Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-03
Hints for the Work of the Month,
American Agriculturist. !


SPRING WORK comes without hurry To the
farmer who Is prepared. Much OF the mischief
laid TO unfavorable seasons rightly belongs tn a
laggard beginning. well started crop rarely
late one Is rarely so.
EARLY PLANTING AND SowING-With the soil
Wen prepared early sowing Is most desirable
Win many crops. Some tender ones make a
poor start unless the ground Is warmed by the
sun and air, and a late frost may do harm. But
II Is rarely wise TO delay because of what man
happen, when promptness promises the best
THE CONDITION OF THE SOIL Is always to be
taken into account Fields that are drained
elmer naturally or artif1cfally, may be safely
sowh when wet soil cannot be. Wet soils are
cold- some deny this. On the ground that the
water is as warm as the soil, and has no refrtg
eratlng elect But IL is the circulation OF air
an the SOL that warns IT, and II 1t is so filled
WIN water that air cannot enter II remains
colo Until the water has eyaporated
HE FIRST CROP TO BE SOwN, is spring wheat,
Ihen oats; after these comes beats and potatoes
wherever spring wheat will succeed II is de-
sirable CROP even when sown In April Out of
ATS natural district, which is marked out by pc
culiarity of climate, more than any other con-
ditlOD. 1t Is OF no use TO sow IT, unless In q
small way TO experiment with new varieties of
unusual promise.
BARIEy-A fine condition of the soil is tndis-
pensable for this crop. Old barley growers know
all about this, but many want 10 grow barley
because IL Is a profitable crop when successful.
1t Will succeed In any good, well prepared soil
10 good filth Is 10 be preferred. But good cross
OF bright grain may be grown on lighter loarns
II In good heart II may be made an excellent
SOil1ng crop 10 follow clover, and as a change
from cats. We prefer to SOW thlckly. saw ~
bushels per acre, but opinions vary IN this re-
spect, and from ~ to 2H bushels Is the rage.
OATs--Eariy Sown oats in our not climate are
as rule, better than the late sown. Our eli.
mate Is not so favorable for oats as the cooler
northern and northeastern ones There oats
are heavy and plump, and seed from Canada
RrIInSNiPE
We'll Tor two or three years By using seed from
these northern localities, oats may be grown in
The Middle States weighing from IS TO IS pounds
per buShel.
FLAx.-It is supposed that flax is a ''hard"
crop ON land 1t Is true In one sense, but it
Will not tnlure a cool. moist soil that has a fair
proportion OF vegetable matter In It, IL has
been grown With oats and threshed for feeding,
and there are lew more profitable crops than
Sn1S mixed one. a large demand Is Springing
up for both seed and fibre. Mills are becoming
numerous. But 1t should not be lost sight OF
that mills Will not come until there Is some
material 10 De worked up, and If the farmers OF
any locality wish for factory near them they
must first grow the needed material. IL IS for
tunate that flax can be grown for feed, and even
The straw used for fodder when mixed with oats
so that good foundation may be laid for a
supply for fax mills. The same is true of
SUGAR BEATs--After many years OF trial and
failures, The manufacture OF beet sugar promises
10 become successful. Ii depends wholly on the
FARMERS. To retain In our midst the millions OF
dollars sent abroad for sugar, is desirable. The
several seasons OF work, still persevereS In in
ductng the Maine farmers to produce roots, and
is sanguine or success BeetS can be grown
Pr0fitably II determined attempt Is made Let
but one acre, or less, be planted and well tended
ana as soon as that can be grown successfully,
10 acres may be.
early. The seed should 90 In the ground imme-
d1ately after the last narrowing and IL the seed
De soaked TO ensure quick termination, the
young plants will get start of the wee,is The
al
kinds OF roots, and as soon as the green line of
the plants can be seen, to run down the rows
with band cultiyator that cuts on both sides
OF each row. and SIT IS the ground within an inch
or the sman seedlings. By keeping the plants
cultivated In this way the middleS may be lert
without harm for some time, as the rows are
kept distinct, and can be readily seen when the
horse hoe Is USED.
