Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-22


The salIow twigs to tie the struggling vine"
Dryden.
There is no end to the labors of farm
where all the operations are conducted as
they should be. 4 successful, prosperous
and progressive farmer will plan his work
in such a manner that he will find SOME
useful employment every day in the year.
When stormy clouds are dispelied and sum-
mer skies hang over him, and wlntry days
are short and cold, energetic and thorough
going farmers will find something to be
done that will facilitate field labors after
the growing season has commenced.
The best and most successful farmers OF
our country plan large proportion of their
labors several months III advance of the
time when III y must be performed. Many
have plot OF their entire lands on large
board or sheet of paper, with the fields dcs-
ignated by dotted lines, by which they are
enabled, at a glance, to determine how
many acres there are in given field, or
how many bushels Of seed will be required
tor planting or sowing it.
Here, then, is an opportunity to COM
mence the operations Of the farm even i'll
February. Ii all the fields have not been
properly and satisfactorily arranged as to
size, 60 out some pleasant day aud make
more desirable division Make a light
measuring pole, l6a feet long, graduating
1t with feet and inches on one side and
with distances representing links on the
other side. Land can be measured with
such pole with as much accuracy as with
surveyors chain.
If division fences are not in their proper
Of, hos f,r tht, pJ.,,i ~
each field and remove the fences before the
time arrives to speed the plow. All such
work may be performed quite as we'll when
the soil is SO saturated with surplus water
that neither teams nor workmen should be
allowed to travel over it,
Another important matter is making suit
able preparations for rotation OF crops.
Every farmer should exercise his own iudg-
ment on this subject. A rotation of crops
that is we'll adapted to the soil in one part
OF the country may be very unsuitable to
another locality where the soil is different.
The aim should always be to adapt the
crops to the soil as far as may be practical
bic. If an acre Of land will yield boun-
ttul crop of one kind of grain and only a
small crop of some otRer kind it is better
TO select snch kinds as are best adapted to
the locality and the soil Some farmers pay
no attention to a rotation of crops, but
plant or sow whatever kind of grain their
fancy may suggest. In certain places. an
effort ls made to secure wheat where the soil
is utterly unadapted to that kind of cereal
grain. The same is true in the cultivation
of fax, beans, barley, and of many other
kinds of grain.
On those farms where no attention has
been paid to rotation of crops, and where
certain kind OF grain has been grown for
many years in succession, if seed for diff
terent crops be put in, the yield will frc-
quently be unexpectedly large, without any
extra cultivation or manurug
The present is an excellent period To eX.
change seed grain with farmers who raise
superior crops, or to purchase seed for SOW
ing season has commenced If all these
duties be attended to in the winter, field la
Dor may be performed with more prompt
ness aud dispach, then when seed must be
procured and prepared, when teams aud
L. laborers should be employed in the field
Another matter worthy Of record is, IL
prepare for building. Timber may be haul
ed out Of the woods previous to scoring or
hewing it; and logs for sawed lumber pill
ed up nicely, with large sticks between tie
courses to facilitate seasoning.
Still another item of field labor NAV be
entered on the docket of operations for
February-which is, hauling large stones
We have in mind an excellent farmer in
Connecticut. who keeps his men and oxen
at work most OF the time i'll winter hauling
large boulders. When the ground was soft.
the heavy stones were raised with levers
md Of
meath the large ones Then, as soon as
the earth was frozen and little SHOW had
fallen, large rocks that could not be ham
died at all on the soft ground were rolled
on sleds or stone boats, and hauled near
the place where they were to be worked
into a wall.
If any new farm implements are required,
better have them ready month before
they are really needed, than to experience
any hlhdrance on account of delay in the
arrival OF necessary tools after the opera
tions of the field have commenced. If
plows, or new pillow points, must be obtain
ed, communicate with various manufac1u-
rers before purchasing. Most manufactu-
rers of farm implements issue illustrated
catalogues of the tools which they make
and keep for sale As there have been
wonderful developments in common ployys
and implements for pulverizing the soil
and cultivatiug crops 1t is well for every
farmer to examine the merits of yarious
kinds OF such tools as his business NAV re-
quire, before purchasing.
Some persons may be contemplating the
propriety OF establishing an extensive vine.
yard, or planting an orchard Of pears, ap-
pies, or other fruit. Such an enterprise. or
improvements, are commendable and the
ground may be selected and put in order
even III the winter, if it is not frozen and
list OF the various kinds of fruit preparcd:
and everything may be performed but ia
king up the trees, or vines and TRANSPLANT
ing them.
In selecting grapes, apples, pears, or any
kind OF fruit, or vegetables, let every per
son be cautious to ascertain, if possible.
whether the kinds selected have or will be
likely to succeed in that locality. In some
portions OF the country a certain variety
OF grapes, pears, and apples will flourish
luxunant y and bear abundantly, while a
lew hundred miles distant, the same kinds
are hot worthy of general cultivation. If
you would obtain the kinds of fruit trees
selected, beware Of unprinciped itineratine
tree dealers. Snch persons man deliver