Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-08-06
agricultural.
August on the Farm.

We are surprised, on looking over the
State as We have done, to See how much
English grass still remains to be cut In a
year like this 1t is plainly the best economy
to hurry up the haylng, and those VINO began
early not only got more grass for their work
but got it IN better condition. The first work
now is to finish up the haying and every
thing else must give way to that, except
perhaps, up along the Connecticut Valley
and IN the region djacent, where the weed
ing and hOeIng Of the tobacco will demand
the attention, hay or no hay Grass cut as
late as this Will require but little curing
in fact 1t is almost made before it Is cut
After haying there is little respite on
most iaIms under ordinary management
Sometimes it is not easy to tell what it Is
best to do. We like to take that seas m
often extending through the month of Au-
gust, to clear up the rough places, dig out
rocks and build wall 1t is often convenient
to clear up and drain low wing piecs at
the same time. To be sure it involves somr
hard work, but alter all 1t is satisfactory to
feel that 1t Is good job. 1t is sort OF
creation, making OF something out OF
comparatively nothing, and If that does MOI
bring its compensation along with 1T, we
should like to know what does. We never
undertake job of that kind without feeling
abundantly paid as it goes along. We hope,
therefore, that every farmer will make hls
calculations to do something OF the sort thle
year. 1t will add to the permanent value OF
the farm. make it more ready O. sale in case
1t should come upon the market, and far
more than pay the cost. An old pasture
cleared OF bushes, a moving lot cleared OF
rocks, low swampy lot draiDed and brought
into condition for cu tlvation, is source Of
pride and satisfaction for years to come, and
now is the time to pitch in and put it
through.
The worst part OF all such jobs is to begin
Wen begun Is half well done as it is the
hardest part OF it. As soon as we can begin
to see some progress we are apt to get So
much interested IN the work that it is pushed
ahead partly as matter of pleasure. 1t Is
always best to be careful IN making our
plans, so as to know just what is TO be done
and how it is to be done and how 1t is COM
ing out. little engineering helps all such
enterprises amazingly. So look out AMI
begin right and then 90 ahead.
Many farmers are extremely careless
about letting the weeds grow and go to seed
Tnas Is the worst kind of shittlessness be-
cause 1t entails vast deal of labor for the
seeds, greater, almost, than any man can
number, and hence the Importance of keen
ing down all weeds in the cultivated land
now, before 1t Is to late There can hardy
be any more appropriate or useful work for
this month than making war upon all weeds
Pull them Up or cut them down aud get rid
OF them Tor all time.
Most farmers Can command little leisure
during this month, and the most useful way
to spend IL Is To mar ness up and take In the
wife and family and make tour OF obser-
Vaton. Such journey, for u man who has
bis eyes open, is iull of instruction. He
can learn more in that way than he Can from
books. tie can see what other farmers are
doing and compare their results with his
own. Ten Chances to one he will get some
Id as which be Can carry into practice on hs
own larm. Many man has got new
start IN lite just rom seeing what other,
have done, and what they are doing. Next
to actual experience, observation is about
the best teacher. journey OF day or two,
Tor a farmer whe keeps horse or two, and
what farmer does not, will not cost much,
and We are sure it may be made to pay
The best and most useful part OF our knOwl
edge is that gathered from minglIng til
men engaged In the same pursuits as our
own. Ii comes home more directly to us
partly because We are personally interested
In 1t and can comprehend and appreciate t.
The most useful advice we can give. there
fore, Is to harness up, take in the family and
start just as soon as the work is in con-
dltlon to enable US ia leave home-Massa
chnsetts PtOughhnan.