Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-03-29
fnrmers' Ttpattmsut,
Farm Work for April.

Farm Work for April.
There is no time now TO be lost in
preparing the ground for the reception
of the various spring crops. 1t is en-
tircl; out of the question TO expect the
highest yield which the soil is capable of
producing, unless the requisite labor is
employed to secure it. Even the ma
lign influences Of an unfavorablc season
may Lc at least partially overcome by
judicious cultivation; by proper ur-
derstanding of the peculiar Characters
tics Of the soil to be worked, and by 4
due attention to details The time and
the season must be consulted; meas
ures, either special or general, must be
applied, and in such quantities as each
crop requires to bring it to perfection,
or as the means Of the. farmer will al
low. Thorough tiIlase is, in all cases,
indispensable, and although we do not
hold with Jcthro Tall, and his English
followers, that deep ploughing and n
perfect disintegration Of the soil by
frequent use ofthe cultivator and kindred
implements. among the growing crops,
will enable the agriculturist TO do With
out nianures altogether, we nevertheless
believe that the nearer We can approach
20 the perfection of spade husbandry,
the less manure will be required, and
the heavier the product will be. With
these preliminary remarks, we proceed,
as usual, to call the attention Of our
readers to the work for the month.
HAULING OUT MANURE.
Wherever this has not already been
accomplished, it should take precedence
at this season, of all other farm labor.
Where the force is large enough to adj
nit of its being divided, the operations
of hauling out aud spreading manure,
and of ploughing it under, may be car
ricd on simultaneously. In most cases
this arrangement is not practicable. But,
however performed, the application Of
manure to the soil demands the exercise
of sound judgment Where there is no
difference Whatever in the quality of the
land upon which it is to be spread, it
may be distributed evenly and in equal
quantities over the entire surface; but
when there are thin spots in fell, or
gals and washes, much heavier dress
Ing should be given. 1t is better, more
over, when the field has been worn down
from too frequent cropping, to manure
one acre thoroughly than two or three a
cres indiiTerently, for it not only ccono
misses labor, bat assures the maximum of
Yield, while it enables the portion SO
dressed to carry through rotation with
out calling for further assistance. The
quantity to be applied will depend wholly
upon the present condition Of the soil.
II that is poor, twenty two-horsc cart
loads of manure to the acre, will not be
too much while, if it be toleraby fer
tile, half that amount may suffice. In
either case, the field will be greatly bon
Gifted by the addition of five bushels of
refuse salt five bushels of crushed
bones or one cwt of manipulated guano,
and one bushcl of plaster, intimately
mixed with the manure, to fix its vola-
tile elements and increase the quantity
of those constituents in which barn-yarl
manurcs are most deficient
BARLEY.
The great demand that has sprung
up of late years, for this grain, in con-
sequence of the moro frequent use of
malt liquors, renders it much more
valuable crop than it was formerly, and
offers inducements TO it., more extensive
cultivation An analysis of barley shows
that in 100 parts Of its ashcs, it con-
iaius, according to Wray,
Seed. .ctrow.
Potash and Soda, 30 90 $500
Lime, 3.OG 9,06
Niagnesia, 7.O6 10y
Chloride of Sodium, 2O3 S.25
Phosphoric acid, 3l.O2 los
The soils best adapted to barley, are
dry sandy or gravelly loans, which arc
in a good state of fertility; but it will
flourish on any soils that are sufficiently
rich and dry On wet, cold lands, aud
tiff clays, it will not succeed.
Preparation Of The sell. Plough deep,
harrow and cross harrow, until the soil
is completely pulvcrizcd-preccdcd by n
dressing of manure if the field requires
it. Barley will flourish on very highly
MANFRED lands better than any other of
the cereals, for though, under such cir
cumstances, it may lodge, the ears will
Gil where other crops would merely run
TO straw.
Covering for grass. ---Gfass seeds sue
coed better with barley than with any
other winter or spring crop.
Liability to injury. 1t is less Liable
to injury than most Of the grain crops
does not rust, and rarely suffers from
the attacks of insects. Rainy weather
ut harvest time is the only one thing to
be feared, as the seed sprouts readily
after cutting, and is thus seriously dam
aged for mailing purposes.
Harvesting and curing The har-
vcsting CT barley should commence, as
in the case of wheat, while the kernels
are yet in doughy state, and before
the heads begin to droop. If left until
the grain is ripe skaters freely. AZ.
ter grading, If the straw is still green,
it should be left in the swa;h for twenty
four hours previous TO binding; then
shock up in two rows, placed closely to-
gether without caps. Let it remain in
shocks a day or two, after which it will
be in 6t state to carry tn the barn.
Time Of .So'ring. AS early as posi-
bic after the frost is out Of the ground.
Quantity Of seed to the acre. If the
soil is in good condition, as it should be
for this crop SOW not less than two