Norwich bulletin., 1914-12-10

The annual meeting held Saturday, at which the reports of officers, elec- ton of officers and new business was taken up, proved to be one of inter est, and shows that the movement is growing. over 20 new members were taken in. This brings the member ship up to considerably over 300 mem bers. Hampden County league in Massachusetts at the end of the first year had just about the same number. This year they have s44 members and undoubtedly got many more during their annual meeting. New London county has 3.010 farms listed. We want member from each of these farms. and it is our firm belief that we can be of benefit to all
 The question of legislation was brought up Saturday, and it Is our purpose to present bill to our com ing legislature similar to the one passed last year in Massachusetts This bill is called the county league bill It enables the county commis- sioners to ask the general court to appropriate a sum equal to that raised from all other sources by such organ izations as the league for the purpose of improving farm conditions and country life in way similar to that now carried on by the league. With the cooperation of the county com missioners, our members. the grangers and others. we should be able to get this bill passed here in Connecticut without much difficulty. It will allow much more work to be accomplished and also encourage the other counties in our state to take the work up. This matter will soon. be brought to the sentatives and senators for their ac- tion.
 Plan Next Years Rotations.
 The winter months, when all work is at a standstill, is the time to plan your work for the next year. Make Q rough map of your farm and decide what you are going to put on each piece. It takes so many acres to fill your silo, you need so many tons of hay to carry the stock through, you want to plant so many acres to a cash crop. All of this can easily be plan- ned now. so that the year will be started with a definite plan in view. Time, money and energy will be saved by doing this.
 Spread Your Manure Now.
 Occasionally we see manure put out on the fields now in little heaps and there left for weeks and perhaps months. Now if one will give it but a moments thought it will be seen that this is not the best way to do. Manure hauled out now and left till spring will have much of the goodness leach ed out and settled into the ground di- rectly under the pile. This will cause the crop next year to be very uneven, heavy in snots where it will lodge in case of grasses. The best way to do is to spread it on the land as fast as it Is made. This minimizes the labor cost. the loss by teaching is very low and the land is all ready to blow in the spring. In top dressing the hay land 1t is not expected that the grass will respond to the fertilizer very satisfac- torily if there is not the root system to furnish the grass. This only pays good farming, however, to apply ma nure on sod that is to be turned over next year for corn. etc.
 Mound the Trees.
 Much harm is apt to be done during the winter by mice and rabbits gird- ling the trees, especially the young ones. This makes precautionary meas ures necessary. If a little mound of dirt Is thrown up against the tree il will generally prevent this injury. The early snows, too. may be packed down around the trees, which will have a tendency to prevent the mice working in the stubble. Wire bands are prob- farmers time to do some one of these during the early winter months
 Pruning Fruit Trees.
 The average farmer and fruit grow CT has very little conception of the proper pruning of fruit trees. It is generally done at any time during the winter months, when the tree is dor mant, and if no time presents itself 1t is left over to another year. While it is essential to prune, nevertheless it is perhaps best to wait till the latter part of February or March. after the coldest weather has passed, to do the heaviest pruning Trees should be regularly pruned. regardless of the amount of pruning required. If prun- ing is done every year the tree will get into the habit of bearing a certain amount of wood and fruit, and there is little occasion for severe pruning. If the pruning during the first three or four years of an orchard after plant be little subsequent need for removing large branches.
 The pruning will then consist merely of the removal of superduous shoots or branches that interiace, and this kind of pruning does not upset or dis turb the growth and fruiting of the trees. Winter pruning should prefera- ply be delayed till March. During De- eember and January it Is often disas- trous in many sections, as the wounds are apt to crack from the cold and thus make lodging places for diseases. Further, the wounds made at this time win not heal over so rapidly. while if the pruning is done late in the season 1t will heal as soon as the growth starts. If the removal of large branches is necessary, they should be painted, using heavy lead paint. Se- were pruning in the winter also tends
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