Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-10-31
From the Rural Register.
HINTS ABOUT FARM
MATTERS

Apart from what we have said in relation
to farm work for November, there are GER
tain matters in regard to the care of the
Homestead, the keeping Of stock, and the
preparations for spring crops to which we
now take occasion to advert. We have al
ready mentioned elsewhere, the propriety of
breaking up heavy clay lands with the plough
for the purpose Of subjecting such soils to
the ameliorating influences of winter frosts.
We may add that there are many cogent
reasons why stiff olays should be ploughed
in the fall rather than in the spring In
the first place the teams are in good condi-
ton for the work, and there is an abundance
of time for breaking up the land in the most
careful and thorough manner. In the next
place this fall ploughing lightens the labors
Of tie anrinr--lsaszss- l;s.4-e,--l
cattle from being pushed beyond their
strength when work has to be hurried and
every hour is valuable. There is one rule
however that must be imperatively observed
in ploughing strong adhesive clays-they
must not be ploughed when wet or the soil
will cake and run into Jumps which not even
the hardest frosts of winter and the subse-
quent thaws will be capable of breaking
down, and reducing to a finely pulverized
state. There is also another evil consequent
upon ploughing clay lands when in a wet
state. The treading Of the teams is apt to
reduce them to the consistence Of mortar
and necessarily to injure rather than to
benefit the productive capacity Of the soil.
The intermediate state between wet and dry
is the true point to be aimed at in the autumn
ploughing Of lands that have considerable
portion of clay in their composition. Where
however the field has a thick sward upon it
the ploughing may be done at any time as
the net work of roots will prevent the cak-
ing of the soil, and the moist condition of
the land will assist in decomposing the vege-
table matter as soon as warmer weather
sets in.
We have word or two to say at this
! time IN respect to the proper selection of
seed corn. Every good farmer knows that
by judicious choice of the ears growing
upon field he may greatly improve not
only the quality of his seed but also largely
increase the yield of future crops. By Sc
Letting seed corn from stalks which have
borne two or more ears, provided they are
sound and well filed, advantage is taken of
the increased fruitfulness of some stalks over
others, and also of the natural law that
1splant transmits it's superior bearing qualities
to the seed which is taken from it. AS the
season for corn husking is approaching, and
as husks make when properly managed an
excellent winter fodder, it is certainly worth
while to store them away in the best manner
In general they are huddled carelessly into
the fodder house and tramped down without
regard to whether they are put away in a
moist or dry state, and with but little atten-
ton to secure them against dirt or mildew
"A much better plan is while slowing them
away for the winter to sprinkle over the
husks a strong solution of salt and water
the brine so made should be capable of float
ing an egg-but care should be taken that
the husks are simply danspened with the So
luton, as if they are made too wet they will
inevitably heat and mould Such husks
duly housed and cut into chaff by a straw
cutter before feeding away will be found to
be far more valuable as provender than if
they were fed off whole and in the usual
careless way.
We close this paper with hint or two in
regard to the fattening of Swine in addition
to what we have already said upon the sub
iect Many persons are in the habit of feed
ing small refuse potatoes to their fattening
hogs, and these when mixed with small
proportion of corn meal constitute an excel
lent food, especially when given in the ear
4ier part Of the season. It has however
been repeatedly proven by experiment that
carrots and parsnips are both Of them supe-
rior to potatoes in respect to their fattcning
properties. and may be grown both for this
purpose and as furnishing an occasional sup
ply both of horses and mich cows with great
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