The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-10-09
for tue farmer.
FAsn mATrERs m OcToBRR.

The New England Farmer says: Each month
in the year has its special well as general du-
ties The special ones those which can more
appropriately be performed now than at any
other time. October will probably afford all far
mers better opportunities for doing many things
than will occur during any other month OF the
year. 1t is certain that many kinds OF work
cannot be done while the ground is in q frozen
condition.
One of these duties is that of draining lands
which are unfit for cultivation in consequence OF
q surplus of standing water in and upon them
The Importance of drainage is better aPpre-
ciated than it formerly WIS; indeed, many per-
sons believe IN it now, who never did before.
Some progressive neighbor has placed an exam
pie 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. 1t 49, IN great
measure, labor thrown away. The soil Is mac
tive, torpid as it were, that it is about as ca.
pable of producing crops the frog pond Itself:
Such lands will produce q certain amount OF
grass of ordinary quality, and If drainage upon
them is inexpedent in consequence OF want oil
outlet distance from home, too rocky or Other
wise expensive, the best way is to let 1t pro-
duce what fodder il will without bestowing
much labor upon it, allow it to grow up to
wood If it will. Thorough drainage Will pay
better interest on the sum expended doing II,
than United States bonds, or must other invest
ments.
Another October duty is with regard to manure.
We have often stated our opinion that there
! is mode of applying manure to the soil which
| is SO cheap, and at the same time 80 etlcacOus,
as to apply it in its crudest condition, and
pillow it under the surface from two to four inches.
| This opinion was formed from the most careful
| practice in the employment Of manure in various
| forms and ways.
When plowe ed under towards the close Of 0cto-
| Der, il suffers no loss whatever, Whenever the
soil becomes sufficiently warm to induce fermen-
| txtion, the gases thrown off are at once taken
and held by the soil-storing them in fact-for
| future use This operation is said also to have a
mechanical effect npon the soil, similar to that of
yeast in a pan of dough, raising it by separating
the PARTICLES and thus making it lighter for the
! roots of plants to travel in, and TO admit warmth
| and air.
If inconvenient to plow under, manure may be
taken to the field, placed in a compact heap and
| covered with loan. 1t should be placed near
| the spot where II Is to be used as possible. In
this form and place 1t will be ready for carly
| overhauling In the spring.
| II is time In October to commence fat.ruiny
the swine, by feeding them more literally than
| they have been through the warmer months
i They will gain faster now than when the wealth
er Is cold. Always furnish them with dry bed
aud where the wind will not reach them, especi-
| ally through cracks in the floor. They will
thrive better If fed q variety of food, and some
of it should he of a succulent juicy nature, in
order to keep tho system in the most heal by COLI
dition.
Do not slow the stock to feed the moving
fields too closely. The effect is hurtful TO future
crops. The growth Of the plants is stopped by
taking off the leaves continually. If the plants
| continue to grow until arrested by frost, they
take deeper root, are better able to resist winter
killing. and are made permanently better.
October affords as good time to clear mp under
| walls, to repair fences, cut bushes to put the
buildings in order by making needed repairs be-
fore November winds break do~n barn doors, OF
set shingles and clapboards flying.
| Finally, the present is excellent time to
make great deal of preparation for tho work
of next spring. Very much may be done now to
that are to be sowed to grain and grass in the
spring, and by blowing and dwelling them for
that purpose This preparation is slow work,
so that by doing much of it now, the spring work
viii 60 briskly along, and crops will be in good
| time. y,-.-...
These and many other things may be done in
the pleasant month of October.