Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-02
Famr and Household.



Farmers who are now commencing their
spring work may sometimes effect important
gains by performing all the operations in the
best manner often with little or no addition
al expense. These are familiar 10 many, but
TO others they may serve as valuable remind
ers.
M,SrnE. This is worth twice as much, il
well mixed with the soil, as when left in
Jumps. Whenever applied at this time Of
year It should be spread on a mellow surface,
80 that the harrow may mix it well with the
soil Break il up fine and stir 1t well into the
earth. Several borrowings will sometimes be
well repaid. Manure may be applied in au-
tumn with propriety to the surface Of grass
land. which is TO be plowed in spring, a. the
rains and melting SHOWS wash il in but it Is
q wasteful practice 10 spread it on grass in
spring. II cannot be mixed with the sod by
any amount Of narrowing Hence the reason
Of the well known fact that fall-spread ma
nure on sod for corn is worth more than twice
a. much As manure spread in spring.
plastic. When this fertilizer acts at all,
it is the cheapest Of all manures. In some
extreme cases a bushel per acre has added
three-fourths Of a ton Of dried clover hay. Its
great and peculiar advantage is the small
quantity needed. There is rarely any adyaut-
age in applying more than a hundred pounds
per acre-sometimes two hundred pounds
have been useful. but all beyond this is waste.
Every farmer who has never used il, should
employ it at least to a small extent. on his clo-
yer, as early in spring as practicable.
WEEDS ~ Roor CEoPs.- The great draw
back in raising such roots as turnips. beets,
carrots. etc, is the labor or clearing out the
weeds in the rows. Too many have permitted
them TO grow several inches. reducing the
crop and greatly multiplying the labor. Hence
IT. oh
Those who intend to plant crops that require
putting in early, will have to take such land
As they have already prepared but for tur-
nips, the soil may be repeatedly stirred with
pillow and harrow for several weeks to come,
destroying many Of the young weeds a. fast
as they reach the surface and this will afford
a good opportunity to apply and intermiI
manure The labor thus expended in destroy
ing weeds will be repaid in the fine condition
which is given to the ground.
HoEsEs. -Neyer try to get heavy days
work out Of a team. OVERRIDING once will do
more harm TO the effective force of horses
than any gain will ever repay They will al
ways accomplish most by regular. uniform,
moderate work, with regular, unchanged feed.
The WORKSHOP. On rainy days accom-
plish whatever viii save interruption in fine
weather. We shall not advise you to clean
your tools On such occasions, for We presume
no reader ever puts away his tools dirty but
you may put them all in good working order,
oiling with petroleum all the woodwork. and
polishing aud waxing the metallic portions.
Wagons, carts, reapers and all larger machines
should be kept well painted, and if oiled first
with crude petroleum, the water can never
enter. We repeat the advice occasionally
given before, that the Ayeril paint will ad-
here 10 any oiled surface, and we find that if
mixed half and half with the oil, it makes
good, quick-drying paint, which may be ap-
piled to houses and barns AS well rs to tools
md Innchines. = LolhtIN GfntLnlnn