Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-03-07
Hints for Work.

WITH THE RETURN OF SPRING
come floods and freshets, and much
damage will result unless prevented.
Wash-outs of roads, ,SfieldsY yards, etc,
NAV be averted by providing a num-
ber of outlets for the water at the
places where it first gathers. Here it
Should be spread in several channels
and prevented from gathering into a
dangerous stream.
sWATER BURROWS should be carried
as little below level as possible, and
there should be so many of them that
none will overflow into the others. By
Idiverting the wash Of roads from the
cutters into small channels, the water
charged with fertilizing matter may be
spread upon the fields, and damage to
the roads prevented.
SELECTION OF SEED. The corn crop
may be greatly increased by selecting
the best seed. There are varieties now
coming into use which have the habit
of bearing more than one ear to the
stalk. HaWes can grow corn that
produces only two ears TO each stalk, il
will be easy. enough to produee 1OC
bushels per acre. But it is unsafe to
experiment largely. Plant the main
crop with what is k7lOlCl to be safe, and
try new kinds in small way at first.
IMPROVED SEED, like improved
stock, must be grown with special care,
or it Will rapidly go back to its original
state. In experimenting with new
kinds, every care should be given .tc
keep up the yiger@ of the lplantand
maintain the charaeter of the pr0daet,
PLowlSG.-In the north part ofthe
country we7are only as yet thinking
about blowing and sowing. Here we
find it best to be careful about putting
the plowstoF work too soon.' Thessoi
should be dry enough to cruprle be
fore it is. turned, Where a faliow is t6
be plowed, for corn, it may be; but sod
ground should be leftas long as posi-
BILE, so asst6 get agoedg growth of clover
to turnunder,0 Steel and equally hard
chilleairon plews have become so cheaI
and common, that every farmer may
procure one. They are of easy draft
and scour perfectly in any soil.
| SPRING CULTIvATIoN.-In time, nc
farmer will fail to cultivate the fall
lnow cultivated We greatly need 6
I'machine for hoeing wheat and rye, By
which the product will be much in
creased. At present only comparative
ly few farmers harrow these crops in
the spring, while every one could
and should, do so. The ground should
be dry on the surface before this i:
done, although the frost may not bt
out of the sub-soil. The object is t.
break up the crust and mellow tht
grOnud.
! OATS are hardy, and may be sown a:
the frost is we'll out of the soil, if tht
seed is we'll covered. 1t will be found
preferable to drill in the seed, rather
than to SOW broadcast. We always SOW
clover with oats, if it is convenient
and nave never found the crop t.
| shade the ground too much. Las
CLOVER SEED is cheap, and al
though it may not be sown until mex
month, sufficient supply should b.
secured at once. No one knows how
I soon an advance ia price may occur
When there is no danger that tn
ground may wash by heavy rains o
melting snow, clover seed may be sowl
towards 7 the = end of tn
month upon the snow. It will no
sprout until the ground becomes warm
THE best time is on still morning
/ after little night freezing, whicl
opens cracks all over the surface. Th
seed drops into these, and is covere'
as the ground thaws.
MEADOWS AND PASTURES are fre
quently injured by pasturing as 500
as the snow is of. Nothing is gained
but damage results from such a course
As soon as dry enough, roll the surfac
thoroughly. Sod heaved by frost
restored by rolling, and stones oflump
. are pressed down smoothly. The goo
effect will be appreciated when tn
| mower is used. Walk behind tn
! roller and pick up and throw into tn
box stones that may project enough
e catch the mower blade.