Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1884-08-01
Farm Work for August.


Whilst this is looked on as the far
mer's leisure month, there is enough
to fully occupy his thoughts and time,
regarding farm labor. 1t is a month
peculiarly suited to under draining
and making new, and putting in order
old, open misunderstanding up fields
for following, killing weeds, briers and
shrubs; white or color washing fences
and out building, if not done before
getting together masses Of material for
compost heaps, from ditch banks, old
straw, weeds, leaves, etc. Hundreds
of loads Of such nuisances as they eX-
list untitled, are wasting and breed
ing malaria, daily on all our farms
If properly cared for it could easily be
converted into heaps, as precious as
money, for, decomposed and mixed in
the soil, will next year produce golden
grain instead of i'll health-prosperity
instead of disease and discomfort. A
convenient and cheap way to secure
large amount Of material for compost
ing, at the same time checking the
spread of weeds, aiding in looks and
material benefit to the farm, is that
pursued by some of our more advanc
ed farmers. Set your mower to work
and run over all your fields. rake up
the stuff mown and cart it off to places
Of deposit. This work cleans the pas
lures and meadow of weeds, briers and
bushes, left by the stock, and sweeps
the grain fields of the rag weed, ETC.,
that follows grain crop, and prevents
the exhaustion of the soil by such
growth, which, if allowed to bear ripe
seed, will perpetuate ten fold its spe-
cies, and injure the fertility Of the soil
more than the grain did. By this
system, order, neatness and fertility
will be obtained, while a fund of great
amount will be added to the farm
bank, on which drafts should be made
often, for they are never dishonored,
and never when used fail to play well
if they do not always pay you pre-
MUM.
Corm.-Work often and stir only
the surface-level culture, not too
deep but often, is the motto, provided
it requires it, from the effects of late
planting or on account Of the season.
If it has been properly cultivated, stop
as soon as it shows a sign of general
tasselllng. At last working sow cow
peas, 1 bushel per acre, to be put in by
the cultivators, at the same operation.
II the land be light and fertile, sow
rye instead of peas, and sow one gal
Ion per acre OF clover seed. Cover all
with cultivator at this last working of
the corn. We have seen fine crops of
rye and clover after such a course
The object of sowing peas is to enrich
the soil for grain crop, by turning
them under after few days or weeks
growth, between the cutting off Of the
corn as soon as glazed, and the time
for turning under, prior to sowing the
wheat. In most seasons, the whole
can be performed with light work in
ample time for the green mass, to be
decomposed sufficiently to be harrow
ed and drilled nicely.
Tobacco.-Keep the tobacco plants
free from worms and suckers. Suffer
no plant to show blossom, excep.
such as are reserved for seed. Top
low, as soon as it "buttons" -twe]ve
leaves to stalk is better than twenty
more pounds to the acre will result.
Some plants will this year be ready
for housing now, and if so, remember
to cut and handle with care, and see
that it is not exposed too long to the
sun, or it will sun-kiU, and be injured.
bang it up quickly and allow good
distance between the sticks, to be re-
hung closer after a few days willing.
If possible, cure by the new system of
heating by hot air or water, which is
an improvement upon the Dorsey Ma
ryland plan of furnaces, which was in
vogue some years back.
But, above all, make war on worms
and kill, kill kill? the horn blowers
by every means, and at all hazards.
Remember one horn. blower breeds
thousands of worms for this crop and
for the next, increasing in numbers
and power every year.
FaN0wing for Wheat or Grass
Plow the land deep, and harrow very
smooth. After the vegetation is well
rooted, cross pillow after manuring,
but not SO deep as the first blowing.
Harrow again, until the whole is light
and well pulverized, sowing broadcast
at same time rich fertilizer adapted
to the crop to follow. If for wheat,
drill Ill one bushel of clean well pre-
pared seed per acre, about the twenty
fifth of next month, or the tenth of
Of October. If for meadow, SOW mix
ed seeds, clover the most prominent,
bush it in, or seed with the smooth
ing harrow, and then roll all down
close and level. If the land Is low,
run water burrows every 20 feet apart
to carry off surface water.
StOck.-See that the stock on pasture
have clear, cool water to drink, ready
access to salt and ashes, and are pro-
tected against all annoyances, such as
dogs, bad smells or want of shade. If
there be no fine shade trees or groves
in the pastures, be sure to erect sheds
of plank, Or shelters Of BASH on some
airy knoll i'll the field. Here, stock
will instinctively retire during the heat
Of the day, and that poor spot will be
soon the richest in the pasture, by the
voiding of the cattle.-Md. Farmer.