THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



353 



the opening and exposure of the heaps, is now 

 recommenced and very slowly carried on by the 

 warmth and moisture at the surface. The ammo- 

 nia thus formed is absorbed by the litter above it, 

 and washed down by every shower into contact, 

 and combines chemically with the humus at the 

 surface, or with the soil itself. But bear in mind, 

 that when these frequent removals are made, we 

 never find the heaps in such a state of putrefac- 

 tion as when we postpone to some one allotted 

 time, and therefore never have so much free am- 

 monia to deal with. A very large proportion of 



the manure never begins to rot before it is re- 

 moved. By this plan, moreover, we take favoura- 

 ble opportunities for hauling, and may carry out 

 much of the manure in damp or moderately rainy 

 weather, when the showers will wash the ready- 

 formed ammonia immediately into the soil. 



We have thus undertaken to show that the 

 practice of manuring on the surface is not incon- 

 sistent with admitted chemical principles, when 

 properly applied ; and we submit the exjilanation 

 to the judgment of practical men, familiar with the 

 processes of farm management. — American Farmer. 



CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. 



The sowing of all grain crops must now be 

 finished as fast as possible, and also lucerne and 

 flax-seed. Finish the preparation of grass meadow 

 lands ; sow vetches and grass seeds on wheat and 

 barley tilths. The surface of wheat lands will be 

 rough and stale ; harrow it before sowing the grass 

 seeds, and again after the seeds are sown, and roll 

 with a heavy weight. 



Prepare as quickly as possible the green crop 

 lands, and towards the end of the month sow beet- 

 root in drills well dunged, and twenty-eight inches 

 apart ; steep the seeds in weak solutions, and dry 

 with quicklime. Plant potatoes in drills thirty 

 inches apart, and well dunged with farm-yard 

 manure in a half-putrescent state ; use strong sets 

 of tubers newly cut, very moist manure, and in a 

 large quantity; cover the drills quickly, and roll 

 them down. Before the land is drilled, spread pul- 

 verized lime evenly on the surface, in two hundred 

 bushels to an acre, and harrow it immediately, or 

 strew the cinders evenly over the] ground, and the 

 subsequent workings of the land will mix the lime, 

 which will be powdered by the dampness of the 

 soil. This mode requires an earlier application 

 than the old way; but it must be more beneficial 

 by reason of the damp and moist exhalations that 

 will be evolved during the dissolution of the hot 

 cinders of lime. 



Early crops will now require both horse and 

 hand-hoeing, as carrots, lucerne, wheat, beans, and 

 peas. 



Paring and burning of lands will now proceed 

 vigorously. Burn the turfs moderately in a black 

 scorched mass, as in that state carbonaceous mat- 

 ter most largely abounds. It is the best method 

 yet known for bringing into cultivation all lands 

 that contain much fibrous, inert, and ligneous mat- 

 ters. 



Burn, for application by the drop drill, rough, 

 earthy, and vegetable substances, found on road- 

 sides and on ditch banks ; also peat, and all com- 

 bustible matters; the ashes will raise crops of 

 turnips. 



Rye, and watered meadows, winter vetches and 

 barley, will now be ready for soiling cattle in the 

 yards, and for being consumed on the ground by 

 ewes and lambs. The food is best used by being 

 cut and placed in racks, which are regularly moved 

 over the ground. Fold the sheep nightly on the 

 cleared space, allowing in the fold two square 



yards to each animal, and two nights in one place. 

 All bare grounds and inferior grass lands may 

 be much improved by the folding of sheep upon 

 them. 



The lambing season will now draw to a 

 close. When beet-root and cabbages fail as food 

 for the ewes, give oats, and bruised oilcake mixed, 

 and with a portion of salt. Remove the strong 

 lambs to the pasture fields. 



Attend to the milch cows and to the suckling of 

 calves ; give the former an ample allowance of 

 juicy food, natural or prepared ; to the latter as 

 much milk as the animals can drink. When begun 

 to be weaned, at the end of sixteen weeks, give 

 them in racks in the calf-pens young vetches, 

 bruised cake, bean and barley meals boiled, and 

 linseed jellies. Place a lump of chalk and rock salt 

 to be licked ; the latter substance will quicken the 

 action of the digestive organs, and the former will 

 correct the crude acidities of the stomach. 



The last remaining fatting bullocks will be sold 

 during this month ; use oil-cake in finishing off 

 the animals : the most backward in condition must 

 go to grass. 



The season of curing bacon being over, all pigs 

 on hand must go on for summer stores, and come 

 in for early winter fattening. The earliest fat 

 lambs will now come in for sale. 



During wet weather, carry all the dung from the 

 cattle yard to the heaps in the fields, and litter 

 the yards afresh for the summer soiling of cattle 

 and horses. 



Prepare by ploughing, harrowing, and rolling, 

 the fallows for green crops, keeping most forward 

 the portion to be sown with Swedish turnips next 

 month. Plough clay lands for wheat fallows, and 

 dung across the winter furrows with narrow slices. 



SOAPSUDS.— In days that once were, the soapsuds 

 went to the gutter as regularly as the washing-day was 

 ended ; and there are too many who allow tlie plan to be 

 followed in the present d»y. All do not yet seem to havo 

 learned that a tiib''ull of strong soapsuds is worih as much, 

 as a fertilizer, as a wheelbarrow of good manure. Now 

 every bucket of soapsuds should be thrown where it will 

 not be lost. The garden is a good and convenient place in 

 which to dispose of it ; but the roots of grape-vines, young 

 trees, or anything of the sort, will do as well. 



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