Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-02-24
FARM AND FIRESIDE.

| 4dOUGHTS FOR THE EVENING HOUR.
The farmer who at this season spends
bis evenings in careful study of his farm
and the crops he proposes to raise, is lay
ing solid foundation on which to build,
and thereby adds five bushels of corn to
the acre, fifty pounds of cotton, ten bush
els to his peanuts, or a hundred pounds to
his tobacco. just as certainly as the man
who expends ten or twenty dollars per
acre for fertilizers without such study.
| Our farms are sadly in need OF brain work,
| and in this case it is the brain of the far
msr himself that must be exercised. 9th
men cannot do his thinking for him, and
the best that writer's can do is to present
practical hints, or report results of actual
experiments.
Timely attention should be paid to the
mendlng OF the fences. Do not forget that
the third, fourth, and fifth rails from the
bottom are the most important of all and
that these nust be strong, straight, and
near enough together to prevent hogs get
ting through, or there will be trouble with
them all the time your crops are growing.
Ponds, bitches, stumps, stones and other
impedIments in fields, whereby land is
wasted, or made to remain idle, is like
giving notes on the farm at 20 per cent,
interest. Every foot within the compass
OF field ought to be made productive, and
unless this is the case half dozen little
losses are repeating themselves every time
the field is cultivated.
Instead of abandoning the old staples
you have been raising all along; you had
better curtail the area little, manure
more, and cultivate better, and thus give
room and time to grow some of the profit
able minor crops that always sell well be-
cause the market is never overstocked.
1t is good time to be putting back
upon your fields an equivalent for the plant
food you took from them last season.
Barnyard and stable litter make good top
dressing for grass and grain, also bonedust,
lime and mari.
Pare the hoofs of colts as often as me-
cessary, and keep the work teams well
shod. Feed more largely of hay and coarse
provender at this season, and save the
grain. Give fresh water regularly, and ex-
ercise and fresh air daily.
Cigar and tobacco smoke, though repul-
sive to some insects, is not good stimu-
liant to the corn. If you are going to sue
coed at farming you must do your smoking
before you 60 to the fields.
A good strong jack knife, and piece of
ground to cultivate as his own, will do
more to make a boy contented on the farm
than thousand homilies on the evils and
besetments of the city. If you have not
tried it with your boys, try it now.
Water is an excellent thing in its place.
but too much of it finding it's way through
the roof of the barn, granary, the poultry
house or the stable, is a nuisance. Stop
the leaks in time.
Onions, English peas, kale, lettuce, mus
tard, must all be planted on fine days this
month. All these crops should be off the
land before hot weather, and thus make
room for something else
A dose OF copperas for the horses now
and then would give them better relish for
their food, and improve their health and
general appearance.
Fruit and shade trees may be set now. if
the ground be not frozen, as we'll as any
other time. Small plants are best, and if
good care is taken of them they will grow
up sooner than larger trees Severely prun-
ed. The planting of sappling maple, birch
&C., for shade, and saving off the entire
top and large branches, and expect the
stumps to grow off and make fine trees. is
simply toact in ignorance of natures
laws. You do not thus get fine tree one
time in fifty. Plant young trees only three
Or four feet in height. and prune but
slightly.
Keep memorandum book, and when
you think of a job that needs doing note
it down, lest you forget, and it goes I'M
done. Petersbufg iadea.
ROA TI1pKrv he ceoraf ~ lo~.:.u