Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1860-03-09
Some Hints on Spring Work.

MtteH. tire .sarliest month Of all tho
gear," has come again, and, though in many
Jealitics icy winter still continues to reign,
the taezin Of preparation sounded on every
,ile by uatGra heglns to he heard
Now is the time for the farmer to exercise
all his vigilance AMI f7rathought, and to see
chat every moment ct time is turned to ac-
count. >ee that a >lri lent stock Of fuel is
laid in at the hoax for summer wants, and
that tie raits arr drawn and laid where they
are li.eiy t be handy tor repairing fences
Put the itAees and gates into repair, as soon
ls tc ground Is thaWed enough to fix the
stake.
Have YOU a stock Of roots on hand? Ev-
cry good farmer ought to have it. Now is
the time t. feed them out t. the animals on
the farm, especially milch cows and breeding
ewes, To enable them to give full supply OF
milk for their young.
Sc that the yeauin@ ewes are seperated
from the rest Of the flock, given little extra
food, and all tags and dirt removed from
them. At lambins time, keep them comfort
ably housed, with plenty Of good, clean straw
to lie on, and do net fpreet to let them have
access To clear. pure water at all times
They require constant care at this time, if it
is desired t. raise the lambs. The ewes may
ne let cut into the ward every afternoon, but
tie lambs are better t. remain in the house
I'll they are at least week Old, strong and
healthy, NJ change and exposure. 'pecial
~ to tie sun or rain, is iniuriD to them, as
lisl is living ON the cold, da mp ca tn. The
lamis viii slon learn to eat, II a little hne
ch pred hay or oat-mcal is placed in shall
t5a boz. or trough in their house, while the
ewes are out, and ii it is desired to bcing
them forward early for the butch +, this e4
IRA feeding will help the II greatly.
Feed the cows we'll, and Do not let them
fall off in their milk Will, waiting for tho
grass t. come. Give the working animals
enough OF saeh f55d us will rr9lae3 muscle,
NOT iat-and give them m1lerate am unit
Of daily exercise.
Keen the ward we'll Uttered With straw, and
the cattle c5ntinel 70 it, Ihere is nothing
gained by letting them wander over tae farm,
makina tracks IN the soft ground wherever
they @. Stock should never 90 to grass till
the Ground becomes settled firmly enough to
bear them without showing footprints half
an inch deep. Pile up the manure in the
ward as fast as it is made, mixing into the
heap all the srrapings OF the house, fowl and
sheep yards, h1S pens, etc.
Pick over the potatoes, and select the lar
rest and s9undesi for seed. Ii they are cut,
roll them II p.aster Of Paris, and sprinkle
plaster over them while lying in the cellar,
It is sail 10 at in me degree, as prevent
i've Of the rot We know of some farmers
who SOW tablespoonful Of plaster in each
hill, or over each set, at the time of planting,
and who aseribe the freedom Of their potato
crop from d.sca.e to the use Of plaster
From the known tendency Of salt to destroy
funr0ii lIlc il il early s5ages, we think SOW
ing it Oh the p1ttto plant might be the means
Of mitigating tie rot We, however, only
throw this out as a suggestion to those who
may be willing q try the experiment.
Sow bGshel Of plaster per acre on clo-
yer as soon us the ground is dry.
Glover and grass seeds may be sown this
month-on the snow if you li1e-though
they will do as well, if not better, when
oown Just after the warm spring rains. Har-
rowing is generally unnecessary, but light
brush harrow is used sometimes with adlan-
tage. Where it is desired to ameliorate the
soil. or ob;ain good pasturagc, and rlow it
again in year Or two, we should SOW moth
ing but pure clover, at the rate Of 10 to Is
lbs. per acre. But where permanent now
ing meadows are desired, il is well TO SOW
mixture Of equal parts Of clover and timothy,
with the addition. perhaps, of some other
grasses, of such sarts as can be grown in the
locality with advantage say 3 lbs. of ltal-
ian rye grass, or > lbs. of meadow iescuo, or
l H. OF red-top, or 2 lbs. Of meadow fpxtail,
or 3 lbs OF Kentucky blue grass, or 4 lbs. Of
orchard grass. Clover or grass seeds do bet
ter when sown on barley or spring wheat
than on any other spring crop