462 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. 



Finish the sowing of wheat if any remains undone 

 from last month. Take up Swedish turnips, store 

 the roots at the homestead, and give the tops to 

 sheep in the fields, or to young cattle in the yards. 



Flood water meadows ; clean out, and put into 

 proper order for use, the main channels and con- 

 veying gutters, and the sluices of flooding gates. 



Begin to cut underwoods, plant forest trees, open- 

 ditch plantations, repair old fences, and raise new 

 ones, cast open ditches, and repair roads. 



Thresh grains regularly, in order to supply the 

 animals with straws and the yards with litter. Cut 

 chaflf of hay and straw mixed, for the horses, the 

 fattening bullocks that are tied up, and for being 

 steamed for the milch cows. Apply all litters to 

 the yards thinly and evenly, and spread over the 

 surface all substances of diflferent qualities for the 

 purpose of being mixed. 



Supply to the cattle in the yards, by break of 

 day, an ample feed of turnips, rooted and topped 

 for the fattening animals, and with the tops attached 

 for the other sorts of cattle. Timber cribs with 

 latticed bottoms suit best, as the filth and rain- 

 water escape freely downwards. The turnips should 



be all eaten up by night, to prevent accidents from 

 choking that may happen unseen. Give to milch 

 cows cabbages and beet root, and one feed daily of 

 steamed meats. Continue the feeding of sheep as 

 directed last month. The animals may be folded 

 over-night on the bared ground in mild climates, 

 but in boisterous latitudes they are allowed to run 

 for shelter. 



Feed swine as directed last month, give ample 

 littering, and keep the animals dry and warm. 

 Feed poultry with light grains, and with steamed 

 potatoes and meals mixed, and placed in troughs 

 under a shelter-shed in the poultry yard. 



Attend to the feeding of young horses in the 

 farm-yard. Provide a regular supply of fresh 

 water in a trough, and a convenient and dry shelter- 

 shed; give hay and straw, chaff, bran, and oats, 

 with a feed once a day of raw or steamed roots. 

 The first winter's keep has a very great share in 

 making good animals. 



Begin to plough stubbles, and follow with the 

 subsoil plough in deep lands. Prepare by fallow- 

 ing the lands intended for the early spring green 

 crops, so long as the weather will permit. 



CALENDAR OF GARDENING. 



Kitchen Garden. 



Artichokes: Protect the plants by mulch or 

 masses of leaves, after removing all the stalks and 

 decayed foliage. Dig roots for temporary supply 

 of the so-called Jerusalem artichoke. Store all 

 the potatoes, carefully observing the condition as 

 to soundness or decay. Keep the store very dry. 



Broccoli and cauliflower in the open ground 

 should be laid down, and be guarded with a cover- 

 ing of dry earth laid close over the stems. 



Carrots : Dig and store, also beet root and some 

 parsnip. 



Celery : Finish earthing if frost threatens ; cover 

 the ridges and tops with dry haulm. 



Endive : Tie Up some plants, and remove others 

 to dry frames for bleaching. 



Lettuce in frames : Give air to occasionally. Do 

 the same by radish and salads. 



Fruit Department. 

 Prune the apple and pear trees or espaliers in 



the spurs during mild weather ; general pruning is 

 well done in February. 



Raspberries may be tie'' by filet cord neatly to 

 stakes, six rods to eac , stopping at an angle 

 towards the north, or to a neat open trellis ; ex- 

 posing the next year's growing canes to the sun. 

 Too much crowding is produced by the per- 

 pendicular and confined tying to stakes. 



Flower Garden. 



Tulips, hyacinths, jonquils, &c. : Plant in rich 

 sandy beds; open the holes neatly : place the bulbs 

 an inch or two deep, carefully observing to cover 

 every part with surrounding earth. Move a few 

 herbaceous plants, roughly fork the surface of beds, 

 and scatter decayed leaf-mould and old cow-dung 

 over it. Observe neatness and order everywhere. 



Pits, frames, and other erections, with semi-« 

 hardy plants, should be kept as dry as possible, 

 and aired at every convenient opportunity. Dry 

 sawdust is a fine material to plunge in, as it guards 

 the mould effectually. 



