Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-27

y.
that they may be on hand as soon as spring
opens Dealers are overrun with orders lust at
sowing time, and they do not then give the
quickest and most careful attention. It Ia one
Of the greatest Importance that only the best
seed Of the choicest sort be used Canvass the
whole subject Of seeds with much care. and if
VIII be time well spent. There is no economy
IN sowing cheap seeds, and when there are weed
seeds present 1t Is great mistake and a source
OF much future trouble.
Adaure--The making and saving Of manure
are among the most important labOrs on the
Iarm IN winter The value of this product
depends upon the character of the food given to
the animals; the kind, age, and care of the
STOCK, aad the attention that it receives after it
ID dropped Manure from the stables NAV BE-
put Il square. compact piles, which will retain
suf1icient heat to keep out the frost and rot
rapidly By adding the fresh manure to the
top. and fOrkin- In the sides. the whole heap
VIII De IN me condition for use in the spring,
ana VIII give quick returns on any field crop
The worst arrangement Is to have the Groppings
scattered over large open yard to be frozen
and trampled into the mud.
Farm Ahjn,als should be kept neat and clean.
examine your cattle for lice; these pests may he
iound along the back and neck of the animal
hoD the infested parts with kerosene oil diluted
with an equal quantity of sweet oil OF lard
Horses that are idle may be kept i'm a ward
with an open shed for shelter and if fed with a
Few ears OF corn for tbeirgrain will keep in good
condition Work horses need good stables and
an abundance OF wholesome food Use the
eurrycomb and brush daily thus keeping the
s-lrIace OF the skin in vigorous and healthful
condition. sharp currycomb is to be avoided
Is II irritates the animal. The keen points may
be filed down.
Pigs thrive in dry. warm and we'll ventilated
pens large portion of the swine troubles
come from too much dampness and filth The
brood sows need special attention. and should
De provided with large. warm ROOM with fine
litter Give them mixed diet.
fo,adry.-TO do we'll in winter fowls need q
sunny place where they NAV have sufficient ex-
ercise. Brood hens need a warm and auiet
place to bring forth their early chicks. These
VIII De ready for the early market and bring
good prices.
ORCHARD AND GARDEN WORK FOR THE MONTH
There are many farms on which no orchard is
found. The settler in a new country NAV have
some excuse for this. at least for few wears.
But even with him an orchard of fine fruit should
come early In the development of his farm We
shall continue to teach that every farmer should
have an orchard, and guard its interests WELL
Orchard Planting is, therefore. a timely theme
10 consider IN February. No one should set an
ofcnard unless he can feel that the trees have
tne nrst right to the soil. Ii Is often stated that
orchards are unprOductiye and the trees are de-
generating. owing to change of climate or other
unknown cause. when the real cause of the
trouble is starvation. The land has been forced
70 yield regular field crop aside from the fruit.
without making proper return In manure or
commercial fertilizers. newly planted Or
chard should be cultivated by growing only such
crops as require manure and will leave the soil
Ia a good condition.
When the trees come into bearing. regular
cropping should cease. Turning an orchard
INTO grain field OF meadow is to bring min
II Kept IN clover aud pastured with pigs 1t is
excellent both for the pigs and for the orchard
An occasional blowing turns under the sod and
II becomes fine fertilizer and keeps the soil i'm
good filth.
Ordering Trees--It is best to send i'm the
&ders Tor trees before the spring opens as they
VIII receive more prompt attention than those
~ iate spring. when work Is pressing. Should
tne trees freeze on the way the package NAV
De put in cool room or under straw to thaW
gradually. A mistake is often made in select
ing large trees. A two-year-Old tree will come
INTO bearing about soon after setting as one
three or four years Old besides being much
more sure to live. The larger the tree the
more the roots are injured i'm transplanting: it is
also easier to bring young tree into good form
~ early pruning. Other things being equal.
buy OF the nearest nurseryman. We advise eau
uon IN dealing with unknown tree pedders.
VINO tell wonderful things of varieties exclu-
0vely their own. Some excellent nurseries
END out agents. and wnen they are authorized
md responsible. it is safe to buy of them Most
q the leading nurserynen publish catalogues of
varieties; 1t is well TO send for some Of these
md compare the prices. etc. Study we'll the
needs OF the family. market, soil, climate, etc.
md order early.
BOOks.-There are excellent books on fruit
growing in which all the details of the work are
given by successful men. and now is a good
tine to look up these points and profit by the
experience OF others Such works give lists of
the varieties. with descriptions, that aid greatly
IA making the selection of sorts as well as direc-
lions for cultivation.
Insects must be looked after The clusters or
eggs OF the tent caterpillar may be easily seen
On the twigs on a dull day: they form a ring
half an inch or more wide. The canker-wOrms
come ont of the ground i'm early spring-some-
times during this month, and ascend the trees
20 lay their eggs. The females are wngless
and may be kept from the trees by putting
meared with tar or with printers ink-clOsely
er0und the trunks of the trees. Put on these
lands before any signs of the moth appear
Nice and Rabbits may do mischief. especially
after heavy SHOWS, and trees should be guarded
against their gnawing teeth For MICE tramp
the snow down closely around the trees that
they may not be able to work under it. Smear
NE trunk with blood to drive away the rabbits.
HOt-beds will now be needed In the southern
states AS general rule these forcing pits
should be started about six weeks before the
ume to set the plants in the open ground. The
come warm in the pile. Ifthere is not sufficient
inter In the mass. leaves may be added to mod
NY the violence of the heat. When the manure
has been turned two or three times in the
Pile 1t Is ready for use. The manure NAV be
either placed in pit or on the surface In
making pit. excavate the earth two feet deep.
@ Wide as the sashes. and line the sides of
the pit with rough boards which extend
eDoye ground few inches in front and a
foot at the rear. Strips are nailed across
nom front to rear, where the sashes come to-
gefher. The sashes are usually three bv
SIX feet, and may be bought at any sash fac
tory. Select for the hot-bcd q dry place. that
b sheltered from the north by fence. build
ing, or screen. Place six inches of leaves or lit
Ger In the bottom Of the pit. followed by a LAYER
q manure well beaten down. When the pit is
null, tramp the manure down evenly and put on
afhick layer Of earth. This earth should be rich
and fine Good garden soil mixed with fine ma
nnre, and sand enough to make 1t Open is best
when the beds are made above ground. much
tne same arrangement of material is needed
only they are built up from the surface and to
the height Of about three feet compromise
between the two hOt-beds is frequently
adopted. strong heat will soon rise after the
bed is made. After this has passed off the seeds
may be sOwn in rows four inches apart Some
gardeners use boxes of earth for the seeds, which
are placed in the beds The yOupO nlonto poad