Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-04-08
Hints for April.

HlntS LOT April.
April has come again, and with it begins
the farmers year. Most of the plans and
arrangements for carrying on the farm
should have been matured before now
Hired help should have been engaged
tools and seeds procured, and everything
made ready, so that the w TX may be
pushed ahead rapidly, and without loss
from unnecessary delay. II is impossible
to predict with certainty what the char
acter of the spring will be. At this writ
ing, March 24th, the season is quite early
There is very little frost in the ground,
and scarcely Il snow bank even on the
north side of deep woods Sandy land
and dry upland knobs are in condition to
plough, in many place.. The peepng
frogs commenced their spring concerts
several evenings ago, and the robins and
bluebirds are as plenty rs they often are
by the first or second week of April. If
this kind of weather should continue, dry
fields may be seeded with grain or grass
All the grasses do better if sowed quite
early in spring They have a chance to get
well rooted before the summer droughts
months difference now in the time of
sowing, may make the difference between
success and failure. If possible, give new
seeded fields light coat of ure or
some fertilizer pushed in near the surface
TO give the grass Il vigorous start. Save
all the wood ashes made at home, and
buy more if you can find them.
The Stassfurt potash salts are claimed
to be as cheap or cheaper than ashes, for
agricultural purposes. If commercial fer
tilizers are to be used, the sooner they are
bought the better Don't put off till to-
morrow or the day after tomorrow, or till
next week what ought to be, and may be
done now. If the roads and fields are too
muddy to work on to advantage, finish
cutting and splitting the fire wood which
was drawn to the woOdshed last winter.
Make good use of stormy days by clean
inc and Oiling the farm and carriage har-
nesses. Whitewash the hen house and
stables,-they will be lighter and more
wholesome for the animals which occupy
them, besides adding very much to their
general appearance. 1t is high time, now,
to have the main portion of the hens sit
ting. Early chickens cost more than late
ones, but are worth double.
If pullets hatch early enough to come to
maturity before cold weather next fall,
they WILL if in good warm quarters, lay all
winter: but if they come out very late in
the summer they viii seldom commence
laying till near spring, when eggs are al
ways plenty and cheap. A young cock
which will weigh three pounds will
bring us much in June, or early in July,
us he will in November at twice the size
Keep sitting hens in a room by themselves
if possible, that they may not be disturbed
by others laying around them. 1t is better
to set several at Il time and then double up
if they do not hatch well. We always
pity a hen with one chicken,-we imagine
she feels mortified and doesn't like to be
looked at.
Cattle should be watched closely ut thi,
time Have a roOmy box stall for all am
mails which need it, and get them into it il
season. Some people recommend feeding
grain, before cows come in, to MAKE then
strong. 1t may be well, but we dislike the
way. Better feed grain literally while
they are giving milk, and take it AVA,
when drying them of, and not begin agar
till the calf is week old, or till all DANCE
from fever is passed. If the calves are t.
be raised, take them away from the mothe
before they are many days old if You
would keep your temper while teachn!
them to drink, unless you are sure yol
havo no more temper about you than yol
can keep. An overflow of surplus tempe
is a bad thing to have in u stable, or any
where among cattle OF horses, to say moth
ing about letting it loose among your neigh
-bors Treat your animals kindly at al
times, and they will reward you for it.
Hot beds are already under way in mark
ct gardens, but it is plenty early enough
for starting them for home use. 1t will
not be half the trouble to care for one nov
that it was in February and March. A
little bottom heat would be desirable. bu
a less depth of heating manure will b,
needed, now the weather is growing
warmer Single foot of horse manure
covered with six iuches of good garden
soil under a sash and frame, will give
many kinds of garden vegetables a full
months start if put in now. Beginner!
are apt to fail because they use too little
manure, and cover it too lightly with soil
A little manure gives 10 heat, and thr
covering of soil over hot manure dries toe
fast The top soil should be deep enough
to hold sufficient moist for the health
of the plants.
Every family should start few pota
toes for supplying new ones all through
July. Cut large smooth potatoes into
pieces with one or two eyes, let them lie
in a warm room II few days, exposed t.
the light, till the sprouts begin to look
green then place them IN boxes of soil I'M
der glass. or plant N moderately warm
hot-bed Keep them watered and when
the sprouts are two or three inches above
ground set them out on rich compost, and
manage the same as for cabbages or toma-
toes. The farmer who depends upon ole
potatoes for the table. through July, is, in
these DAYS little behind the times
If the garden is in condition to work
early, put in seeds of such hardy vegett
bles as peas, beets and cabbages, and i
the less hardy kinds are put in early they
may give an early harvest, but ut the
worst it will only cost few dimes to re
plant, in case frost kills them. The early
planter seldom borrows of the late. Clear
up the mowings before the young gras:
covers the loose stones, which may breal
or dull the knives of the mower 1t i.
doubtful if the spring is the best time in
which to top-dress moving fields, but i
there is manure which can be spared from
the field crops, it had better be applied
now than not ut all. Good barnyard ma
nure seems TO agree with pretty much al
kinds of land, and may be applied with
advantage at almost any season of the
year.
Lambs and pigs, and the young of all do
mestic animals, need close attention al
this season. Nursing bottles are claimed
to be a great improvement over spoon.
for feeding young pigs and lambs. Care
the cattle often, now they are shedding
their old coats, and sprinkle little sui phel
on their backs to kill lice, if any are fount
N. E. Farmer.