Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-02-15
HINTS ABOUT FARMING.
February Suggestions as to What May
be Done During the Wet Season.

writtsnfor the srArE JOURNAL.
On this Peninsula, this month, may be
styled the "wet season." In which com |
psratively little work can be done. And |
yet that little is Of great Importance.
Working animals and cows need extra
attention, and extra feed, 10 get heart for
the spring. Wood In abundance for the
coming year should be prepared, with
klndhng," and placed where II can be
brought In with the fewest steps.
bitches should all be examined and all
distractions Of leaves and sticks be re.
moved. He who has his farm ever so well
drained will wonder why II produces go
little after all the fertilizers he puts on, II
bis dralns arc DISTRACTED 90 as TO dam up
the water, which ought TO RIM of rapidly.
Water, prevented from running Of dis
solves the feriillzlng elements OF the soil,
which either settle down out OF the reach
of the plants roots, a. 10 deep sandy SOIL
or are washed away by the rains. Acres
Of land are often injured by single
obstruction.
II all lands were so thoroughly under
drained that no water would lie on the
surface forty-elght hours, and could only
get of by percolstion through the coll,
their productlveness would be astonlsh-
ingly increased, as rain and snow contain
ammonia. Every shower Of rain and fall
Of snow would act as dressing Of that
valuable fertilizer which would be held by
the porous soil IN the passage Of water
through. No surface water filled as II Is
with fertllizing matter should, II possible,
be allowed to carry Its precious freight
into creeks and streams. But, II Is much
better TO suffer this constant drain than to
allow the slulces to be closed, or the
bitches to be obstructed until the water
sours 10 the land and units II for crop.
Fruit trees will die when planted, or at
tain only a slckly growth-peaeh trees
will get the "yellow" In every low place
where water Is allowed TO remain many
days after falling aud no crop will do
well there the succeeding season.
If you would make strong, healthy wood
as the basis of a profitable fruit crop at
tend to the pruning Of peach, pear and
apple trees during the warm days of thit
month. Peach trees need to be shortened
in by cutting away from one-thlfd to two
thirds, as the shape requires, OF last sea
sons growth, especially on trees one and
two years planted. 1t will cause harder
and stronger growth of the tree, and pro
duce fruit Of bstter and finer quality
though in less quantity. Remove branche
that grow irregularly so as to put the trel
In comely shape. Pear trees may b.
made to assume any desired shape b.
pruning, aud made to bear much soone
by shortening in the branches Of the las
, years growth to one-third or more, an
also by cutting Of the "tsp root and tn
, lateral roots to about two or three fee
! from the body with a sharp spade From
, the newly cut wood hundreds Of littl
rootlets will start. 1t is their acting a
p absorhents that furnish nutriment to ih
+ tree. This work can well be done thi
, month. 1t is rare that the White
, Blight " attacks pear trees shortened
! and root pruned, as the wood become
! hardened so as to resist the action of th
frost-the cause of winter Blight"
. If short of team the blowing of sod, {
:. edgel or clover, may be probably dor
i the last of this month.
. When the weather will permit, one hor
2 or mule walking on the land, or unplow,
a side, will pillow as much when the groun
r is soft and do the work as well as tv
a after the ground is settled thorough
Sod, so turned over, to which FIVE bushe
:. of quick, or ten bushels of Stacked lin
, are afterwards applied, will produce go'
n crop, by thoroughly narrowing few da
~ before planting. One team may thus
saved by starting the plows early, wherev
r the ground is dry enough.