Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1866-04-26
WHAT NOT TO DO IN APRIL.


in farming, gardening and stock
raising, to know, Of a certainty,
what should not be performed at
certain seasons Of the year, as we'll
as to understand what must be done.
A short chapter Of negatives will
doubtless be as edefying as an arti-
Gle Of the same length, in the usual
positive style.
Manure should not be spread
over the surface Of the ground,
where it is to be plowed under, un-
til the blowing is actually COM
menced; because, the scOrching
sunshine and drying winds will car
ry away large proportion Of the
most valuable part of such fertil-
ling matter to other parts Of the
world, where it will promote the
growth Of plants that the propri-
etor Of that manure never saw.
Ground for Indian corn, sorghum,
or crop of broom corn, should not
be plowed too early because, when
broken up a long time before the
seed is put in, grass and noxious
weeds will spring up, and get the
start Of the plants to be cultivated,
thus requiring a vast deal Of unnec-
essary labor. Defer plowing for
such crops as long as practicable,
without being too late to plant. By
delaying the preparation OF the soil
for the seed, until the ground has
become warm and mellow, before
the seed is put in, we save all the
labor required for one thorough hoe
ing Of the young plants. This Will
be found emphatically true, where
there are Canada thistles, ox-eye
daisies, fox-tail grass and other an
nual and perennial weeds.
Animals of all kinds should be
kept off meadows, and not allowed
to roam over pasture fields, until
herbage is sufficiently large for them
to obtain liberal supply Of grass;
because, when grass is just starting
in the Spring, the tramping Of nu
merous hoofs will retard the growth
Of the tender grass, more than the
teeth Of the animals.
Crops Of growing grain, or veg
etables, should never be grown on
the same soil, during two or more
successive seasons because such a
system impoverishes the soil, rend-
erin0 it less productive.
When trees Of any kind, shrubs,
or vines are dug up to be transplant
ted, the small and tender roots
should not be exposed for half an
hour to the sun and drying winds,
as the bark is so tender and porous
that their vitality will be DESTROYED
in a short time. We frequently
see fruit trees, roots and all, expo
sed for whole day, often longer to
the sun, when most Of the roots be-
come as dead as dry stick.
Heavy ground should not be
plOwed when water stands in the
burrows, because it will be far bet
ter for the soil, better for the grow
ing crops, and more advantageous
to those who cultivate the ground,
to defer plowing even till June, if
the surplus water is not removed
by understanding, with tiles, stone.
or wood. If a person feels unwill-
ing to incur the expense Of under
draining wet field, for want of
ready capital, better hire the neces-
sary funds by martgaging the farm,
and complete the understanding at
once, as the increased yield of the
first two crops will more than defrav
the expense.
Where spring grain has been rails
ed for several years, and the land be-
come foul with dock seed, wild mus
tard, or charlock, or any other nox-
ious weeds, discontinue the old svs-
TEN OF management, and, instead of
raising crop Of barley, oats, rye,
or spring wheat, thus atfordinr the
weeds farther opportunity to in
crease, manure the soil, and plow
and harrow it several times, and SOW
peas, or buckwheat, about the first
of July.
Do not permit any animal on the
farm to grow poor. Stock of all
kinds need grain, or meal, during
the present month more than they
did during the cold months of win