Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-04-19
AGRICULTURAL. l..
APRIL on THE FARM.

Now is the time to get out manure and be-
gin the preparation of land for the seed.
Oats ought to go in Immediately the sooner
the better, if the land is in order. Many
farmers put off sowing oats too long, while
it is well known that the Spring grains need
all the advantage of the early rains. Last
year the early season was SO rainy that oats
did remarkably well, even when sown little
later, but in the average of years. the early
sown will succeed far better. Pease, of
course, may 60 in now, and if you arrange
to SOW very small lot every two weeks or SO,
to have q succession, you will not be likely to
be sorry for it in June and July.
Clover should go on to fall sown grass
seed Immediately, il not already sown in
March. From ten to fifteen pounds per acre
Is none too much if you would make sure of
.good stand. If you can seize time and
sow it on q light snow, it aids the eye to dis
tribute 1t evenly. but We wouldn't wait too
long for that. 1t is good plan to follow
the sowing with good dressing Of plaster.
or if you have little guano or superphos-
phate that you know to be good. that will
help give the grass an early and thrifty
start. Plaster requires great amount of
water TO dissolve it. and the earlier in April
it can be applied, the better will be the re-
suit 1t works down into the surface soil
and Is ready for the use of the plant.
If the amount OF clover seed we mention
seems large, it must be borne in mind that
grass seed Is rather an exception to the gen.
eral rule, for thin sowing good deal of
the seed is liable to be destroyed by birds or
worms, or from some cause to fail to germi-
nate, and so 10 make sure of it's coming up
thick, the quantity of seed should be liberal.
| IT fails to come ul well and grows thin it
is coarser and not so valuable. good heavy
T,,I 4
surface. 1t consolidates light soil, presses
the seed into the ground, and settles any
stones or roots that the frost may have
thrown up to be in the way of the scythe or
the moving machine.
We doubt the eXpediency of laying down
land with oats. Isn't il better to sow your
oats, say early IN April, cut thom i'll July,
plough again in August and seed down
with grass seed in that month, or early iu
September The labor is not 80 very much
greater, and the amount Of vegetable matter
to be turned in with the stubble in August,
Is equivalent to II pretty good coating of
manure. If you choose to manure, you
could spread On the manure now, and tnrn
under rather shallow, say not over five inch
es deep, SOW on the oats and harrow in. The
ploughing of five or six inches deep in Au-
gust. would then bring this manure near the
surface III decOmposed condition, ready to
feed the young grass and give it a vigorous
and thrifty start. with sufficient strength
of root to go well through the winter
April brings the spri Dg's work fairly upon
US. We cannot long sit with folded arms
over the kitchen fire. but must be up and at
work. II is to be presumed that the plan for
the Summers campaign is all laid out, and
that you know just what is to be done. You
will not therefore, need to lose much time
In planning out the work, or in considering
what to take hold of next. The ploughing
is to be done at the earliest possible moment !;
the kitchen garden is to be laid out and
many of the vegetables sown or planted.
That parsnip bed is to be dug; over deeply
and sown just as soon as the ground is fit
Tor 1t. The ploughs, the hoes, the spades
and forks must swing with a will through
the stirring months of Spring Look out
for good clean seed. The weeds that over
whel you last year, skmming the cream
OF the profit on your crops, will threaten the
same lnundation this year. but it will not do.
Better attempt half as much ground and do
1t well. than to suffer the weeds to grow and
ruin both land and crops. Make up your
mind to that. An acre well titled and thor
oughly manured, will give you more real
profit than two or three acres overrun with
weeds. No farmer can afford to grow weeds.
If, therefore, you have piece that got the
better Of you last year. and ripened a crop
of weed seed, SOW it with oats or wheat, or
millet this Spring, plough it up again as soon
as the crop comes off and lay it down as
soon as you can get it clean from weeds 1t
will cost too much to keep it under the hoe,
and run the risk Of another crop Of weeds
this year.
Potatoes may go in this month or early
next. In sowing for II folder crop, or a crop
to cut green and cure for hay peas may be