The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-30
Winter Work on the Farm.

Winter is supposed to be season
in which but little work can be done
on farm, but there is much to be
done in the spring that may be la
cilitated by a previous preparation
before the busy season sets IN. One
of the msst important matters III
the spring is the selection of gooo
iced. The value of future crops de
pends upon the terminating quail
" and purity of the seeds. Corn Is
a crop that causes greater vexatlon
than any other, as the seed is sub
jected to many influences during
the process of curing that interteres
with It's early termination and thrift
while growing. a late, backward
spring, which delays corn planting
ill June, shortens the growing sea-
son. and 10 time can be lost repiant-
Ing or renewing the hills. II is now
a good time to make thorough ex-
animation of the seed, culling ont
every imperfect grain, and using only
that which is sound and well dried.
Such work done BOW is a saving OF
time hereafter, and the work can be
done more thoroughly i'll advance
than when about to plant. One OF
the earliest crops is onions, and more
failures are attributed to bad seed
and frozen sets than to improper cul-
tivation. The seed is no easy sub
stance to handle, yet it can be I'M
proved 10y good cleaning. The sets
may be kept even after being frozen
by placing them where they will not
quickly thaw, but they should be
handled as little as possible. Warmth
is to be avoided with frozen vegeta-
bles for a gradual return to a proper
mperature is required in prefer
ence to giving them warm location
Peas may be assorted, those affected
with bugs discarded if the damage
is serious, but peas are not alway:
unsound that have been attacked by
insects. The object should be to no
only assert and clean the seeds, bu
to use only such as are sure to ger
inmate: and while their soundnes:
should be made a speciality, the va
rietv should also be considered, a.
some kinds are harder and answer
better for early sowing than otn
ers.
The winters work embraces th'
handling of the manure, which no
only assists to mingle all that may
have been accumulated. but ais,
prevents "fre-fangipg" and loss o
soluahle and volatile matter, as wei
as assisting it to thoroughly decOm
pose and become fine in condition
ard thus be more easily applied
Protection from melting SHOWS
which silently leach away the riches
portions of the manure, is very i'm
portant, and the collection of all re
fuse for addition thereto SHOULD
still be practiced.
The preparation oil not ned frames
renewal of sash aud lights and selec
tion of the richest aud best manur
fSr tnat use, should he done early
The repairs of feaces, barns and sta
bles an oft-repeated admonition, /
uot out of place; and the inn-doO
work at the barn, in the prope
preparation of food for stock. shoult
not cease. Warmth for the stock
oy providing good bedding and dr.
quarters. is saving of food. A
soon as the ground is fit to be plow
ed the turning upto the surface wit
the plow exposes the annoying cut
worm to the frost, and every farme
, should be on the lookout in tina
respect. 1t may not be actuall
, necessary to do all that is recon-
mended here now, but as such wor
will have to be done hereafter al
that is done during the cold seaso
is Just so much taken away from tn
, pressure of work in early spring.
Phild. Rcr0rd.