Litchfield enquirer., 1862-03-27
EH5a5klI 2, s1A 1I.sN ..'sl S- s .sresae9A Aariflsih sih1rals

f Top.Darsstsn GHAss LAxDa IN rhs STsnso. i correspo1dentI of the Country Gentleman
 savs | The fall has hitherto been regarded by the majority as the best season of the req to
 top-dress prass lancs and upon clUse, hard soils i5ol fiat and level surfaces. 1t has been praetced
 with excellent success. But taking New Eng. 1 land lands, with rare exceptions, it is certain that the fall IS preferable to the spring !" ] think not, and the reasons for this conclusion are obvious. In the autumn, more than in the spring, top-dressing is exposed to hazards of loss. 1.-the succeeding months are wet, and the earth is washed by continuous rains, much of the fertiliziBg quality of what has been applied is rendered valneless. It is different in the |spring. l7's' .fsF71st E r t.4f ss,l..S Natures or composts applied just after the frost has begun to leave the ground are absorbed more readily, and the temperature oi the surface E rendered several degrees warmer py the coy Grass lands that are top dressed in the spring. will be found to come forward earlier than those thus treated ill the autumn, and the crop will prove, apon trial, to be larger. 7ak lam aware that most farmers can more con Iyenieptly attend to this sort of work in the fall than in the spring, and fear that this is the nrincipaI reason which has led them to adopt the practiee now so common. The heaviest crop of grass that came under my observation during the last hay season, was q piece of land of about three acres which had been top-dressed in the last of May; and 2 piece of moving, upon which was spread in October, g generous dressing of stable manure, did not yield near so well as a piece of ground adjoining of the same quality, top dressed in the same way in the last days of February. .sA
 < In respect to light, sandy soils, there Is not yiH productive than if done at any other time of the year. .r a tser,ss .tsaYs j j HINTS ON THE PorAro DIsEAsE.--From an elaborate article in recent number of the Jour Eal of the West of England Society,"" on the DO tato culture from the pen of Dr. Lang, in which many curious and important truths are discussed, the following may be regarded as conclusions deduced from his treatment of the whole sub ject ;-- s sse.tasa ~
 l. The desirability Of early planting in dry, clean and well prepared ground. se9
 ?. That white potatoes are least liable te the ored sort. sali. e - s =as,. p y
 3. That the soil in no case produces or influ- ences the disease. -'f Ai A. That the disease is of fungoid character investing many varieties of plants, and is it. creased in activity by atmospheric causes.
 5. That all heterogeneous manures are injuri- ouS.
 6. That lime and salt, mixed in tue proportion of eight tons of lime with three hundred weight of common salt, is the best manure; and this is the proportion used to the acre.
 I. That potatoes that rpen earliest should be exclusively grown.
 g. That as soon the disease appears, earthing up the stalks repeatedly with fine earth from the centre of the trench is he only effsctual proven tive to its ravages. To this operatioH the author consequently attaches the greatest importance. :, 9. That when exhumed, sunlight appears to arrest the progress of the murrain and prevents the further decomposition of the tuber.
 Without committing ourselves to all of the above statements and suggestions. some of which are, we think, doubtful, or open to wellfounded objections, the attentive reader will find much useful material for thought which, if carefully considered, cannot fail to impart valuable aid ID coming to sound conclusions, as far as our con- fessedly limited and imperfect knowledge will as yet permit on this very important and equally difficult subject.
 A SCARE CRow. .-The following is said to be 8 remedy against the depredations of the crow and blackbird, in the cornfeld: Take fine plump seed corn--a quantity of it-string each kernel on q horse hair-white is best-tying knot in it to prevent its slipping off. Scatter it in spots oyer the field where the birds will see it and alight. They will not eat but one kernel of it. and will not trouble that field for any other) again. The two ends of horse hair sticking
 out of their mouths we'll anchored in their craws by fine kernel of corn, is by no means pleas
 ure to tlVm.
 De Berri, Rye, N. r., writes to the American Agriculturist It is enphatically Loves labor lost" to set hens on eggs lacking vitality. For some years have generally been successful in counting my chickens before they were matched" About the second week in March, select fresh eggs of a4hedium size, and set as many hens as possible at the same time. After three days I examine the eggs at night with light those having the embryo chick will'appear dark while those lacking vitality will look as clear as ever remove them as they will not hatch, but are still it for family use; transfer the good eggs from one nest to another to make up deficiencies, and give the robbed hens fresh eggs. e A young farmer asked an old SeotcKman for advice in, his pursuit. He told him what had
 been the secret of his own success in farming and concluded with the following warning :- Never, SANDIE, neuer-above all things, NEVER get in debt, but if you eyer do, Jet t be for ma. nu1e!'
 TRIBurE TO GEN. LaxDER-% w. Forney
 gives q brief but graphic sketch of General Lander: --,.,+4 1 -.s.@