The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-03-27
Agricultural Hints and Notes.
Farmer aud Fir side.

pIO-ItNS IL a al
in the northern tier of States
spring work has hardly been
thought of. In this latitude. ewes
which have lambs should be well
taken care of. They should be
protected from storms and fed
with bran. oats, turnIpS, or IN the
absence of these with corn or 9TH
er grain. Ewes that 7 expected
to lamb soon. should be separated
from the flock. They need watch
ing closely. Thousands Of nice
lambs are lost in every State each
year because of lack Of proper at
tention to the flock. Carelessness
in this respect does net pay.
This month is a very good one
for cleaning the orchard trees. No
time should be lost in picking Of
all the cocoons (the covering the
worm spins around itself and nests
of insects, such as nests OF leaf
crumplers, cocOons of basket or
drop-worms and eggs Of tussock
moths. which are found on the
outside of deserted cocoons. In
March and April until the buds
commence u start, will be a good
time to prune bearing orchards.
IN pruning old orchards. first cut
a little on the underslde with the
hatchet OF saw. and afterward saw
from the upper side SO as to meet
the first lnclSlon. 81 cut Il larger
stub at first and then saw It off af-
terward. Coat the wounds made
with shellac yarnish, paint or warm
grating WAX. Don't wit until the
hurry Of spring work begins but do
it now.
If the clover seed has not been
sown upon wheat land. wait until
the frost is out Of the ground and
as soon as dry enough harrow with
a Thomas smoothing harrow, one
in which the teeth incline BIZ
ward and 2 trifle to the right.
Then SOW not less than ten pounds
Of good seed to the acre, and if the
soil IS then in a proper condition 90
over the field with Il roller and a
good catch will be assured. Ilu-
cerne or Alfalfa, as it is now call
ed, should invariably be sown bv
itself. 1t requires a rich soil,
which should be kept entirely free
from weeds the first year. X very
successful way Of securing 4 good
"catch" Of red clover. is as soon as
the oats are drilled IN. SOW the
clover seed and roll well immedi-
ately thereafter.
Breeding sows should now be
we'll looked after and have nutri-
tlous food. Vegetables and rich
Stops are IN order from now until
they bring their pigs. The sows
should be kept quiet. their pens be
we'll Uttered however. they should
not be allowed animal food nor to
put on too much fat. Pigs coming
this month and kept continually
and allowed the range Of the clover
field during the summer, will make
80 y dplulI IMAM ~ tiil Dt
made in any other way. 1t is
positively poor policy to keep hogs
Drany other kind Of stock Just alive.
There IS no money In it. The
growth must be continuous from
the hrst sIucal until the last groan.
Every n should arrange for
growing some early potatoes. The
seed may be cut into two ewes and
placed III a moderately warm room.
- that the cut surfaces will sere
over and the eyes start slightly.
Manure heavily, and if the soil
VII admit of 1t, pillow deeply. open
burrows four inches in depth.
.hree and a half feet apart. drop
he pieces or the half of a medium
'lze potato, ten inches apart, cover
WIN leaves or coarse
Then SOW ashes and land plaster
literally over the litter and cover
~ a o%ne-horse pillow, tapping two
urrows IN ridge shape over the :
potato row. As soon as the first
pTout6 appear run a harrow across
he rows, and then In a few DAYS
Use a light harrow and harrow
of the rows.
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