Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-26
Aaritnltmral.
What not to do in April.

1t is always great point gained in far
ming, gardening and stock raising,to know,
of a certainty, what should not be perform
ed at certain seasons of the year, as well
as to understand what must be done.
short chapter of negatives will doubtless be
as edifying as an article OF the same length,
in the usual postlUe style.
Manure should not be spread over the
surface of the ground, where it is to be
plowed under, until the plowing is actually
commenced because, the scorching sun
shine and drying winds will carry away a
large proportion of the most valuable part
of such fertilizing matter, to other parts of
the world, where it will promote the growth
of plants that the proprietor Of that manure
never saw.
Ground for Indian corn, sorghum or a
crop of broom corn, should not be plowed
too early because, when broken up 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 unnecessary 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
hoeing of the young plants. This will be
found emphatically true, where there are
Canada thistles, ox-eye daisies, fox tail
grass and other annual 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 a liberal supply of
grass because, when grass is just start
ing in the Spring, the trampling of numer-
Gus hoofs will retard the growth of the ten
der grass, more than the teeth Of the ami
mails.
Crops of growing grain, or vegetables
should never be grown on the same sod,
during two or more successive seasons !;
because such system impoverishes the
soil, rendering it less productive.
When trees of any kind, shrubs,o or vines,
are dug up to be transplanted, 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 d short
time. We frequently see fruit trees, roots
and all,exposed for a whole day, often long
er, to the sun, when most of the small roots
become as dead as a dry stick.
Heavy ground should not be plowed
when water stands in the furrows because
it will be far better for the soil, better for
the growing 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 person feels unwilling
to incur the expense of understanding a
wet field, for want of ready capital, better
hire the necessary funds by mortgaging
the farm, and complete the understanding
at once, as the increased yield of the first
two crops will more than defray the ex-
pense.
Where spring grain has been raised for
several years, and the land has become foul
with dock seed, wild mustard, or charlock,
or any other nOXiOus weeds discontinue the
old system of management, and, instead of
raising crop OF barley, oats, rye,Or spring
wheat, thus atfording the woods farther op-
portunlty to Increase, 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
winter. Cows that come in, April, will be-
come very thin in flesh if they do not re-
ceive an extra allowance of nutritious feed
Every pound of flesh and fat that milch
COW loses in April, will be equal to the ac-
tual loss of so many pounds of butter next
summer.
Do not kill the calves because the milk
they require will be worth more than they,
when they are two months old Every
COW is the better for having reared fine
calf ahnually,as she will be more profitable
to her owner than when her calf is not per-
mltted to suck. For the benefit of Ameri-
can agriculture, farmers ought to raise
more neat cattle.
Do not allow turkeys and gallinaceous
fowls to roam over grain fields and mead
ows, as they do great injury by breaking
down the growing plants which are only a
few inches high.
In those localities where animals may be
turned to pasture during the last of this
month, let the change from dry feed to
grass be made with care, and gradually,
to avoid the injurious effects of scours.
H..