Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-02-25
NOTES FOR FEBRUARY.
For Farmer, Gardeners and Heusfz

For Farmer, Gardeners and Housexs
See that your fences are in good a =
or if not, get the materials ready to re-
pair them the first opportunitys ef
See that your manure heap is l1tseass
ing, and haul few loads of the ebest EEL
decomposed on to the poorest spots, 20 assse-
to give the air time to assimilate it WIKI, :
the SOIL
Compute how much extra feYtilizin;
material you need, and investigate til
wants of your soil, so that you may know
what kinds to apply.
Do not neglect ordering too long, but
have every thing ready for active opera
lions as soon as the weather is settled
enough to permit it. I..
Lay out your plans for cropping, con-
slider the kinds Of soil you are possesss'
Of, and what crop will succeed best Oh
each. Follow the rotation system, thu,
secure sure crops and renovated soil.
Select your seed, and be sure that You
get good sound healthy material, or else
all your time and labor will be thrown
away. If you have not preserved suffi-
cient for your wants, order Of some relia
bic scotsman Immediately, cr else ytm
may have to wait, and take tie secon:
best quality. Decide now what crops yo'
intend growing, and of your capabili'y
of doing SO proftably.
| Look to your implements and see ti,as
they are all in working order: that your
plows are whole, and provided with extrd
shares and screws thxs the harrows are
well toothed and duplicated; that the
cultivator, planter and coverey are in goo
working condition; that mowers ar
reapers are we'll sharpensd and tak,n
care of.
Some recommend plowirg now, sr~l
surface plowing and pulverising in sprin;
but the condition of the land should de-
eide this question.
If in want of help, now is the time to
engage it, as in few weeks all good
hands will be eagerly sougM after, ami
one good man is better than many bztl
ones.
Good soil, good seed, wen cultivated
and gathered, produce good crops.
| THE GARDEN.
Little work can be done IN this depart
ment this month. To select seeds, k.y
out plans, prepare mantre and get ever
thing in readiness for fine weather will
take all the time that Can usually h.
spared for the garden.
To those who desire early things, how
ever, now is the time to prepare the Mr ,
bed for vegetables and flowers.
Such articles as pea-brush and bean
poles should now be looked after, and svr
that there are enough to meet all antic-
pated demands.
See that the evergreens and shrubberv
are kept clean Of snow, aid where needed
for symmetry slight pruning may now he
done.
Prepare suitable tools and paint III the
wooden parts which need it.
If the grape vines have not ben
pruned, the earlier i. is attended to tl.
better.
THE ORCHARD
At this season can conviently be per-
formed the very necessary and important
works of pruning, scraping and rubin
Of moss and other parasitic plants, and IS
manuring the ground where wanted.
The best method of destroying moss Oh
young trees, is to rub all the branches
affected in spring or autumn, or in botis,
if necessary, with hard scrubbing bru>.r
and soap-suds. Where the trees are call,
kered, (Which arises from animalcules. @.
very minute insects, or worms Of yarior,
kinds,) it is best to cut out the Who'll.
cankered part to the sound wood, ard
give the affected part good washing wit j,
solution Of one drachm Of corrosiy
sublimste dissolved in gill of gin e.
other spirits, and this incorporated wi !.
four quarts of soft water. Peach tres
which are annoyed by worms shoul
toward the end eff the month be esrefult,
examined. and where any are four
picked out with the point Of knife; h.,
great care should be taken not to lacere'n
the bark. If the trees should be broke..
or wounded, they should be protecred a. !
bound with grating wax OF some otL..
protective material.
Where needed root pruning should now
be attended to. This is necessary VIII
the trees begin to show sickly pickir- .
upon the leaves, the fruit inciining
ripeness before it has acquired its t :.
growth, and the bark becoming dry, h.~
and disposed to crack. The pruning c..
be done with mallct and sharp CHS,
and the places well secured with o.
covering of manure. If the ground
wet, place few fat stones mder tit,
places where the roots were cut off. T,r.s
will prevent the young roots about t &c
cuts taking a perpendicular dissection
LIVE STOCK.
| Horses should be well looked after n,
this time. Being let stand in the stall,
for want Of employment q great port;cr
OF their time, it is important that tn .ir
beds and floor should be kept dry a,,,
clean, Or the scratches and numerous h.r,,
diseases will be the result. with stiffness
Of joints and muscles. His food is al
an item demanding = special attentit =
Gut food is far preferable to the long cru
hay or fodder, and properly prepared W. =.
60 twice as far. Examine his shoes ali
see that they are well fitted, and nail,-I
securely.
Cattle generally should be looked aft !,
as very little care and proper shelter ar,
well repaid by the recipients, in streng,!
. and agility. If you want good crop: 4.
wool, take care Of your sheep now !; or il
you want an abundance Of spsiny hml.~,
see that they are properly sheltered, ami
not stand shivering behind some hay m,.v
or fence.
. POULTRY YARD.
Eggs intended for Matching early chief
ems should never be chilled. Put the.
in cool. dry cellsr or room, where N, i,
will not be too warm or too cold ~ 81, i
: as laid.