News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-09-20
FARM NOTES AND HINTS.
What to do at this season of the Year.

The fitting Of the ground for any crop
is of the greatest Importance, the Anaert'
can A!qricuiturist for September tells
us. Wheat and rye, sown this month,
/ require rich, mellow soil. Well-rotted
manure should be literally applied,
either before or after blowing. The
more thoroughly this plant food is mixed
through the soil, the quicker the young
grain will obtain q vigorous growth.
! The harrow and roller need to be used
until all the clOds have been reduced to
small size The roller should not pass
after the seed Is sown, leaving the sur
face packed hard, in which state it will
crust over after the first rain. The
somewhat ridged surface left by the
grain drill also helps to hold the snow,
and prevent winter killing. Only the
best plump grains of a superior variety
of wheat should be s0wn. 1t IS profit
able to pay three times the market price
for fine quality of seed. The amount
to be sown per acre depends much upon
the thOrOughness of PREPARATION and the
strength of the seed. Under the best
conditions, only a few quarts of seed are
needed, but as a general rule, bushel
is sufficient. if sOwed with a good drill.
A light coat of rich and finely divided
manure may be placed on the surface
after sowing, with excellent effect. A
heavy rain may closely follow upon the
seeding. and therefore pillow out the
courses for the water at once.
The work in the root field consists In
keeping the ground free from weeds,
and pulling the superhuOUs roots for the
COWS. The great error in growing tur-
nips, beets, etc, is in not thinning them
sufficiently. White turnips may still be
sOwn if the ground is rich. Potato stub
BILE, treated with fine manure, will
usually yield a paying crop. Early sown
beets and mangels may be harvested this
month. Place the roots in long heaps,
with straw over them, and uterward
take them to the root cellar, or c Yer
the heaps with earth, to protect therOOts
from freezing. The roots should not
heat at any time while stored.
Cut buckwheat before the frOsts in
lure it. The grain shells easily, there
fore the crop should be cut when the
dew is on. After curing for a few days,
the grain is ready to be threshed.
Buckwheat, as it comes from the thresh-
ing machine. will heat badly if placed
over the barn floor or other surface to
dry. Beans are injured by heavy rains,
and should be pulled and stacked as
they are ripe. In pulling, leave the
vines in rows for a time TO cure, and If
storm approaches, they can be placed
in stacks around poles driven in the
ground. A straw cover should be placed
over each stack.
The earliest varieties of field corn will
be ready for cutting this month. Corn
should be cut so soon rs the grain Is
glazed; the stalks are better for fodder
when cut at this time. Seed corn should
have been selected before this, but if
not. let some of the best stalks stand
uncut with their ears of corn for future
planting. The shocking needs to be
done with care. II the stalks are poorly
set and improperly tired, the shocks
fall, the grain and fonder both suffer,
and the husking is more difficult. Willow
or other twigs may be used for securely
tying the shocks of corn.
Potatoes are best dug so soon as ripe.
If left in the earth, they may start into
growth or become much affected with
the much dreaded rot. 1t is well to sort
the potatoes as they are gathered, eX-
Guiding all uaft for the table.