Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-10-05
OCTOBER ON THE FARM.
rFrom the American Agricu,turist1

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freezing, and should therefore be dug
as soon as growth is completed.
A LARGE part of the fall fruits will be
gathered during this month, and upon
the proper doing of this the value of the
fruit crop largely depends.
LONG wool sheep are easily chilled by
cold rain, and should be kept from get
ting wet through at this season. Sheep
should never be shut up at night in
close sheds-they require abundant ven
tilation.
BROOD sows should be in good condi-
ton for coupling, which comes next
month for March pigs. 1t does not pay
to keep pigs over a year for fattening.
Pig pork is the kind that pays.
FoR March lambs the ewes should be
coupled this month. A pure South
Down ram is the best for this purpose.
A plump, fat lamb is the one that sells
quickly and at good profit.
BLACKBERRY and raspberry plants had
better be set out in the fall, as they
start growing so early in the spring.
Blackberries should be six to eight feet
apart in rows, and the raspberries about
four by four feet.
THE product of the dairy should be
increased in every possible way. This
requires the best feed and plenty of
pure water, and frequent carding of the
animals to keep them neat and clean,
Young stock should not suffer from the
cold and wet.
FREE ventilation is essential to the
1 e tl1 e.
the sides of the crib should be Slated.
So far as curing corn is concerned,
there is nothing better than the old
rail pen, narrower at the base than at
the top, with stalks or boards for a
over; but it is not secure from vermin.
THERE is probably not much corn
now standing IN the districts where early
frosts prevail, and the October DAYS are
largely spent in husking this important
crop. If there is a market for husks
the ears may be picked from the stalks
and husked in the barn, otherwise it is
more rapid and economical to husk in
the field.
Ii eggs are expected during the win
ter they must be provided for by dispos-
ing of old hens and selecting the best
young pullets and feeding them well.
They should have clean quarters and
plenty of pure water, lime In the form of
shells or bones. gravel, etc. Do not
crowd the fowls, and if well fed and
kept warm, an abundance of eggs may
be expected from them.
So soon as the heavy frosts are ex-
pected, the mangels and sugar beets
no oh no
rubbed, not cut off, as they keep longer.
Secure the carrots next after the beets,
and follow with the turnips, leaving the
Swedes until the last. In putting roots
they should be put in when dry. The
pit may extend to any desired length; a
ventilator should be put III ut inter walls
of six feet
The sooner potatoes are dug after
they have finished growth the better.
They may be kept in heaps for a little
while to throw off moisture, and thus to
secure them from heating when put in
deep bins or large pits. Potatoes
should not be exposed to sunlight, as
they ''green and develop principle,
which not only gives them disagree
able flavor but which is really unwhole-
some. A cool and dark cellar, that new
er freezes, is the most suitable for keep
ing potatoes.
PLowING for spring crops may be
done now, and the soil left rough to be
subjected to the fullest possible action
of the weather. Should weeds come up
in any quantity after the blowing, the
ground may be narrowed, or if very bad,
plowed again. Stiff clay land is greatly
benefited by ridge blowing. This is
done by turning two burrows against two
others. Such lands must be plowed
again in the spring, splitting these fur
rows, which VIII bring the soil into a
much improved condition.
WITH corn, the best way to lid the
field of smut is to pass through it and
gather and burn all the effected ears and
stalks. In this way the many millions
of spores are kept from being spread and
continuing the pest. With the smaller
grains, as wheat and oats, this method,
though it is the most effective, would
probably be impracticable. Though the
remedy is not easy of application, it is
step forward in the work. to know the
exact nature OF the trouble, and about
this there is now no do doubt. Smut is
small parasitic plant preying upon
those of higher order.
The selection of the seed corn, though
usually made this month, should have
been done early in September, by going
among the standing corn and making
the ears that possess most largely the
desired qualities. There are several
things to pe observed in selecting seed
corn, prominent among which are, ear
illness of maturity, size of stalk, amount
of leaf, size and number of ears, and the
filing out of the grains upon the cob.
A farmer who practices rigid selection
with certain desired points in view, will
in few years have variety of corn that
is his own-quite different from that of
his neighbors- growing the same variety,
but who may be selecting with some 9th
er end in view-or perhaps making no
selection at all.
SOME persons believe that the time
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