Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-12
Seasonablc Notes.
BrrwErS NAY AND GRASS.

we must scrimp and economist Just at the
time when a wise policy requires liberal
feed, and good variety. Few Of us can
now supply our animals with roots, or even
with good hay, as literally as VIC would wish.
Cows that have Just come in, or that will
calve soon, need first rate feeding or their
flow of milk for the entire season will be
greatly lessencd. Young cows, especially,
need both succulent and rich food now to
develop their milking capacity to its full ex-
tent And it is especially desirable to have a
good supplyof roots at this season TO prevent
the securing so likely to follow when cows
are suddenly turned from dry to green feed.
To avoid this, it is best 10 put them in the
pasture but few hours in the middle Of the
day, at first, feeding in the barn, morning
and evening. And although potatoes may
not be rorA what they will bring in market
as feed, as a means Of gradual change from
dry to green they are worth more than they
are bringing this spring.
CALVES
should be kept warm, clean and comfortable.
Cook all the meal and mill-feed that you mix
with their milk.
SETTING HENS
should have their nests away from other
hens. Grease them under their wings be-
fore the chickens hatch, to kill the lice that
will otherwise find their way upon the young
ones, and make them unthrifty. Keep the
new broods in dry, warm, sunny spot, but
q -, Il. 10 ta
hot. Feed with cooked food, and give
plenty of pure water. This will secure
healthy chickens.
HoED errors.
However late tho season, do not DO de
tered from giving your land devoted to hoed
crops a thorough preparation If you find
yourself short OF roots this spring, look out
now and put in good large piece Of beets, or
rutabagas, or both. II is a good plan to
plant the beets as early as possible, and at the
first hoeing fill every vacancy with pinch
of rutabaga seed, to be thinned at the next
or final hoeing. This gives full stand, and
where the cut-worms have been at work at
the beets to any extent will add much to the
crop in the fall.
SHEEP.
To gradually accustom sheep to grass ia
as important as with cattle. Do not with
hold grain, but keep it up until the flock is
well established upon grass
OATS AND PEAS.
When the ground is in good heart, SOW
oats and peas, two bushels Of each to the
acre, as early as they can be got in. Plow
in the peas then SOW and harrow in the oats
THE cURRANT WORM.
Towards the last of the month, as soon rs
the bushes are in blossom, sprinkle them with
water containing two large tablespoonfuls of
powdered white hellebore to the pailful Wet
every leaf. Go over them again In couple
of weeks and on all bushes where there are
signs of worms, give a second sprinklng.
Choose dry day for this work.
DRAINING.
What would you give if all your land were
now dry enough to plow2 Would not the
benefit it would be- in that particular alone,
be worth good part of the interest on the
cost of laying down drains Add to that
the larger and better crops of grain, grass or
roots and it would seem that those farmers
who are forehanded, and have money on
hand or in bank, at least, might figure out O
good interest on the necessary investment
at any rate, upon part of the farm Figure
on it a little.
CORN.
Don't be in hurry about planting There
is tendency to err in planting too large va
rieties, that need a long season, and this
causes us to hurry the planting. We have
been fooled that way about all we care, and
now are satisfied with kind that will make
crop every year, il planted by the 25th
1t is not such very small kind, either, and
is fully equal in yield to any we have ever
had. 1t is what is called the Pedigree
Corn" which originated in Cabot having
been grown there continuously on the same
farm since 1916. Three full ears TO the
stalk, is not uncommon in a well manured
and well cultivated field Of it. More than
third of the stalks, on such field, will hav,
two good ears.
FODDER CORN.
best for fodder crop that We know OF. i
is a great mistake to put off sowing fodder
corn until late in July. We plant our fod
der corn first, before our corn for grain, be
cause we want it to have long season Ia
mature, and because we want TO cure il
while there is sufficient warmth in the sur
to do 1t well. Sow the seed in drills two
and half feet apart, about twelve grains L
the running foot on wel-manured sod land
Keep the soil well stirred with the horse
hoe, until the crop shades the ground w,
do not believe in successive paintings o.
fodder corn, as recommended by some
There is not much nutriment in II until /
has reached the caring stage. Before tina
it is pretty much all water. Put it on. III.
richest land you have got. Use phosphat,
in the drill, and ashes broadcast. This is
crop that wants as high culture as the cab
bage, for real success and profit.
IMPLEMENTS.
Make up your mind what you will bu,
this season, and order ii in time. Unexpected
delays frequently occur in getting them
"hen you get them. take care OF them
Oil the woodwork frequently, or paint
it, and house all implements when moi
in use. Not half the farmers do this, anc
those who don't, grumbe the most about tn,
hard times
APPLE Tricks.
Trees may arrive from the nursery in bat
condition from insufficient packing or lon,
delay. If dry bury root and branch il
moist soil for a week. II the buds hay,
started, cut back below them, il it take
three fourths of the branch. You will b,
glad you did it next fall. In planting, trim
every large root, where it was cut with the
spade, with sharp knife, making sIoping
cut from below upwards. Dig large holes
Lay the roots straight and in natural posi-.
ton, and press the earth firmly, with hands
and feet, around every one. II the ground