The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-03-10
FARM AND GARDEN.
Suggestions for March Work.

be done on the Farm, Garden, Orchard,
etc, from which we extIact the follow
ing:
Barley.-Skilful management is re.
uurrd TO succeed with this crop. pe-
culiar soils are required to produce
clear, thin skinned, bright colored sam
pie, such as brings the best price in the
market A friabIe, clean, mellow, dry
limestone clay-loam is perhaps the best
soil, but some lighter soils, that are
warm and rich, will produce good bar
ley. The soil must be thoroughly |
worked, and free from weeds. Barley |
should always be drilled, and the seed |
placed in an even depth below the SUI
face. TneTe is no better crop with |
which to SOW clover.
Oats will succeed upon soils where |
barley would fail. A rough sod and a |
moist soil wl grow good oats; it is the
best spring crop Tor reclaimed swamp
or newly broken clayey meadow
TwO.and .a-half bushels of seed, per
acre, is light seeding;'3 3 bushels, if drill
ed, or 3 1-2, if broadcast, is sometimes
sown with good results. The thick
seeding yields finer stalk, which
makes a more desirable fodder than
stOuter straw.
Oats and Peas, sown together, pro-
duce very nutritious fodder. The
two crops together upon one acre of
good soil, will yield nearly if not quite,
as much fodder as would an acre of
each sown separately. We have sown
two bushels of oats aud six pecks Of
peas to the acre. If sown early, the
fodder may be cut for soling cows or
hoises in May or June, and succession
for continuous use may be sown every
two weeks until early in May. Roll
the ground after sowing, so that the
crop may be cut with a mower, which
may easily be done, as the oats support
the peas and prevent lodging.
Glover Seed may be sown upon the
snow, or when frost has hardened the
surface. One great advantage of SOW
ing upon the snow is, that very even
spread can be made. as the seed can
readily be seen, and the foot marks re-
main as a guide for the next breadth
sOwn. The most inexperienced need
make no lapse OF misses. A good guam
tity of seed for each cast, is as much as
can be held between the first and Sec
Ond fingers and the thumb. Walking
at an easy gait, this will use up about
quarts of seed per acre. If the wind is
blowing, walk so that it blows across
the path; the effect is then equal both
going and returning, but it is not SO if
it blows first on the face and then on
the back. .#-
Drains.-There is no better time than
the present to dig drains. The Janu.
ary tEaw, which was very general, has
filled the low ground with water, and
flowing water is the best possible level
ing instrument. The narrower the drain
is made, SO that man can work easily
in it, the cheaper may the work bC
done. When water is flowing in the
drain, lay the tiles from the head down
wards. There is no danger then of OBJ
structons entering them.
The Cost of Draining can hardly eve
be less than it now is. Labor is very
low, and those who have Improvement
TO make, and have the money, or SCI
their way clearly to repay it, if borrow
ed, could have no better opportunity
than the present.
Standing Water.-A very importan
work is to let off any water that ac
cumulates upon the surface. This re
quires constant attention, and the us
of the hoe or a shovel. Whether Their
is a crop in the ground or not, it i
equally necessary to do this thorough
ly, else the soil is soaked and dries verl
slowly. The amount lost through
water remaining upon fields, would eacl
year buy for every farmer who permit
it, good paper and more books thar
he could we'll study in a year.
Pigs.-The high price. of pork ha
greatly stimulated The breeding of
good class of pigs. With the prevaleb
diseases, which now destroy so man,
hogs in the West, there will be a prem
ium for good management, 1t is YER
clear that cleanliness, and variety o
healthful food, will prevent diseases
Make good start now, with the yOun
pigs Provide warm, clean pens 70
the brood sows, as a beginning, and s
arrange that they may have a clean pas
ture lot to run in; not bare, mudd
piece of waste ground, but good piec
of clover or grass, in which they ma
procure the bulk of their food. Bree
only from thoroughbred b0ars; keep Tn
best stock, and keep them heathfal an
growing.
Poultry. Cleanse the poultry-house
and nesteboXes from lice. We hav
lined our poultry house with Johns
Asbestos roofing, at cost of a fe,
dollars only, and there is no fear G
verndn Of any kinds in it hereafter
The smell of carbolic acid from the ia
is very strong but not disagrecable, an
will thoroughly disiufect the houst
Provide a warm corner in the stable fC
the earliest broOdng hens, and give eS
ira care to the young chicks. Marc
and April chicks will give a plen.y {
eggs next winter.
NOyclties.--While We often cautio
against trusting u uUtcsted nOyeltit
for main crop, there is nothing MOI
interesting than to test ana cumpaI
these. One sometimes draws rei
prize, but he must be prepared for SON
dsappOintmentS.