Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-04-05

Spring is the busiest season of the
year on the farm. AS soon as the
ground is dry enough to work there are
a multitude of things to do. Many of
these cannot be delayed without lessen
/ ing the value of future crops. Oats and
spring wheat must be sown, early pota-
toes and other early vegetables planted,
cornstalkS cut and the plough started
to prepare the corn ground, and trees
aud all kinds of nursery stock must be
planted. 1t is impossible to do all these
! things in season. Some are done too
| late and some are never done at all.
Ii is of great Importance that all farm
work be done at the proper time. Oc-
casionally piece of work is done too
soon, but oftener it is done too late.
| One of the Surest marks of the poor
| farmer is being behind with his work.
| He gets his crops in late i'll the spring
and never seems able to catch up with
\ his work the rest of the year, winter
/ finding him unprepared for its coming.
The way to keep farm work well in
| hand and keep from getting behind is to
get started early in the spring, bearing
in mind the proverb about the early
bird. However, one should not get I'M
patient waiting for spring TO "open up
and "mud in" crop before the ground
is dry enough to work well. The secret
lies in having the work all planned and
everything ready, so that the seeding
and other work can be rushed through
lust as soon as the weather and ground
are tit.
Right here is where so many of us fall
down" We wait with great impatience
for spring TO come, and then when 1t
does come it finds us unprepared. Some
machines won't work and others won't
scour; many things we intended to get
we find we have forgotten. Precious
time is spent in attending TO these de-
tails, and soon an unfayorable spell of
weather comes and finds us with our
oats still in the bin when they should be
in the ground. When the next spell OF
nice weather comes it is too late, and
the unwelcome thought comes that we
are behind with our work. Many OF US
never catch up again strive as we may.
Now is the time to plan the spring
campaign so it can be pushed forward
successfully. Now is the time to solve
the complex problems which confront
every farmer. After deciding exactly
what work is to be done, and what is
needed To do it in the best manner, we
should make every possible preparation
before the season opens. There is much
more time now than there will be then
WHY wait until work begins before bay
ing needed machinery, implements, har-
ness, seeds and such things: Time is
precious then, aud every minute is need
ed in the field. Buy the seeder, drill
and other implements needed, and see
that they are in good working order
now. Get out the p!Oughs and cultivat-
ors and see if they are ready for busi-
ness. If the shovel needs repointing or
the plow a new share, or either needs
polishing, have it attended to now.
why wait until the blacksmithS are so
rushed with work that your job must
wait a day or two? Two trips must
often be made when We can ill afford to
lose the time.
II is always well to buy field, grass
and garden seeds several weeks before
needed This year it is especially i'm
portant, for there is shortage OF many
kinds of seeds. Not only is it important
TO buy seeds early for the above reasons,
but in order To test their terminating
power. This is especially true of grass
seed, and still more especially of blue
grass seed, much of which is practical
ly worthless, being very difficult to cure
without injuring its vitality. So is cane
seed
The farmer who is in the habit OF
growing smatty oats should learn how
the spores of smut may be destroyed,
and be ready to treat his seed oats before
sowing. The same may be said of treat
ING potatoes for scab. Read up on these
subjects; buy some formalin and corro-
sive sublimate and be ready to wage war
fare on the dirty scab and smut germs.
OF course you have made out your
order for nursery stock. Get the trees
and plants as soon as possible, and heel
them in. Then they can be planted at
the first opportunity. This can often be
done on damp, cloudy days which are
| unsuited to field work, and thus utilize
time which would otherwise be lost.
Farmers who depend on going direct to
the nursery often wait until other spring
work is done before getting their trees
and plants. That is the cheapest time
| to buy, but the poorest time to plant
| Cor. in Tribune Farmer.