Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-05-22
9arituIturaI 9epartuRut.
Farm Work for May.

smoothly, to have 10 hurrylpg, no "oIA u pe
done over again, and to have no body on the
farm who interrupts the work of Others, or is
ont of the way when wanted, or shrinking his
share Of the tough jopS and looking out for
easy ones The farmers of our country should
remember that all prosperity, especially 10 this
country, is dependent upon the the products OF
the soil, ard SO use the whole fertility OF the
soil and the manureheap to the best adVan-
tsge, and with confidence in Him who givith
rain in due season, and ordereth the seed time
and the harvest
Beans will do pretty well on poor soils, but
O great deal better on good. They run to
tops IF the ground has too moch fresh manure.
and are an excellent crop for cleaning land OF
weeds. They ere always marketable, valuable
for home use, and for feeding to sheep. Plant
white bush varieties feet apart.
Bees-A moderate apery can be easily at.
tended to with little expense and trouble, and
with great profit
Birds-Spare them all put up bird boxes.
More than one or two compartments are unde'
sirable XIII cats that kill birds allow no
guns fred on or near your premises.
Bones-Collect from far and near with jeal'
ous care pound them up or put them 10 with
the horse manure.
Broom COMPLIANT late in the month, or
good corn land iu hills, three feet each Uay,or
in drills 4 four feet apart, thinning subsequent
" TO six inches apart in the rows.
Bui!dings-Paiut before hot weather comes
on. if at all Remove all litter from unused
stalls and the bottom of bays, before it be-
comes harbor Tor rats and mice and insects,
which soon take possession when the premises
are left urdisturbed
Cattle--Continue to fodder until there is
abundance of grass They will relish little
hay al night even after being turned 70 pas.
ture. Feed grain to working cattle according
to the severity of their labors. Potatoes or
other roots once or twice week will keep
them in good, healthy working order.
Cellars--When the cellars are empty, clean
them out in every nook and corner, and white
wash throughout, and stop rat holes with ce
nent and broken glass.
CloVer-When winter grain is thin and
backward from any cause clover and grass
seed will catch if sown early.
Corn-Prepare the soil in dry weather, new
or work the ground when it is wet. Examine
carefully and reject all imperfect seed. If vet
and dried off with lime, shutting is prevented
Darv-Tha labors of the dairy are COM
monty more burdensome this month than any
other. Plenty of Eeh milk, with good help
makes the work light ...
Drainirg-mark the spots that need drain
ing, and be prepared to put in the " crockery"
or stone next fall in good earnest and i'm
prove drouths, ct any season, 10 drain low
swampy land.
Flax and Hemp-Fax culture promises to
become more remnneratVe in future, from re-
cent improvements in preparing the fibre. Sow
this and Hemp early.
Fences--Keep all in repair, particularly
road and boundary fences, and around pasture
lots where young cattle are confined. If they
cnce become unruly, no ordinary fence will re-
strain them.
Grain Fieds-A top dressing of plaster. nj
trate of soda, or guano often proved beneficial
TO both winter and spring grain Guano lime
or wood ashes, sown literally before the seed
is covered, will benefit heavy soils. Keep sii
stock from grain fields, and pull the weeds as
soon as plainly visible before the grain is too
large.
Grass Seed-May be still sown upon grain
fields not already seeded, and on poor mea
dows. Use plenty of seed.
Horses-Need, to keep them in good condi.
ton during Spring work, generous feed and
thorough grooming Collars, cart, ana har-
ness saddles should fit perfectly, aud these are
much better hard than soft. Soft pads induce
sweating and gals if the skin be broken. A
piece Sf hard leather, cut to lit the neck aud
shoulders under the collar, is a great relief to
O tender skinned horses. Sponge the head.
shoulders and legs night and morning
Horse hoes-In oil cases where hand hoeing
can be dispensed With, and the work done by
horse power, DO So The tiiiage is usually
much more thorough, because oftener repeat
ed and done at SO much less expense.
Mowings-Allow no grazing in SPRING
Top dress with fine compost before the grass
has advanced much. or apply ashes or plaster,
if needed Keep tue wash channels open from
the road, and arrange them to distribute the
water over wide space.
Parsnips- ford a valuable feed for milch
COWS; should be Sowed about the middle of
May rather shallow, in drills two feet apart.
ParSDips make lighter drafts upon the soil than
any other root crop. except onions, bat delight
in a deeply worked light rich soil.
Plowing-Lay out long lands. and avoid
curying furrows Whenever practicable fol.
low with the srbsoil plow. There is no other
good preparation for deepening the soil by sub
sequent pioWings, and it is gceat preventive
Of injury for drouth.
Poultry-If confined, keep up their laying
by liberal feed OF grain, boiled potatoes. and
frequently some chopped meat aud grass or
green food Allow them to leave their yard
an hour or two before sundown. Hens with
chickens should be confined 10 portable cOops
and chickens allowed to roam in the garden or
fruit yard until they begin to scratch badly
they will destroy many insects. Feed young
poultry on cracked corn Instead of meal, in
ereasiHg the size as they grow older, until they
can manage whole corn. Milk curds are very