The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-03-07
HINTS AS TO SPRING WORK
Grass Sowing - Spraying - Strawberry
Beds.

the fall, for then the grass becomes rooted
aud starts off early in the spring; but there
will be grass sowing this spring also, and
it is correct to SOW the seed rather than to
allow the pastures to die out or become
thin. The main point is to SOW as early as
possible so that the benefit Of the spring
rains can be secured. If grass can get a
good start before the dry summer season
comes half the battle will he won. as the
more root growth made the better it can
endure lack of moisture.
Spraying must not ne delayed Il day
longer than possible, as soon as the work is
required. 1t is the first two or three spray
ings early in the season that are the most
elfectual
1t will soon be time to begin work on
the strawberry bed Fertilizers hould be
used before the plant begins 90 make
growth. Work between the ro"., as soon
as it can be done, and apply the fertilizer
on the plants in the rows, usirg 1t libcr-
ally, as the spring rains will dissolve it and
carry it down.
Ground oats stand high in the estimation
of breeders as a suitable food for forcing
young lambs. Every week $ growth of a
lamb sould he noticeable, as the earlier they
can be gotten into market the higher the
prices obtained. While the eve may be
able to supply nourishment to the lamb
when it is small, she cannot provide Il
suIliciency for rapid growth after the lamb
is Il month Id. Ground oats, kept where
the lambs raa lrach it, will serve TO pro-
vide th,m with all they require in addi-
ton to the milk from the dams
For early green food rye COMES in ahead
o! grass, and the mistake is often made of
turning the cattle upon it to help them
selves, the result being that they fall off in
milk owing to the laxative effects of the
young rye The proper mode is to allow
the COWS on the rye hut Il short time at
first, and then gradually give them more
is less watery.
Oats and peas on the same plot together
may I've seeded early as source for supply
ing tie cows with green food later on, as
the combination has been tried with ex-
cellent results
One of the least costly advantages secured
on the farm is the gain from shelter. 1t is
not necessary to erect an expensive build
ing. The fact is that cattle prefer the open
air, light and warmth from the sun, and
will thrive a. well under shed open to
the south as when kept in the barn What
they appreciate is something to protect
thcm frem the cold winds when outeide of
the barn, aud shed is the best arrange
ment that car be made.
The heavy breeds of horses, such as
PercheIons and Clydesdales, are not in as
great demand rs they were 10 years ago.
y quicker animal is now preferred, and the
French coach horses, Cleveland bay, hack
neys and even the Morgans are receiving
more attention. Trotters still bring good
prices, and with the improvement of
roads there will grow greater demand for
speedy horses.
a clay soil containing lime in abundance
is the best for apples, according to the cx-
perience of a prominent grower, and the
apples from land that has been lined have
n better flavor, better color and better
keeping qualities than those grown on un-
lined lands.
There are fields uncultivated that could
be improved ut small cost by simly turn
ing under green crops. 1t is better to do
this than to leave the field idle. 1t will
improve some, even under falow, but
much quicker if green crops are grown
thereon and plowed in, followed by an
application of lime. Oats and peas, COW
peas, mullet, sorghum, rye, buckwheat and
crimson clover are crops which can be
grown for the purpose of blowing under.
Young gosIings should not be. permitted
to 20 on ponds until they are well feath-
cred, as they are easily chilled when the
water is cold. The same applies to luck
lings. which are subject to cramps.
The breed OF cows you use should
be one from which you can secure 300
pounds of butter per year for each cow
You may suppose such an amount of butter
to be too large, but there are cows that
have produced 1000 pounds per year. They
are few, it is true, but they are examples
Of what can be done by the use of butter
breeds. An average Of 300 pounds of but
ter per year from each COW in herd is not
extraordinary.
1t is not the hen that lays the largest
number of eggs in year that gives the
most product always, as some hens lay eggs
that weigh eight to the pound, while other
hens lay eggs that require twelve to make
pound. If eggs were sold by weight the
hens which lay large eggs would be much
more valuable for producing profit, though
the number of eggs laid may not be as
great as those from which lay lighter eggs
in weight. For use on the family table the