Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-31
HINTS FOR FEBRUARY WORK.
American Agrieulturist.l

TIE LAST MONTH OF WINTER has begun for
the northern farmer, while In the southern
ssats spring has already opened; whatever is
NO longer delayed A late beginning makes a
sate season, and to regain time lost now, may De
sound impossible hereafter. farmer who is
oeh1ndhand Is prey TO accidents and misfor-
tunes OF the season, and often finds his labor
increased, and the result leSsened by reason OF
t ns own carelessness. On the other hand, the
forward man gets the benefit of every aavant-
age, and many disadvantages OF season are
SAFELY passed over, because he is ahead OF them.
HAULING OUT MANURE.-While the ground is
hard or covered with snow the manure heaps
can be hauled to the fields with the least trol-
PIE. Tnose who have profited by our hints for
the past few months, win have the manure in
good condition for hauling out now; Others will
have 1t lying around loose and frozen, and con-
The FINEST MANuRE is made by turning the
heap over twice. To do this, begin at each end
OF the pile, and throw on the manure to dis
lance OF three feet. building up the new heaps
and placing the coarSest manure in the center.
Then proceed until two heaps are made These
win soon heat and month or so afterwards
made into one again.
CABBAGEs.-Every farmer should raise cab
bages. both early and late. For early kinds, the
seeds should be sown In hot-bed this month
unless plants started last fan have been Kept
through the winter in cold-frames. Directions
for making hot-bed will be found under the
Notes for Kitchen and Market Garden. 1t is not
awaste OF manure 10 use1t for hot-bed, as it
WIN be all the better for application In the gar
den after 1t has served this purpose.
sPkING 0ATs:-in the south, if spring oats
AYE not alreafy been Sown, they will require
s.ifhediate attention. Not having time TO tlller
like winter oats, ~ to3 bushels Of seed Der acre
Will be needed. A late sowing may Yield an
early harvest, by the help of liberal fertilizing
with good artificial manure.
EARLY PLANTING Is advisable for cotton, corn,
apd corn-fodder. For these crops the ground
that advantage may be taken of good weather
for planting so soon as It comes next month.
SPRING WHEAT.-In many localities spring
wheat will succeed if it Is sown early. open
weather this month NAV permit blowing and
sowing. although the under soil is still frozen.
A cold spell may freeze the ground, or cover it
with snow, but the seed is safe, the work is
done; and one may rest contented while others
are grumbling.
FLOWING SHOULD BE DONE only when the soil
VIII crumble loosely; when the pillow smears
the upturned surface the soil will be injured
While earllness and forehandedness are COM
mendable, one should make haste with caution.
LOOK AHEAD!-A farmer should always think
In advance of his work. The whole plan must
be laid out In the head before the hands are
put to 1t. There Is tine yet left for thinking
over what should be done in the next two or
GRASS IN THE SOUTH.-A great need in the
south is grass for early grazing and hay. Some
OF the native grasses that have been fought and
struggled with for years as weeds are now
found to be OF great value. BY smoothing of a
piece OF grassy land, and using some fertilizer
and encouraging the growth, home supply of
treasure may lie neglected under our feet, and
some or the southern grasses, long neglected,
can be turned to profitable use
GRASS IN THE NORTH is not made as available
as IL might. An opinion prevails that grass
lands can net be kept in permanently good con-
ditlon. Yet there are in many localities plots
and tracts OF grass that are very old and show
no signs OF failure. What has been done once
In this way can be done again. permanent
pasture or meadow is invaluable. Why can not
We try to make and keep them? This is a sub
Ject worthy the most careful study.
WHY CAN Not WE GROW LARGER CROPS?
There are localities where it may pay to grow
small crops cheaply, where one may skin the
land for few years and leave it, just as in
some places cattle are or have been killed for
their hides and the carcaSSeS left to decay. But
every year these localities are growing more
and more distant in the west, and In time land
VIII be too valuable TO be used in so waSteful
manner. In central and eastern localities the
future prosperity of the farmers will depend
upon the growth OF larger crops by the expend-
1tufe OF more labor on the land. To reach this
be reached unless a beginning is made and
there was never more prepitious time to begin
VALUES ARE INCREAsING.-Every relic of the
long continued depreSSion-the seven lean
years-now happily gone by, is passing away.
Prices are advancing, and every purchased
tn1ng COSTS considerably more than year ago.
The farmer who values his land and stock may
justly put up the figures from % to 50 per cent.
His income must be made to increase in proper
ton, and this must be done to great extent by
increasing In every possible way the productive
value of his property.
BETTER Stock MUST BE KEPr.-The right
stock, too, must be kept In the right place. The
choice and management OF animals require an
accurate knowledge which must come from out
side OF his own farm practice A farmer can
not test these things for himself and run the
rsS OF losses that would be ruinous TO him, All
this has been done and recorded in books and
agricultural papers, together with mucn other
Indispensable information.
KEEP THE GOOD GALvES.-As the COWS co n.
IN, the best OF the heifers may be selected %
raising. There can be no better way to improve
the stock OF cows than TO use gJoi 5lll and
keep the best calves, We'll feeding AMI carnr
Tor them until matured After tneSe D'cfTa
COWS selection can again he nude 10. b,".l
ing, and only the best reiaiu.L In a few yeas
the value OF dairy COWS m - be d)ubiei by this
careful practice OF selection.
VERMIN.-The poultry house. IL closely ey-
am1ned, may De found % swarm with lice. A
gray mealy powder NAV be- seen on the rooSts,
In crevices, and In the corners and joints OF the
building. Take common squirt can filled with
keroslne Oil and inject the oil into every creTice
about the house. Repeat this process if il is
found necessary, and very soon the fowls will
be free from these insect pests.
YOUNG CHICKENs.-Early chickens which can
be reared easily if proper care is given, may be
Kept in a glass covered coop protected at night
by covering with straw. Ii severe cold is feared.
heat couple or bricks hot in the oven, wrap
them in piece OF carpet, aud put them in a
coop. large can or jug Of hot water is also
very good warmer.
Fowls will need The best food II eggs are de-
sired. Wheat STEPPED in boiling water and
given hot, and hot baked potatoes crashed With
q masher, are as good food as can b. given;
water slightly warmed with a small quantity
OF Sulphate OF Iron ,copperas} In it. will be use
full. Allspce mixei with corn meal mush Is an
excellent condiment, and by no means costly.
Laudanum in 10 drop dozeS has been found a
remedy for the cholera, or poultry Intestinal
fever, which has destroyed so many Hooks.
GEESE AND DUCKS.-1heSe are profitable birds
In some cases, and may be Kept where there is
cheap grazing. Halt d dozen geese VIII soon
I'LL good sized feather bed or pair OF pillows
The white ducks are perhaps equally uSefu! IN
this way. Both or these viii noH begin to lay
but must be closely watched and kept up at
nights or they will drop their eggs abroad The
eggs should bsgathered and KEEP. in cool BIT
not cold place until they are wanted for SET
ting.
NOTES or ORCHARD AND GARDEN WORK.
In the Northern Atlantic states the winter up
to the beginning OF the year has been an eXGep-
tionally mild one, though some localities nave
experienced the severity or which European
gardeners and orChardisjS are cOm0iainIng.
II would be better II we could have the weather
continuously so cold that All vegetation would
remain dormant, but that is beyond Our control,
and we can do but little TO avoid OF repair the
damage caused by unreasonable proon 5ed mid
weather, followed by severe cold. With the
majority OF hardy trees and shrubs. it makes
but little difference how severe the winter pro-
vided the cold comes on when vegetation is
thoroughly dormant, but when mild spell Is