Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1862-01-30
agricultural.
From the Rural Register.
FARM WORK FOR FEBRUARY.

FARM WORK FOR FEBRUARY.
Although it is very rarely the case in this
latitude that field operations can be carried
on to any extent during the month of Feb
ruary. except as occasionally happens dur
ing the two weeks of open weather that
sometimes enables the ploughs to be active
ly employed in light open soils. it is never
theless season of active preparation for
spring work All that can possibly be done
in this way to expedite matters should GER
tainly be accomplished without loss of time.
Every good farmer we'll knows the advan-
tage of having nothing but straight forward
work to do when the spring fairly opens,
and the ground is IN good condition for
ploughing. To stop at such time to re-
pair defective implements is to leave the
teams idle when they should be steadily
engaged, and if bad weather should subse-
quently intervene, may cause delays in get
ting the seed into the ground, for which no
amount of extra exertion afterwards can
compensate In the barn yard, during the
month of February, there is, moreover.
much to do. The compost heaps which are
to fertilize the soil for future crops, should
now claim especial attention, manure is to
be hauled out-the cattle, during this and
the succeeding month will require special
care. An abundance of firewood ready pre-
pared for the use of the household should
be provided, so that none of the hands shall
be taken of when their services are impera-
lively required in the field. In brief. the
true secrect of successful husbandry. in ad-
dition to thorough tillage and liberal manur-
ing, is to catch the proper season for the
work to be performed and to be prepared to
take advantage of it the moment it arrives.
Of the work which properly should be done
in this month, we now proceed to speak.
Every species of vegetable fibre, all sorts
of animal matter. the suds, dishwater. pot
liquor. ashes, of1al. &C., of the homestead
all these materials when composted with the
contents of the barn yard. constitute fer
tilizer adapted to any soil, because contain
ing all the elements that enter into and pro-
mote the vigorous growth of plants. In
collecting and saving what may be termed
domestic manures," the contradistinction
to Commercial fertilizers Guanos,
Phosphates, &c-American farmers and
ave usually exhibited great nee' +
gence what they do in this respect isssl
with some few exceptions. done carelessIy
and siovcnly The liquid contents Of the
barn yard are but too often suffered to run
to waste. The manure itself is exposed to
constant deterioration from the action of the
weather, and it is but too frequently left in
heaps to ferment and to throw off it's vola-
tile elements. until finally it becomes fire.
fanged and comparatively worthless. Now.
by judicious system of composing and by
a careful regulation of the process of fermen-
tation, checking it in due season by turning
over the heap and mixing it afresh, and
by protecting it from the inau-
ences of the weather and by preventing the
liquid manure from passing off, all the con-
stituents that are most useful in the produc-
tion of grass and grain, may be saved and
as lesser quantity of manure rich in am
monia and the phosphates is required to
keep up the fertility Of the soil than is de-
manded when the best properties of the
manure have been leached out by rains and
melting SHOWS and by exposure to the wea-
ther, the economy Of securing it in pro-
per manner is self evident
SOWING CLOVER SEED.
If the weather should happen to be favor
able, clover-seed may be sown on wheat
fields during this month Many experience
ed farmers regard it as good plan to SOW
the seed on the snow and permit it to sink
gradually into the soil as the snow melts
Should there be no such favorable opportuni-
ty the seeding should be deferred until after
the frost is entirely out of the ground. and
the soil is left light and comparatively dry
and mellow. Then bush or harrow it in
and follow with roller. A light barrow
ing is generally preferred, but in such cases
subsequent rolling is absolutely necessary
Where roller is not to be had in time for
immediate use, bushing the seed in is most
advisable.
WINTER PLoUGHING.
The ploughipg of stiff clays may be done
at any time during this month, provided the
ground be sufficiently open and is not too
wet.
TOBACCO BEDS.
Let these be prepared in the best manner
for the reception of the seed. The earlier
the beds are made and the seed sown, the
weather permitting. the better the oppor-
tunity will be for renewing the beds in case
the stand Of plants should fail, as it some-
times happens to do.
OUT-BUILDINGs.
Repair such of these as need it forthwith
and improve their appearance by good
coat of white or colored wash. Neutral tints
are always to be preferred in coloring out
buildings. which should never be made so
prominent in color as the dwelling house.
FENCING STUFF.
See that sufficient fencing stuff be gotten
out of the woods and prepared for use before
the time for spring operations presses too
heavily to admit of such work being done
without delaying other labors which are still
more important. .e-a.
ORCHARDS.
Fruit trees for new orchards may be set
out during this aud the succeeding month