Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-10-17

AGRICULTURAL.
From the Maryland Farmer and Mechanic.
Farm Work for October.

be regarded as absolutely necessary to make
concerning the work to be done on tie farm
during this month. It is essentially month
of gathering in and of clearing up the frag-
ments of the harvest. Of course, there is
still good deal to do-for when has it been
that there was not on any well managed farm
and it may possibly be in quite number of
cases the wheat yet remains to be seeded.
But the chief duties are nevertheless, of
0esultory kind, and are such as the approach
ing winter admonish the thoughtful farmer it
is necessary to make. What those duties are
we now proceed to show.
WHEAT.
In the previous numbers of the GARNER
we have given full directions for the prepara-
tions and seeding of wheat. 1t may be as
points to be observed. The soil best adap-
ted to the growth of wheat is compact loan,
and the best preparation in the way of a
green crop is clover ley thinned under. IF
manures or fertilizers are required, we'll
made compost as it does larger proportion
of the inorganic and organic substances that
| the wheat plant demands, if the dressing isto
be applied at the time of seeding, is prefera-
bic to rich and unctuous stable manure alone,
as the latter is calculated to stimulate too
much the growth of the stem and bhde at
the expense of the seed, and in this forcing
process is not unfrequently productive of
rust. Of the commercial manures we prefer
the phosphate guanos in preference to pure
Peruvian and ground bones, where they are
to be had of good quality, if small quantity
of good manure can be added to furnish the
necessary nitrogen. AS rule in all wheat
soils and especially those of the stifer-kinds,
two ploughings should be had before seeding,
and the plough should be run to the depth
of not less than eight inches where the sub
soil is off congenial quality. Thorough har-
rowing is also Indispensable, and wheat
drilled in will, as rule, stand the winter
better and prove more productive than wheat
seeded broadcast. The best and heaviest
wheat should be selected as seed, the qusni-
ty required for the hill being about five pssks
to the acre and for broad casting not less than
two bushels.
This grain ought to have been seeded by
the close Of August. STILL where the soil is
rich and light-for rye prefers sandy loan,
or an alluvial bottom to soil of close texture
it may yet be put in with the promise of
fair crop. It should, however, be seeded not
later than the first week in the month.
/ THREsHING GRAIN.
The sooner the grain is threshed out and
got ready for market, the less chance of loss
there is to the grower. Stacked grain when
put in an imperfect way, is always liable to
be deprecated on by rats and mice, if not by
other vermin. 1t does not follow, however,
that the wheat should be sold Immediately if
it has been threshed. A good granary is al
ways indispensable on we'll ordered farm
and if it is properly cleansed and secured,
the wheat may be safely kept there to wait
the possibilities of the market. At the pres
ent time the tendency in the price of wheat
is towards a rise, and it may, therefore, be
we'll to keep it over for short time for the
purpose of ascertaining what the average pro-
duct Of the season has been and what is the
prospect Of an European demand.
NEW ORCHARDS.
/ We have constantly urged upon our read
ers the propriety of planting out young or
chards wherever old ones are dying out or
where no orchard has been planted hereto
fore. We renew this notice at the present
! time.
/ BARN YARD.
A full barn-yard is the step preparatory to
full barn. Rough fodder, the scrapings of
bitches, marsh mud, leaves from the woods,
and woods mould-all these should be colec-
ted at every available opportunity, and hauled
into the yard, and spread over its surface un-.
1 AL Al foo+ Jopfb VIZ
closely packed down. Keep the center of
the yard dish shaped, add the droppings of
the horse and cow stables, and scatter from
time to time over the entire surface good
sprinkling of plaster or fine charcoal to retain
the ammonia. AS the winter advances haul
additional supplies of composing materials
from every place adjacent where it may be
had and cover as before with barn yard and
stable manure If this process is well fol
lowed up until Spring opens, there will be no
lack of manure to spread over the corn fields
when the period for hauling out arrives.
HARVESTING ROOTS AND PUMPKINS.
| All tender roots should be carefully har-
vested and housed before the approach of
frost. 1t is not enough to know how to grow
good crop of roots. 1t is equally impor-
tant to secure them properly when they are
grown.
CATTLE SHEDS.
| Good warm shelter for stock of all kinds is
one of the best of all possible means for econ
omising food throughout the winter Wher
cattle are comfortably housed they will re-
quire less food and will also come out in the
spring in better condition than if supplied
with larger quantities of nutritious proven
der, whilst exposed to the inelemency of the
weather.
WET LANDS.
| See that all wet meadows are carefully and
thoroughly drained. In all soils permanent
ly wet, none but the coarsest grasses will
grow. They may however, be rendered very
productive of The finer grasses by judicious
draining and by the application of lime to
remove any sourness in the soil.
BUCKWHEAT.
Harvest buckwheat early in the month or