PLANT BY HAND.-Steeped seed cannot well be
the seed is discovered. A light furrow NAV be
made and the seed dropped La it SO Closely as TO
consume or lbs OF seed per acre. The rows
may BE covered by the hoe or By a roller run
over the ground across the rows
FEKTILIZKRS--No other crop requires more
vigorous start than roots A liberal application,
At planting, of artificial fertilizer Peruvian
guanO or special root manure being preferable,
Will go great way TO ensure success 1t is well
10 scatter the root manure along the rows as
they are opened, drop the seed and then cover
This prevents too close contact of seed and fer
ttliZer, which Is often dangerous. Guano needs
10 De more thoroughly mixed with the soil.
Ic p
qu1re warm soil and which suffer from late
frost But the ground may be prepared In sea-
son to help on the planting afterwards. AS
good crop may be grown on stubble as on sod
II the right method Is followed; and this is sim
ply TO give sufficient manure and thorough cul-
t1vatioG. 100 bushels per acre may be produced
same labor. Far larger crops than this have
been grown, and OF late years, thanks to the
general GufusiOn OF scientific knowledge through
the best OF the agricultural journals the AVERAGE
A oil ~
% or 50 bushels is now secured where 80 or 40
bushels used TO satisfy farmers. The use OF
Ierulizers and good methods OF cultivation have
eHecled TINS; out the same means may be made
available for even larger yields, and one should
never stay satisfied with large crop. but try
Ior SUI greater ones The time OF planting OF
course varies with the latitude, and these re-
marks apply when corn planting Is 10 SESSION.
GRAsS.-With double yield OF corn and pro-
Guctlye crops OF roots, more land can be laid
down to grass The cheapest and the most es-
Sential product OF the soil Is grass. The better
The system OF agriculture the better Will be the
grass produced. orchard grass for dry soils,
ana red-top Tor low land are now thought more
or than heretofore.
SEEDING TO CLoTER--Clover seed sown this
month VIII do well in many localities, if scat
tered upon ground previously narrowed with a
smoothing harrow, which passes over the grain
without injury, and fertil1Zed with a light top
dressing OF fertilizer.
SoILISG CROPs.-The first cutting of green
fodder IS winter rye, that which is first cut will
make second growth that can be cut in June
AL teIlS SoN1Ds vi OdtS, OATS anu peas, or oats
and barley, should be made this month for cut
ting after clover. SoiliDg crops are sown In sue
cession weekly, so as to have Succulent fodder
constinuOUSly.
PoTAToEs.-As the old favorites the Peach
BLOW, Mercer, and others, gradually failed and
run out, so our newer fayorite. Early Rose
seems doomed, as field crop. Unfortunately
we cannot as yet lay our hands upon a perfect
substitute. AS rule seed procured from a
northern locality yields better than home grown
seed
LIVE SToCK.-The coat Is now changed. and
good brushing or carding helps the shedding of
the hair by stimulating the skin
MEDICINES are 10 be avoided as rule except
Ing In extreme cases Spring physicing" is an
old notion which should rest with our ancestors
III due attention has been given TO feeding and
general care stock VIII come out In good order
after their season or dry feeding and cenfine-
IDent.
HoRsEs.-Wheu hard work commences. dry
1Cod VIII be needed 1t hardelS the muscles
and prevents excessive perspiration. The skin.
TENDER from long rest Is easily channd and
CALLED Cold water and Veterinary COSinoline
VIII Keep gals In check and heal raw spots
Clean. soft harness, prevents gals shoes that
nave been long on ought to be removed and I'm
pairing the hoOf let no knife touch the frog. IL
vii wear away fast enough.
COWS.-Garget and aOortive trouble the dairy
men. We believe IN prevention. The former
may surely be prevented by due care. As soon
as the udder contains milk, IL should be relieved
0y drawing of part OF IL, II there Is any ten
uency 10 hardness These diseases are often a
consequence OF weakness A fat animal NAV be