Litchfield enquirer., 1861-04-18
AGRICULTURAL,

CRoss- FLOWING GREENswARD-This error ia sometimes fallen into by those who have had little experience in farming. They want to make the best preparation of the land for crops, and do too much If the object be to get deep tilth of soil, the better way is to turn the turf under at once, and mellow the surface with a harrow or cultivator. Where the sod is turn ed over, it decays much more rapidly to lie un. disturbed, than to have it broken by cross-plow- ing. The edges of the sod do not come to light and air, so as to grow, and the whole mass of vegetable fibre is rapidly converted into plant food, and taken up by the crop.
 Cross-plOwing is particularly objectionable in wet, or clayey soils. If the furrow slice is turn ed over eight or ten inches thick and allowed to lap few inches upon it's neighbor, it forms 6 temporary drain in the bottom of each furrow
 If the furrow runs up and down the slope of the field, they will carry off the water after heavy showers very readily in the fore-part of the sea- son, when the ground is most likely to be injured by surplus of water. In breaking up prai- r.e sod, more shallow blowing is desirable The sod rots quicker and there is fertility enough near the surface.-An,. 4g''icukuralisk
 EARLY TERMINATION OF SEED Cony.-Tbe Republican of Princeton, H., gives an experi. ment of Dr. Chamberlin, which goes to show that, by the use of chloride of lime and copper as, much time may be saved in the germination of corn. In his office, Dr. c. had four boxes, in one of which the corn was planted without soak ing, and the seed had not germinated in tho second, the seed was soaked in warm water and had just commenced to germnate; in the third. the seed was soaked in solution of lime, and the green blades were just peeping from the ground in the fourth, the seed was soaked in a solution of chloride of lime and copperas equal parts, and the blades were nearly three inches above the ground All the seeds were taken from the same ear, were planted at the same time, in the same quality of soil, and had an equal share of light and heat. The copperas will keep the birds and worms from eating the seed. Ono pound each of chloride of lime and copperas will soak seed enough for 20 acres,
 ENFORCE THE BIRD LAws.--1he Legislatures of several States have enacted stringent game laws for the protection of animals, birds and fish, and it becomes farmers particularly to see that they are strictly enforced as far as pertains to birds Scientific men of high authority very generally agree that the alarming increase of destructive insects, which cause the loss of so much grain and fruit is mainly in consequence of the wholesale slaughter of their natural en- emies, the birds, that had previously kept them in due bounds. Let every cultivatOr see to it that the laws are concerning the killing Of birds are enforced. In this State the law, Chap S2.) imposes penalty for each bird of the following species, killed or entrapped at any season of the year. viz robins, thrushes, linnets, sparrows. bluebirds, bluebirds, bobolinks, yellow birds, woodpeckers, or warblers. And it is the duty of the mayor and aldermen, and selectmen, to cause the law to be enforced Whoever, be- tween the first day of March and the fourth of
 July. shoots at or kills any birds on lands not his own, or without licence from the owner or occupant shall forfeit to said parties, $l0 to be recovered in an action of tort.-Gleaner, Lee, Mass.
 How TO GET EARLY ToMAFoEs.-Mrs. E. D. Kendall, of Maryland, thus writes to the South, ern Field and Preside:
 A good large turnp is far better than any hot bed for propagating early tomatoes. Cut off the top and scoop out to shell three quorters, of an inch thick. Fill the cavity with rich mould, plant half dozen seeds, and place the turnip in box of loam. Keep in warm place, by an east window if possible, and sprinkle with tepid water every day until there is no longer any danger from the frost theo remove the tur- nip to the out door bed, and thin out to but one plant Should the turnip shell put out shoots, pinch them off, and the shell will soon rot at, fording fertilizer to the tomato plant that VIII soon send it ahead wonderfully. dozen tur- nps thus tomatoised will afford an abundant supply of early tomatoes for an ordinary lamily'