Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-10-29
faru, 6araeu 4 aipuselioltl.
FARN MATTERs IN oCToBER.

Ann lsAtt a A~NN-T - = .
Each month in the year has its special, as
weu as general daties. The special ones are
those which can more appropriately be per.
formed now than at any other time. October
win probably afford all farmers better opPor-
tuiities for doing many things than viii oe
cur any other month of the year. Il is Ger
tain that many kinds Of work cannot be done
while the ground is in frozen condition.
One Of these duties is that Of draining lands
which ore unfit for cultivation in consequence
Of surplus of standing water in and upon
them.
The Importance Of drainage is better ap-
preciated than it formerly was indeed, many
persons believe it now, who never did before.
Some progressive neighbor has placed an ex-
ample before them, whose excellent results
have won them over to the good work.
Few operations on the farm are scarcely
less economical than attempting to cultivate
land that has standing water in it. Itis in a
great measure, labor thrown away. The soil
is inactive, torpid, as It were, for that it is
about as capable Of producing crops as the
frog pond itself. Such lands viii produce a
certain amount of grass of an ordinary quail.
~, and if drainage upon them is iuexpedient
in consequence OF want Of an outlet, distance
IRON home too rocky or otherwise expensive,
lhe best way is to let it produce what fodder
it vii! without bestowing much labor upon it,
or allow it to grow up to wood, if it viii,
Through drainage will pay better interest on
the sum expended in doing it, than United
States bonds OF most other investments.
Another October duty Is with regard to ma.
nure. We have often stated as our opinion
that there IS no mode OF applying manure to
the soil, which is so cheap, and at the same
time so eficacious, as to apply it in its crude
condition and plow ii under the surface some
two or four inches. This opinion was formed
from the most careful practice in the en-
ployment of manures in various forms and
ways.
When pIoved under towards the close Of
October, It suffers no loss whatever. When
ever the soil becomes sufficiently warm to IN
INSTRUMENTATION, the gases thrown off are at
once taken up and held by the soil-storing
them in fact-for future use. This operation
is sold also to have mechanical effect upon
the soil, similar to that of yeast in a pan Of
dough, raising it BY separating the parti-
cles, and thus making it lighter for the roots
of plants to travel in and to admit warmth
and air.
IF ineonrenient to plow under, manure
may be taken to the field, placed in a com
pact heap and covered with loam II should
be placed as near the spot where It is to be
used as possible. In this form and place
twill be ready for early oyerhauling in the
spring
tits time 10 October to commence fatteniug
the swine, by feeding them more literally
than they have been through the warmer
months. They viii gain faster now than
when the weather is cold. Always furnish
them with dry bed, and where the wind will
not reach them, especially through cracks in
the floor. They viii thrive better if fed upon
q variety Of food and some of it should be of
q succuleat or juicy nature, in order to keep
the system in the most healthy condition.
Do not allow the stock to feed the moying
field too closely. The effect is hurtful to fu-
ture crops. The growth of the plants is
stopped by taking off the leaves continually.
If the plants continue to grow uatn arrested
by frost they take deeper root, are better able
to resist winter killing, and are made perma-
nently better.
October affords a good time to clean up
under walls, to repair fences; cut bushes, to
put the buildings in order by making needed
repairs before November winds break down
barn doors, or set shingles and clapboards
flying.
Finally, the present is an excellent time to
make great deal of preparation for the work
Of next spring. Very mnch may be done now
to forward business, in removing stones from
fields that are to be sowed to grain and grass
in the spring, and by pIowing and Ievelling
them for that purpose. The preparation is a
slow work, so that by doing much of it now,
the spring work will go briskly along, aud
crops viii be in all good time.
These and many other things may be done
in the pleasant month Of Oetober.-N. E.
Farmer.