The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1877-04-19
HINTS ABOUT SPRING WORK.

We condense from the April number of the
american Agricultarist the following reminders of
what every intelligent farmer knows, but is too
apt to forget:
MANURE.-Cart TO the ground intended for
corn If it is sod ground, all the better, the sod
will be thick and more valuable fertilizer
PLowNG.-None but a fertile soil should be
turned over very deeply. At this season, this
should be well remembered, because there is no
time for the weather to mellow the fresh soil.
For Spring crops, the soil should be turned up
mellow and rich, that the seed may push into ac-
tive growth at once.
LIVE SrocK.-One of the most encouraging
events of late has been the opening of an export
trade of beef and mutton to England. If this
succeeds, and grows, as now seems probable, it
will prove way out of our heretofore greatest
difficulties. Instead of growing and exporting
grain, We shall grow and use it ourselves, and
export the produce. This will leave our farms
in much better plight. To meet this new de-
mand, our stock must be improved in quality,
by the use of pure-bred bulls and rams, and in
creased in quantity, by sparing the hefer calves
and eve lambs from slaughter.
RAISING HoRsEs.-As has always been the
case in the past, the increasing use of steam
gines makes more work for horses, and horses of
the working kind are scarce. 1t is a question
worth considering, if it would not be better to
keep mares upon the farms for breeding, instead
of selling them TO work in the cities, where their
productive powers are not used. We have found
mares equally serviceable with horses for farm
work, and an annual colt will nearly pay for q
mares feed.
Brood mares, il rightly managed. may come in
after the Springs work is over, and can raise a
colt before the Fall work comes on. If the colt
comes in June, the mare is well able to pillow
and harrow until the middle of May, and viii be
ready for work again by the time haying begins.
But, at this season, brood mares work should
be steady, although it may be hard. Violent,
ierky and long -continued work is what Injuries
her.
YOUNG STOCK.-As the change of feed comes
on care must be exercised in regard to young an
finals. 1t is best to turn them on to grass for an
hour or two daily, before the pasture becomes
full. Well-conditioned yearlings are in more
danger than poorer ones, and with them greater
care should be taken.
Roof CRoPs.-Plowing should be done this
month for mangels. No root crop pays better
than this. Choose piece of clean cOrn-stubble,
pillow thoroughly, open drills, in which drop ma
nure ut the rate of eight or ten tons per acre,
cover with the pillow, level with light harrow
lengthwise of the drills, 80 as not to obliterate
them; then SOW the seed over the manure with
hand or horse-planter, and scatter little qua
no, or blood fertilizer along the row. Four
pounds of seed for an acre is required We pre-
fer the Yellow Globe. Don't aim to get big roots,
but q full crop of fair sized ones. We are salts
fed with thirty tons, or one thousand bushels,
per acre. At this rate bushel costs five cents,
or less. Sow late this month, or early in May.
POTAToEs.-Early potatoes may be kept light
ly covered with the hoe light one horse pillow.
Watch the maneuvres of the potato BEETLE and
when it begins work, pick the insects from the
leaves into pau the pan described in the Amer
ican Agricultxrist for July, 1876, will be found
very handy for this work. By proper care, Par
is green need not be used until the larva get to
work, when no time should be lost. Every bee
tie killed this month may prevent the existence
Of over ], 900 Larvae.