Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-05-01
Don't Plant too Early.

Here in New York we are far back
in March; no springing Of the
grass excepting under the shelter
of a warm wall where the suns
rays are collected and retained no
swelling of the buds; the frost in
many places two feet deep in the
ground and no possibility of the
earth being ready for a long time
to receive the seed. But the prOba-
bility Is, that after the winter has
gone so far beyond it's ordinary
bounds into the spring, the season
will open suddenly and progress
rapidly, so that summer, with all
its fruits, win not be so far behind
hand as many are inclined to fear.
We have often noticed that even
when spring is very late, sometimes
nearly q month late, the first OF
August or of September does not
come any later than usual. The
growing season, especially in the
the Northern States, is a very
short one. Most plants do their
growing within two or three
months. Corn, for instance, often
does not get a fair start before the
Goth of July, but it attains its full
growth by the middle Of August,
and after that gives itself up to the
ripening Of the grain.
We wish to caution our readers
against being enticed by a sudden
and promising opening Of the
spring either to prepare the ground
for planting or to put in the seed
before the proper time. There are
some exceptional soils, sandy and
warm, that will bear turning up at
almost any time; but far more
attention than is wont should be
given to theconditiOn Of the ground
before disturbing it. To plough or
to spade up heavy soil too early
in the season, before it has had the
benefit of the spring sunshine, and
while it is still wet, will make its
cultivation more difficult and will
greatly retard the growth Of the
seed. The clods instead Of being
pulyerized will be partially petri-
fed, and the earth itself will him
der instead of promoting vegeta-
ton.
But caution against too early
ploughlng and digging is not moro
needed than against too early
planting. Until the body OF the
earth has become warm and sutii-
GENTLY dry to allow free passage to
the air, it is of no use to SOW the
seed. Every farmer and gardener
can draw from his own experience
q lesson of warning in this dlrec-
ton. Who has not at some time,
in his desire to secure an early
crop, taken the first warm spell 10
put in his seed, and then waited
impatiently to see it come up, ana
waited until he found it necessary
to plant over again. The ground
was too cold or too wet, or a cold
rain has fallen upon the freshly
planted seed, and given it 3 chill,
from which it never recovered. IL
died in the ground. Even when 1t
has come up and had what appeared
q good start, it has had @ check
| that injured it permanently. The
best place for corn and most gar
den seeds before the spring'tlme
has fairly come, is 9 dry warm
place in the house or in the
granary.
Every farmer and every one who
has q garden, must make his arrang'
ments for doing a great amount OF
work in the very commencement oil
the season; but while some work
can be done 10 advantage whether
the season be early or late, plough
ing, and making garden, and plant
ing, should not be done excepting
when the earth is the right con
dition. The more haste the less
speed will apply to this as we'll as
, | to many other matters.