Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-10-15
@ & ann houseboIn.
October on the Farm.

~ tAit We are approaching another win
ter, and how much better it i, that the
seasons should lap over upon each other
than that they should jump directly from
winter 10 summer. or from summer 10 win
ter The sharp, frosty mornings and
chilly evenings warn US TO prepare our
selves against the more severe weather
which VII be upon u in a few weeks.
Harvesting should be pushed along with
all due speed. The corn should not be
left o0t TOO long exposed to the autumn
storms. The fodder will be worth con-
siderable if IT can be cured properly, and
housed - soon A. cured. We have long
found corn husks which were little damp
aud mouidy, eaten by Stock with 4 better
relish han ifvery dry. We do not mean
that iAey should be rotten or musty. but
only ihat they should be packed away in
the barn, before all the goodness is washed
or dried out. The grain should be stored
amer husking, where it will dry perfectly.
L may be pat up in open bins. or spread
over the floor Of an airy upper room
secure from the depredations of yermln.
Potatoes VIII not improve BY remaining
in the ground after this month. and they
viii be liable to injury by freezing in the
ground, besides it j. very disagreeable
work digging pots:pe, and picking them
up ia cold, wet. or windy weather.
LooA sharp for diseased potAtoe, whcr /
sorting them. and see that none are car
ried into the cellar. II bat slightly dis
e4sed they may be fed to stock. but. on the
whole. we prefer 10 leave them TO rot In
the ground until the sound ones can be
separated with certainty from those which
are affected. Do not pile potatoes too
deeply IN the cellar; three feet is quite
deep enough, as they are liable 10 injury
from sweating and heating. After they
have been stored a few weeks. cover the
bans with mats, light rugs or even news
papers. 10 exclude the light. Thousands
Of bushels Of good potatoes are spoiled
every winter ~ being exposed to too
strong a light. The sunlight turns the
outside green, and giyc> them a smart.
di-agrceable taste. It i, believed. too
that such potatoes are poisonous either for
the table or for stock.
Pick winter apples with care. and store
where they Will keep sound TIL towards
spring.
Wndlall apples NAV Yet be dried in good
weather. Lay in 4 large store of dried
fruit 81 il will probably all be needed
neat year. The same may be said of cider
for vinegar. Good cider vinegar will
always bring fair price, a il is far prefer
a5.etD the manufactured acid sold under
The name Of vinegar. see that the cider
is clean. and the barrels sweet, and the
hoops all in good order.
Animals to be fAttened this fall should
be hurried up before cold weather. Our
choice i to keep animals in thriving con-
l.t.ou At all times.
YonnE cattle at pasture should not be
len out too late.
The grass is getting poor now. and a lit
tie extra feed AT the barn will be very ac-
ceplahle to the animals II i seldom ale
10 make sudden changes in the feed of
cattle, a, from grass to hay or hay TO
grass.
DO not try TO carry through more stock
than yoa can carry well. Always calculate
for long, hard winter. then if YOU have
hay left over in spring. Il may be sold, but
hay has to be bought in April or May. cat
tie are very apt to look lean. and the in
come from them viii be very small. Bet
ter carry a surplus stock Of hay and grain
than a surplus OF animals.
The long winter. and short stock Of hay
last spring. ought to teach every farmer
the value of crop OF winter rye for feed
iu. next May and June.
II is not too late now for sowing rye on
rich, mellow soil. Il follows well after
crop OF potatoes. Put on light coat of
manure. or some wood ashes, either dry or
teaches, and sow from one-half to three
bushels Of seed per acre. Ii grass seed
i sown, the former quantity will be sutfi-
cient, but if grown Tor the rye alone, the
latter amount will be none to much. We
prefer 10 seed down with rye. as we gen.
orally get good crop of clover or other
grass in the late summer, AFTER the rye,
and then the work is done. We prefer to
risk the loss of seed. to the expense of
ploughing and seeding with grass alone,
after the rye is removed. 1t would have
been much safer to have sowed grass seed
several weeks ago, on moist land. but if
the soil is fine, rich, and mellow, it is not
too late yet to sow red top and timothy
with a reasonable prospect of success.
Orchard grass is a little tender during
the first winter, if sowed in the fall. 1t is
hardly safe TO risk it as late in the season
as this month.
Most garden and field vegetables should
be secured this month except turnips and
cabbages, which may be left a week or ten
days later.
Top dressing grass land will be in order
until winter. though we should prefer an
earlier season.
October is a good month for ploughing
green sward for next years planting
There is more leisure now than in spring.
which is no small argument in favor of fall
ploughing. If the harrow follows the
piOu2n. Inc ldilu VIII De Jelt smooth. anu
manure may be hauled on at any time in
winter, when the ground Is frozen, with |
out cutting up the ground.
Making a note of all the jobs. both large /
and small. that must be, or ought to be
done before winter. Then take those first
which are the most pressing, and do as
many of the others as the length of the
working season will allow. /