Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-08
B1iseellanepns.
FARM WORK FOR JULY.

A great variety OF work must be done
in this month, in order to secure profit
on what has already been done. It's poor
policy to lay out more work than can be
done seasonably and well. If the guam
tity OF manure on hand will dress two or
three acres more than has usually been
under the hoe, that will require an extra
amount OF labor in July. 1t would be
better to let the manure lie over, than to
neglect the usual crops in order to get over
the extra amount of land thus put under
cultivation.
| If We have reared trees, fruit or shade,
it is poor economy to allow caterpillars or
canker worms to destroy them 1t costs
time and money to set out and rear cur
rant bushes, to start cabbage and tomato
plants, to prepare the garden soil and SOW
a variety Of seeds to bring vegetables for
the kitchen table, their failure from
after neglect would be waste, not only of
this cost, but of the money necessary to
purchase them from some other persons,
perhaps in poor condition. Viewedin this
light, all will see that it is strict economy to
take good care of whatever has been start
ed, whether it be the grass, corn and potato
crops, or the wholesome and indispensable
fruits and vegetables, that ought to make
up considerable portion of our diet dur
ing the hot weather.
| If from the force of circumstances the
| farm work is somewhat behind, it would
be better economy to hire few days la
Dor, than to allow the crops to suffer. A
rank growth of weeds in the garden, or
among the field crops, would soon absorb
a considerable portion of their profit, be-
side filling the soil with seeds for future
crops.
The hoeing is quite often neglected in
order to strike into haying. The weeds
are left, perhaps, to cut up in cloudy
weather, which may be indefinitely post
poned. Then clear day is as much bet
ter for hoeing as it is for haying. Weeds
die quickly when stretched out in hot sun.
And that is not all. The ground being
condition to receive important benefit from
the atmosphere, rains, and dews. The
roots of the plants are, therefor, not only
supplied with the nutriment they need.
but they have around them mellow soil
in which to travel after it.
A quite common error is, to leave plants
too near together. They ought to be thin
ned out when small, but if that has been
neglected, it is best to take them out later.
We made an experiment with mangle
wurzels, and it was estimated that double
the number of pounds of roots grew where
the plants stood twelve inches apart in the
row, than where they stood ranging from
four to nine inches apart. When the
thinning is properly done, the hoeing can
be accomplished in much less time than
among Understanding plants.
Another important item of work comes
into this month,-that of gathering the
early grain harvest. When this is fit to
be cut,-whieh is when just leaving the
milky state,--no delay should be suffered.
Any delay will be attended with loss.
If the weather is fair, the grain may ripen
too far, and she'll out in the harvesting. If
the weather is cloudy and hot, there will
be danger of rust, and birds prey upon the
grain. If cut at the time we have sug-
gested, the grain will be fairer and heavier,
and the straw more valuable. These are
facts which have been established by the
most thorough experiments frequently
made.
AS the hot and dry weather reduces
feed in the pastures, ali the stock should
be supplied with sueculent food OF some
kind. If that is not at hand, then feed
them with little hay and grain before
turned to pasture in the morning. In this
way the cows will continue their usual
flow OF milk, and the young cattle and
oxen keep in flesh and continue to grow.
If these are checked, it will be in keep
ing with allowing weeds to grow among
the crops. When the milk is once reduce
ed, it is difficult to bring it up to the for
mer standard again, even with high feed
ing. The animal functions have gone
down as well as the milk. and must be
brought up again before there will be an
increase of the milk. The same operation
takes place in the dry stock. It'll hard
even for young stock to recover from a
stunt or stoppage of growth
Stimulated by the pressing cares of
July, the enterprising farmer is apt to
spend too many hours in hard, exacting la.
Dor. Cases have come to our knowledge
where painful maladies have been con-
tractod, and even death ensued, from
want of proper care. Work steadily, but
moderately. Eat sparingly at night.
Rinse the mouth and wash the wrists and
hands before drinking much cold water.