Democratic messenger., 1881-04-09

SUGGESTIONS or ANb Fok THE SEASON
FROM THK AGRICULTURIsT FOR APRIL.

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The active work of the year has now
begun over a large part of the country.
The plow is already in thousands oI
fields, and would be in many more were
it not for the sodden soil. Never turn
the soil when so wet that it will not
break into hard Jumps. The soil is toe
wet to be plowed whenever the mould
board is smeared, does not keep clean
and bright while passing through the
furrow. A soil that is late in becoming
dry enough to plow, needs draining.
upon the proper preparation of the
seed-beds. The soil must not only be
loose, deep and mellow, but it should
contain all the essential elements of
plant food, and these in an available
form. This requires thorough tillage
-plowing, narrowing, etc. and good
supply of well-rotted manure or its
equivalent in some other form. 1t is
oily to expect good crops from a poorly
prepared soil, and one lacking the food
upon which the plants can feed.
The first grain crop to be put into the
ground is spring wheat, and this should
be soon as the ground can be made
ready. Out of its proper district,
marked by climate, it is of no use to
grow spring wheat. There are other
crops that are sure and give much bet
ter returns. Oats should come imme-
diately after spring wheat in time of
sowing. Success with oats in our hot
climate largely depends upon early SOW
ing. The cooler climate of Canada and
New Brunswick is more favorable for
oats, where they are plumper and much
heavier than those grown in most parts
of the United States. BY using seed
from the northern localities above men
toned we can grow heavier and better
oats than when our own seed is sown.
The aim should be to harvest 80 to 60
bushels per acre. This can be obtained
by having the soil rich and in good
condition, and sown with about three
bushels of the best seed. Oats are
successful crop in the far Southern
States, as they can be sown and make
their growth in winter, and the crop
kept out of the way of hot weather.
Barley, under favorable conditions, is
reliable and profitable crop, and
should not be considered simply as ma
terial for brewing. There is no better
grain to feed horses, and when ground
with corn it makes most excellent
feed for cattle and growing swine. The
two-rowed varieties yield more than the
six-rowed, but bring somewhat less III
the market. The grain should be sown
thickly, q bushels per acre. Barley
will succeed in any good, well-prepared
soil, but it prefers a mellow, clay loan,
in good tilth.
Corn planting comes later in the
spring, as it requires warm soil for the
grain to germinate, and suffers from late
| frosts. The time of planting of course
aries with the locality, and the soil can
be prepared in readiness for the coming
of warm, settled weather. Sod turned
under, not too deeply, is considered as
the best for corn, but excellent crops can
be grown upon stubble, provided there
is good supply of manure given to take
the place of the vegetable matter of the
rotting grass, etc., of the turned sod.
Beets, including mangels, need to be
put in very early. There is much diff
erence of opinion as to the advantage of
soaking and sprouhng the seeds before
sowing them. If thus treated they
should be carefully watched, and be
sown as soon as the minute germ, or
sprout, appears on few of them. Dry
ing with fine gypsum (land plaster will
make the sowing easy. This treatment
will insure quick termination, and the
young plants will get the start of the
weeds. As soon as the plants are up
sufficiently for the rows to be seen, run
hand cultivator between them and
within an inch or so OF the plants. This
will leave strip next to the rows to be
treated with hand. hoes. Use horse
hoe for most of the later cultivation.
The manufacture of beet-sugar promises
success, provided enough roots are
grown in any one locality to make it
profitable to erect the necessary build
ings and machinery for extracting the
sugar. This needs cooperation among
the farmers themselves, and between
them and manufacturers upon this the
success of beet sugar making in our
country depends.
Farmers have so thoroughly learned
how to manage the potato-beetle that it
is not necessary to plant early with a
view to escape Its ravages. But it is
well to plant early, especially if the
crop is to be sold, and there is a ready
market. The earliest pays the best,
and the one who is first gets the cream
of the market. The Early Rose still
holds its rank among the most desira-
/ BILE varieties.
| The most essential crop upon farm
is grass. The better thesystem of farm
ing the more important will grass be-
come, both in its own value and the
good effect it has upon the soil and the
crops that are to follow it. Our farm
ers have not given proper attention to
the study of the different grasses and
the soils best fitted for each. Meadows
and pastures, to do their best, often
need a little stimulating fertilizer. Two
hundred pounds of Guano, or of Nitrate
of Soda, often more than double the
crop, and returns a large profit on
the cost Improved grass lands mean
more milk, cheese, butter, and beef, and
farmer with rich, never-failing per-
manent pasture is one where live stock
will thrive, and the owner of it is very
sure to be prosperous. Look we'll to
the grass land.
Cows with calf should receive special
care both as to feed and handling.
Good hay is the best feed over-feeding
must be avoided, as with high-bred
cows, especially, there is danger OF
milk fever or garget. Light feeding
Z baTora colyiury Is fha harA ,,yax,a,4,,,o ~