National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-10-15
Farm. Garden, and Kitchen.
Farm Matters in October.

special, as well as general duties
The special ones are those which can
more appropriately be performed
now than at any other time. Octo- |
her will probably afford all farmers !
better opportunities for doing many
things than will occur during any |
other month of TIE year. 1t IS GER
tain that many kinds of work can
not be done while the ground IS III
frozen condition.
One of these duties is that OF |
draining lands which are unfit for
cultivation in consequence OF sur |
pus Of standing water in and upon
them.
The importance of drainage is bet
ter appreciated than it formerly vas:
indeed, many persons bcltete III It |
p0,c. who never did before. Some |
progressive ncighbor has placed an |
example before them. whose excel
lent results have won them over to
the good work.
Few operations on the farm are |
scarcely less economical than at
tempting to cultivate land that has
standing walcr in it. 1t is i'll a great
measure labor thrown away. The
soil is inactive, torpid as it were, so
that it is about as capable of pro
dncing crops as the frog pond Itself.
Such lands will produce certain
amount Of grass Of an ordinary quail
ity, and if drainage upon them is i'll
eXpedient IN consequence of want
of outlet. distance from home, too
rocky or otherwise expensive, the
best way is to let it produce what
fodder it will without bestowing
much labor upon if, or allow it TO
grow mp to wood, if it Will. Thor
ough drainage will pay better i'll
tercSt on the sum expended in doing
it, than United States bonds, or most
other ihvestmentS.
Another October duty is with re
gard to manure. We have often
stated as our opinion that there is nc
mode of applying manure to the sol
which Is so cheap, and ut the same
time so ctiicaClouS, as to apply it il
its cludest condition. and plough il
under the surface some two to tOuI
inches. This opinion was tormeo
from the most careful practice in til,
employment of manurcS in VariOu,
forms and ways.
When pioughed under towards
the close of October, it suffers ne
loss whatever. Whenever the sol
becomes sufficiently warm to Undue,
fermentation, the gaSScS thrown of
are at once taken up and held by tn,
sOil-S.orlng them in iact-tor fiji
ture use. This operation is said al
so to have a mechanical effect upoI
the soil, similar to that Of yeast il
apan of dough, raising il by separ
atlng the PARTICLES, and thus maxim,
it lighter for the roots Of the plant
to traTc' i'll, and to admit warmt
and air.
II inconvcnient to ough under
manure may be taken to the field
placed N compact heap and coy
cred with loam. It should be PLACED
as near the spot where it Is to h
used as possible. In this form an,
place it will be ready for early Oven
hauling in the spring.
1t is time III October to cOmmcnc
fattening .hc swine, by feeding thci
more literally than they have bee
through the warmer months. The
will gain faster now than when I'll
weather is cold. Always furnis
them with dry bed. and where Il
wind will not reach them, especial
through cracks in the floor. III,
will thrive better if led upon u Y
riety of food, and some of it shoul
he of Il succulent or juicy nature,
order to keep the system IN the mo
healthy condition.
DO not allow the stock to feed q
moving fields too closely. The ,
feet is hurtiul to future crops. II
growth OF the plants is stopped
taking off the leaves continually.
the plants continue to grow I'M
arrested 10y frost they take deep
root, are better able 10 resist Wint
killing, and are made permanent
better.
October affords a good time
clear up under walls, to repair tcl
cs, cut bushes, 10 put the buildin
in order by making needed repa
before November winds break do,
barn doors, or set shingles and cla
boards lying.
Finally, the present is an exc
lent time TO make great deal
preparation for the work Of ne
spring. Very much may he do
now to Harvard business, in rem,
ing stones from fields that are to
sowcd to grain and grass in I
spring, and by ploughng and lev
ing them for that purpose. 7
preparation is slow work, 80 Il
by doing much of it now, the spr
work will go brishly along, ;
crops will bc in, all in good time.
These and many other things II
he done in the pleasant month
Octobcr.--N. T.. Farmer.
H=-a
To CTT orr THE NrIK pI,