The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1880-05-06
fnr the farmsr.
HINTS FOR MAY wORK.

much work crowded into il that farmer is in
danger of being in a hurry. Every hour of
work should be SO planned that it will tell most ef
fectually, and this requires considerable thought
in order to do the most urgent and important
| work first, and leave undone those things which
may be done almost as well by and by. As
we SOW so do we reap, and as this is the month
| of sowing, the work now will in great measure
determine what the harvest of the year shall be.
Keep pushing on, but with plan.
Labor.-It must be admitted by every one IA
miliar with farm work, that the labor problem
is difficult one, and it may fairly, from its i'm
| portance, claim the first consultation in decid-
| ing upon the plan of operations for the year.
The largest possible crops may not return a
profit, if the labor in their production has not
been well planned. One of the most important
| advantages obtained from q systematic rotation
OF crops, consists in the judieiOus distribution of
labor throughout the year, SO that there may not
| be asurplus at one time, and deficiency anoth.
| er, that will require the employing of extra
hands at the highest wages.
Ndngels may be sown early this month. Our
practice has been to sow in drills 30 inches
| apart, using six pounds of seed to the acre. A
liberal supply of seed is required to secure au
even stand aud the plants should be tbinned by
striking broad hoe directly across the drills, 50
that single plants will stand IL to 16 inches
apart. Root crops are often failure from de-
fective thinning.
Clorer.-An early rolling of clover to settle
the roots that have been raised by frost will be
especially appropriate after the open winter
just passed. Fifty pounds of plaster per acre
will often have as good effect as the larger dos
es of 100 and 200 lbs. that are recommended.
Wood ashes on many soils will be found an USE
full application.
Headoas.-Pick up any stones that may have
been raised above the surface from the action
of FROST The roller may be used to bring the
surface into good shape for the mower. Mead
ows are frequently injured by the tread of cattle
before the ground is fairly settled. The grazing
of meadowD in Spring is at the expense of the
hay crop. Ii is better to keep cattle in the barn
until the pastures are ready to furnish them a
full ration.
Jerusalem Artiehokes are growing in favor !;
they arc relished by nearly all domestic animals.
They may be left in the ground all winter, and
when dug in early spring are crisp and fresh,
and the most acceptable change in the feed.
The round, short variety called brazilian" is
best The seed is cut the same potatoes, fur
rows made feet apart, and the pieces dropped
about II or Is inches apart in the furrow, aud
covered with few inches of earth.
Sheep-Sheep should be tagged before turning
out to grass Dry ewes may be fattened, aud
marketed as soon as possible. Lambs that are
for early market, will need the best of care and
extra feed. The good shepherd will look well
TO his flock, and count it every day, that no
animal may get strayed far away aud lost The
bsst way to kill ticks is to dip the lambs short
TO which sulphur is added.
flashing Sheep-A deduction of about I is
made by the wool buyers for all unwashed
feeces, and this is right if the washing is prop
erls DONE Take it all in all, it is best to wash
the sheep, though there may be cases where it
is not convenient, expedent, or even safe.
ORCHARD AND NURSERY.
Grating can be done now, but great care is
necessary. As the bark peels easily at this sea-
IL shOnll he thrOuph with n knife and
the saw made to follow the cut, otherwise the
bark may be peeled and bad wound made. 1t
is not best to remove all the buds from the stock
before the graft starts, as there will be no in-
dncement for the sap TO flow upwards. After
the union of the graft is made and the buds up
it have started, all those upon the stock be-
low should be removed in order that the graft
may have the full supply of sap.
The Tent Caterpillar will hatch into the
"worms" which will begin at once their ravages
upon the foliage. Fortunately these destruc-
tive caterpllars put up "a sign" without which
they might escape notice. They pitch their
"tents" at once, and though these at first
small, they may be readily seen in the early
morning, hen the dew makes them conspicuous.
Take the tent when the whole family is Eat
home" and crush it under foot. Various devices
are suggested for this, but the hand, with or
without glove, is the best. For the higher
limbs pole with swab attached may be used.
Cmculio of the plum stings the fruit while it
is quite small. The trees should be Jared in
early morning, beginning when they are just
passing out of flower, and the sluggish beetles
caught a sheet opened beneath the tree for
the purpose. Afterwards thuse caught on the
sheet should be burned.
Borers.-Their presence is known by the saw
dust they make. The only effectual method of
reaching them is by probing with wire cut
ting the tree with knife little as may be
found necessary.
Planting in Orchards.-There is general re-
luctance to give up the soil of the orchard en-
tirey to the trees. While the orchard is young
it is best to cultivate it thoroughly. and hoed
crops, like potatoes, roots ETC., can be grown as
present pay for the trouble, but the trees
get older and shade the ground, nothing else
but fruit should be expected from the orchard.
1t is a good practice to pasture hogs in the orch
ard in clover sown for the purpose, as it is one
of the best methods of enriching the soil aud at
the same time destroying insects.
FRUIT GARDEN.
Blackberies and Raspberries may still be plant
ed, but as they start early, they should have
been before this. Stakes trellises should be
provided to which the canes are to be secured. |
Novices fail to understand that it is the new |
canes that grow this year that are to bear the |
fruit the next season. All suckers are to be |
treated as weeds, unless new plants desired, |
when the best ones may he saved.
Grapes.-One healthy, vigorous cane upon a |
newly set vine is enough. Tie it up securely to |
a support. Vines trained variously that |
specific directions can not be given. Whatever
the method of training, it should keep in view |
and provide for the crop Of next year. Gener- |
ally the fruit-bearing shoots for the present. |
year should be stopped; that is, have their fur
Their growth in length prevented, by pinching |
of the end of the shoot ut one, two or three |
leaves beyond the uppermost cluster of grapes |
this should be done very early, as soon as the |
clusters of buds (often mistaken for young |
grapes) and the young leaves can be distinctly |
seen.
Marketing FrHit.-Provide all the appliances
Of quick and proper marketing before the fruit
is ready. So much depends upon the appear
ance of the fruit at the market, that neaIness
and care in packing it that it will show at
its best, will pay. Caution should be given to
the pickers that no ripe fruit be put into
the basket crates. If the distance to market
is considerable, the fruit should be in less ma
ture state than when the market is but n short
distance away. Watch the market
KITCHEN AND MARKET GARDEN.
Work is apt to come with rush; there are
80 many different things to attend to, that I'M
less the work is properly planned, much time
will be lost. 1t happens with many who make
change of residence, that they cannot begin
gardening until the first of May. These have
been obliged to delay the planting of those
,rops that should be put in soon the soil
will permit, and will be somewh at behindhand;
nut with extra effort, and that at once, they may
,e able to get abreast with the season with
most of the vegetables of the garden.