The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-10-02
FARMERS',COLUMN.
From American Agricultural for October
E1sNEs FOR OCT0BER WORK.

Weeds in grass land may be very easily
seen and destroyed this month by the use of
the "spud," broad chisel blade attached to
a handle like that of a spate or long-han-
died shovel, haviuga spur upon it for the
foot to aid in thiustiug it into the ground.
A boy with an instrument of this kind can
rapidly clear grass land Of buttercups, dali
sies, and a multitude of other biennial and
perennial weeds.
Tor-DRgssiNo.-Ron dust or "tankngs,"
orsomo fertilizer in Which the nitrogen is
not in the form Of ammonia, and not solu-
bic, is the best for late autumn application
To grass or grain. such manure has some
immediate effect, yetis not washed away in
solution. by. heavy rains, but shows its po-
tency in the spring.
PbTAToEs.-Th sooner they are dug now
the better It is best to keep them a while
either in protected heaps in the field, or on
some unused floor. They throw of much
moisture within few days, and will heat if
IN large heaps or too deep in the bins. When
thoroughly dry, they may be placed in Sc
cure ptso or in the cellar. Potatoes are in
jnred at once by t,lnd gradually by sun
light, Or even by diIqsed light. They should
5 therefore, be KEEP. from the light as much as
posrlbIe, aud decayed ones carefully culled
ont before they are put away.
Roots are now making their best growth.
Moderately warm dsiS and cold nights seem
70 have great effect upon them. AS the
time for heavy trosts approaches, secure the
uangels and sugar beets. Top by rubbing
the leaves oif not bycutting, as the wound
often starts decay, which spoils the beet
Carrots secure attention next after the boets,
and turnips next, leaving the Swedish tur-
nips longest Always protect piles Of roots
against frost by some covering. Turnips
will survive severe freezing, but they are
never so good for feeding.
Corn fodder, by WHICH we mean the stalks
after husking (not the leaves of the corn
merely stripped Off, should be bound in
bundles, probably beat done with willow
withes, and stocked up 50 as to shed rain.
Large stooks,wel set and firmly bound may
be left in the field until needed for feeding,
without injury To the fodder. In fact, it is
often brighter and better when treated in
this way than in any other In stacks, or
in sheds, it is likely to heat and mould, un-
less it can be more thoroughly dried than
we can be suro Of having it.
Fodder Corn, which, of course, was cut
before the first frost, or much of its value
was lost, should be handled much in the
same way. As soon as the stalks are sur
feiently dry, aad the weather SO cool that
danger from moulding is past, put it up in
small bundlesand set these together in large
stocks in the field, bound securely at the
top.
PLpwNG ron sraiSG CEoPs.-This may
be done at any time now, where the soil is
not too light, and not likely to wash during
the winter. The ground should be left
rough to be subjecttl to the fullest action of
the weather, freezing thawing, wetting
drying, etc, Should a crop of weeds come
up, i will very likely pay to harrow and
plow again.
Pigs win fatten nearly asfnst on potatoes
this month as on corn next. They do best
on cooked feed, and the grain ought to be
ground.
Ridge blowing of stiff clays is often of
great benefit. 1t is done by turning the
furrows two and two together, so as to leave
the land uniformly. ridgcd. The ridges
must run up aud down the slopes; other
wise, in heavy rains, water viii be- hell 10y
the ridges until il breaks through snmewher,.
when there win he danger ot "yya.n-our. ."
This system Of winter iallowiug involves
plowing again in the spring bn. shows lis
good effects in the crops.
WATER If pure water does not How al
the barn, look into means for securing il.
Barn-yard wells are convenient, but often
dangerous to the health, if not Of animals.
certainly of men, who may drink at them.
lfthe water from some spring can be led To
the house and barn, by all means bring it
down-use plain iron pipes or enamel one.
not galvanized" pipes. zinc is slow
poison, but not quite so bad as lead. a
well on higher ground will often lurn h
flowing water, conducted by "a siphou, at th
level cf the buildings. No well should o.,
dug at less distance thar 500 icrt from
barn yard, cesspoo', or priyy vault
BuILDrNGs. This month offers The mos
favorable time usually for the paint ng ,ud
repair Of farm buildings, and putt 9 Il, II