The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1902-01-18
Farm Notes.
SPRING PREPARATIONS.

The early spring is the busy season.
Spring may come in March $50 far as
conditions for working the soil are con-
cerned) or it may not begin before May,
but this is the season of the year when
preparations should be made for the
spring operations. One of the annoy
ances of farmers when they are ready to
plant is that the seeds are not on hand
for the purpose. As Il rule this is due to
the negligence of the farmer himself. who
is disposed to postpone procuring his
seeds until he is ready for them, only to
lind that the scotsman is then pressed
with orders and cannot forward the
goods promptly. Every one who contem-
plates beginning spring work as soon rs
the weather permits should procure all
seeds, tools and other supplies before the
busy period arrives.
The weeds will be the first crops, but us
weeds are natures soil restorers it will
pay to utilize them. There is nothing
worthless that grows on the farm, as
everything can be utilized in some man
ner. The weed that comes up spontan-
eously takes fertility from the soil but in
so doing it prepares the materials derived
from the soil into available substances
for the next plant that follows; hence,
when the weed is plowed under the soil
is that much richer in available food for
plants. 1t is true that weeds are expen-
sivc, because they entail much labor upon
the farmer in their eradication, but they
perform a service on some soils that is
exceedingly beneficial. as sterile lands
would continue unproductivc but for the
weeds that thrive on such soils. many
weeds being capable of thriving where
no other plants can exist Not only by
turning under the weeds in the fields can
the farmer derive benefit. but it is dur
ing this month and the next that he
should give particular attention to his
manure heap. All materials accumulat-
ed on the farm. whether in the cold or
ments, and when the waste materials are
added to the manure heap the farmer is
then manufacturing fertilizers on the
farm without mourning transportation
expenses.
The work done on the farm just before
the busy spring planting begins is very
important if proper consideration is
given the matter of saving that which is
usually lost by inattention to details The
great waste of unsuitable farm products
amounts to millions of dollars annually.
AOG w llbl SttIH 10 ullutGSluIlu
that it is not always necessary to send
produce away from the farms in order to
find markets. The farm is the best mar
ket, i'll fact, that Il farmer can have, for
IL he keeps live stock he will be able to
Sell his raw products by converting them
into the forms of meat milk, butter and
wool. The difficulty is that the waste
products on the farms are not properly
utilized. One product, that of corn fod-
der, has been wasted for years, though
now it is being put to use with the aid of
the shredder, but it is in the manipulation
and handling of the manure and weeds
that the lesSening Of expense occurs. If
at this season the manure could be work
ed over, so as to be rendered fine, there
would be Il gain N available plant food
whcn the manure is spread on the land
in the spring; that is. the farmer should
not wait for the manure to decompose il,
the field. but should endeavor to hasten
the work in the manure heap during this
period OF the year, as he can now do
little or nothing i'll the fields.