Middletown transcript., 1897-04-03
M1DDLETowN. DEL, APR. 3D., 1897
Of Interest
To Farmers
sp1Ne WORK ON THE FARM,


the pushing and live farmer has not al
lowed the winter work to lap on the
spring; rather that much that is some.
times accounted as properly belonging
to spring has been done during the win
ter:
First, the farmer should have ir
mind the condition of the fields thai
are to be cropped. lie should be ready
when the soil is in proper condition
to work to. start the plow going early
every day when the soil is in proper
condition, than to delay the work till
later, limiting the blowing season to
the shortest possible time before plants
ing. My own experience points in the
direction of expediting this work. 1t
the part of wisdom to work against
being caught with period of wet OF
dry weather, or both. 1t will work no
serious injury to the plowed soil to
stand considerable time after plowing
before the seed bed for crop is pre-
pared. We have found it easier to
prepare the seed bed when planting
time came than both to plow and pre-.
pare the seed bed.
Now is the time to note carefully all
parts of the fields to be cultivated. Ii
it is clover sod, the condition of the
plants will show the water contains OF
the soiI.If the plants are lifted, l know
of no better sign that tile is needed. 1t
is a good plan for the farmer that
knows his land needs tile to keep tile
10 keep it in stock, as he would in old
times keep wheat in the granary. There
often many days during the spring
when too wet to plow that can be bet
ter utilized laying tile than at any
other work. No work man can do on
the farm where needed win give better
return than tile drainage properly done.
All tools to be used during thespring
and summer should be over hauled and
put in shape before time Of using.
Much of this can be done on rainy days
Harness should be put into proper re-
pair and we'll oiled, and a supply Of
neatsfoot oil kept on hand, so that parts
Of harness that become dry can have
an application when necessary.
If growing livestock is one of the
features of the farm, much attention
should be given to them during the
spring months to get them properly
started grazing. If the grass area il
short, an effort should be made to in-
crease its efficiency by sowing catch
crops.
There are often feed lots about the
farm that, as commonly managed, pro-
duce heavy weed crop to seed the farm
when the manure from the lots is re-
moved to the fields. These lots ty SOW
ing them TO winter rye and clover dur
ing the spring months, can be made Ito
produce large quantities of forage fol
calves and swine, and, if necessary,
heavier stock can be grazed on them.
If on the permanent pastures the sod
has been broken by hogs roofing, OIL
any other cause, the matter may be rem
edied by sowing thickly to clover grass
seed, narrowing down smooth, and roll
ling. This should be done early in the
spring. In many cases. it is a good
plan to SOW clover seed on bluegrass
pastures that are not strong and thick.
ly matted. The clover, il it catches,
will. when it decays, feed the bluegrass
and strengthen it. Clover sown in this
way will often make fine growth.
Seed corn selections should begoa5
over at oppOrtune iimes-that is, mol
in haste-and all Objectionable ears dis.
carded. Then grains should be taken
from average sample ears and tested tC
find their terminating power. 1t does
not pay to take chanc s in this matter
| Nor is it at all satisfactory to sort the
corn stored for tseed Or select from tht
crib and shell and use as needed fol
planting. We much prefer to 8 hell and
store in boxes at our convenience some
days or weeks before planting, and have
it all ready at planting time,
We sometimes SEE field containing
several acres number Of old weather
beaten stumps. They are sc sparsely )
scattered over the field that they looa
lonesome. Still the farmer jerks and
knocks his teams and implements about
them, much TO the iatter's injury and
the ruffilng Of bis temper. The early
spring is good time to take tbese
stumps OUT. 1t is often harder to gel
started to work on stump than it is to
remove it, but the farmer who once
makes an honset start in this direction,
and loarns the bene6tderiyej from such
work, will usually continue till his Gelds
are clear of all Instructions.
1t shoul lie the sim, during the earIy
spring, to get all the manure possible
out on the cultivated fields. II it can
not be put on the cultivated fields, il il
bstter to put it on the pastures 10 d