Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-03-03
FARM AND FIREsIDE.

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS. II. AL
soils are benefited by being under-dralned
but the benefit is most apparent and lasting
in those of clayey nature, or having asssuo-
soil retentive of moisture. ,
2. After drainage, subsoiling and good
cultivation are necessary to insure good
crops on heavy soils. ,
! g. Lime is the best manure to apply TO
strong clay soils. 1t renders them more
pervious to light and heat, and also corrects
their acidity by comb:ning with some OF
chemical salts in tho soil IN aking plant food
of poison.
T. Summer following is the most efficient
and profitable means Of preparing strong
soils for wheat, and of beginning rotation,
after grass has been grown for length OF
time
5. Green crops plowed under, when in
the most succulent state, are powerful aux
iliaries in rendering light soil fertile, but
if this is done too often successiyelys the
soil Becomes overeharged with carbouaceous
matter
g. Leached ashes applied in large quanti-
ties to sandy soils or those containing too
much vegetable humus, will greatly amelio-
rate their condition, and render them more
compact
T. There is no soil so poor or sterile, but
some mode may be found of ameliorating
and enriching it.
8. Blowing sands may be gradually made
productive by spreading six inches Of straw
over them, to remain till rotted Then seed
thickly with clover on the surface, without
blowing, and when the clover has taken
hold and becomes established, pasture sheep
upon the land for two or three years pre-
paratory to manuring and cultivating it.
g. Two successive grain crops on the
same land leave it very foul.
10. Summer following ameliorates soil,
and if properly done gets rid of most of the
weeds and noxious plants infesting it.
ABOUT EGGS AND CHIoKENs.-A CORES
pondent says "the secret of success in secu.
ring large stock of eggs, is this: Have
your chicks hatched in February or March.
Leghorn chicks will lay when four months
old +; Brahmas when five to six months old.
Now as they do not moult until the second
Autumn after they are Matched, you can
see, by counting time, how it is that early
Matched chicks have the advantage over
those late hatched
Say lot of chicks are Matched in the
middle of March. All the young cocks will
be fit for market in three months if fed well,
and weigh from five to six pounds per pair,
according to kind. The pullets will lay
when four months old-the middle of July
and will lay right on from July, 1871, to
september, or October, 1871-that is, they
have fourteen months laying time, or up to
the moul'ing time in the next year after
they are Matched. Remember, they do not
moult the first Autumn following their
births.
1t is therefore plainly to be seen that the
gain or profit in poultry. when kept for
eggs, is in having early Matched pullets.-'
by this method, fourteen to fifteen months
laying time, with little cessation, is secured.
Every month later they are Matched after
the middle of March is just SO much deduc-
ton from the laying time of hens, before
the moalting season arrives, when the gen.
orally stop laying, although l have seen
hens (when we'll cared for) lay during the
time of moulting. 1t takes from two to
three months to recover from the effects g
moulting, which is generally lost time.
This is so we'll understood by those
who raise poultry OF strictly commercial
principles, that they never allow them te
moult. On the approach of the moultins
period, the old stock are all behoaded for
market to make room for the rising genera
ton.
They must have feed by them SO they
can help themselves, with plenty of clean
water in summer and winter; pounded
shells, or lime, gravel, &c. As to food,
we allow one bushel sound grain per an
mum.