-
sary to lay the land even.
After the ground is prepared, SOW one peek
of herds grass and two or three pecIs OF red
top per acre-hut no clover, as that VII be
winter-killed But eight pounds oil clover
per acre may be sown IA November Or De-
cember, whea it is too late ior it to vcgetatc.
The grass seed sown in September should
be buried by Il brush harrow; for the seed
are lost which are buried deep. Five or x
days after the narrowing, and before the grass
or grain Vegetables put on the brush harrow
again a.d give thorough brushing. Thus
you kill thousands ct weeds a few days Old
and give your sown seeds more equal