Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-03-18
SpTing Work.

TIE time IOf Tue OiedkihS up U Tue nlhtel
is approaching Soon will bean the lighi
and warmth of spring. Soon all the activi
tics of nature will awake aud the mind OF mar
in sympathetic response will arouse 10 the
labors of another year. As the carolipg Of
the first birds is heard, the industrious will
think il is high time TO be up with the dawn,
and out to prepare for the business of the
year.
SO soon as the snow is gone there is plenty
| to do 1t will be a good time to SOW clover
and grass seed upon the wheat, rye and bar.
/ ley fields, in order TO insure an early and an
| effectual termination. We cannot too forci-
| bly urge all farmers TO scatter clover seed
wherever it can be allowed to grow, chiefly
| for the sake of enriching the land. If the
/ soil is fertile, a growth of clover plowed un-
der will keep it 50, and cost OF five dollars
in forty years will save an average OF twenty
bushels of corn per acre for the whole time,
besides paying for itself ten times over in
rendering the ground more easy of cultiva-
ton IT your land is already run down for
lack of attention to this matter, clover crop
plowed under every alternate year, as it may
be, and crop produced besides, will gradu-
ally, but effectually, restore its vigor and
make you laugh in the ample reward of your
toll
There are many things that can be done
previous to the time in which to commence
blowing. The fences can be put in repair,
the barn-yard can be cleaned up, and its con-
tents, with the products of the stables and
other out-buildings, can be got out upon the
fields. There is no economy in letting ma
nure lie during the summer to waste away
under the rains and the heat of the July SUM-
1t can be scattered upon the soil, plowcd
under, and the elements that would waste
during the summer will go into the crops of
the season. In the meantime, it can rot un-
der ground more thoroughly, and at the same
time assimiate itself with the soil, and be as
good or better for next years growth, than
if it were to lie in the yard until it is rotted.
1t will be necessary now to keep a close
watch of the stock to see that some animals
are not becoming too feeble from the short
feeding of the winter. Where many are
herded together, some will have been COM
PEELED TO 90 half fed on account of the supe
riOrity of stronger animals, and they may
need some extra attention just now.
The sheep will need looking after, especial
ly the ewes from which an increase of the
flock is expected. Wool is valuable now,
and will be for some years to come, and
every lamb lost is five dollars wasted. 1t
would require but little attention to save
500 in a moderate flock of sheep.
The cows will be "coming i'm during the
next two months, and if they should receive
extra feed, especially of slopping, it will tell
largely on the health of the COW in her criti-
cal time, and pay largely in the milk bucket.
In short get thoroughly ready for bust
ness when the time comes. Let nothing re-
main to hinder you then. moment lost is
an opportunity for misfortunes, said the great
Napoleon. The early bird catches the worm
is a well approved proverb. "a stitch in
time saves nine," is still understood by the
thrifty housekeeper. The spring will afford
plenty to do Labor will be high, as it ought
to be. when pork is treble its old price, coffee
also treble, and cotton seven fold what it was
when labor was fifteen dollars per month
So let there be no growing about high wages.
You get it back in the price of your produc
tions. 1t is, however, your privilege to get
a good ready, and be able to do all your own
work. To this end, give attention to the fore
going suggestions.
If any of you still owe a payment on your
farms, make haste to "squa.e it off," and be
prepared for any "breakers ahead."-
Now is the time TO conquer permanent secur-
ity against executions and foreclosures, and
insure that peace of mind without which this
life affords but small enjoyments.
- -
ASK Your WIFE-"Oh what do women
know about business ?" impatiently asks Mr.
Crusty. Not so much as they ought in many
cases, and this is one reason for urging chat
they be consulted in matters affecting their
husbands interest. To say nothing of The
aid which wife's counsel and suggestions
may give, it is unjust to keep her in ignorance
of business. Want of little knowledge of
such matters, renders many widow an easy
prey to sharpers, or at best greatly adds to
her cares and perplexities.
A woman needs to know the state of her
husbands affairs, in order to exercise proper
economy in the household, avoiding what
woald be meanness if his income were ample,
or extravaganza when his resources are d.
minished. The credit of thousands of mer-
chants has been seriously impaired by the
high style Of living adopted by their families,
who are foOlishly kept Ignorant OF the real
condition of their finances. On the other
hand, we have known men earning more for
money than for home comforts, who have
studiously concealed their gains, and the wife
and daughters have been forced in self de-
fence to a hundred little receptions by which
to obtain even the decencies of life.
Most of mans thoughts must be upon his
business plans, while he is achieving success;
if his wife is not permitted to share his coun-
sells, at least in general way she is necessa-
rily shut out from much of sympathy with
him, and one of the great sources of happi-
ness is thereby seriously diminished. And
let not the lords OF creation despise the coun-
sells which woman's naturally quick percep-
lions may suggest; well timed word from
this source may at times be like the railroad
switch to turn the train from running quickly
to ruin.
WHAT SIZED PoTAToEs ARE BEST TO PLANT.
Mr.. Nav, an English experimenter, has
made some careful trials of the effects of
planting seed potatoes of different sizes. He