750 HOW TO MAKE THE FARM PAY. 



of a mild day is exceedingly beneficial. And if the snow is off, an 

 hour's nibble at the grass will do more to keep the system in good 

 condition than any nostrums, such as tar, alum, etc. Especially 

 on the ewes with "lambs this short hour of relaxation, whenever 

 the weather will permit, is of incalculable benefit 



MARCH WORK. 



Head loork is better than hand icoi^k. Head work often saves 

 hand xcork. Head loork always makes hand work more efficient. 

 The difference between ''farmer thrifty^'' and "farmer behind- 

 hand^^ is nine times out often in head work. Carefully laid plans 

 seldom fail ; hap-hazard plans seldom succeed. 



General Work. — Buildings may be repaired and painted inside 

 or ou*^^. As soon as settUc^ spring weather comes, cellars should 

 be cleaned out and white-washed, sinks and drains opened and 

 cleaned, foundations examined and repaired if moved by the frost. 

 Replace fences, stone walls, foundations of buildings, gate-posts, 

 etc., heaved b}^ the frost. Set fences, and repair them wherever 

 they need it. Dip posts in gas tar, and roll in sand before setting. 

 Pick up stones loosened by the frost ; blast and haul off or bury 

 heavy ones out of the way of the plow. Plow as soon as the 

 ground is dry. Sow spring grains as soon as it is warm. Put in 

 a crop of peas, or peas and oats. Peas alone, in drills, on good 

 soil, will be off in time to plow for wheat, or for turnips to follow'. 

 Cut biennial weeds, docks, thistles, etc. Grub up fence rows and 

 corners where shrubs or briers have got a start. 



If you have never done it before, do not neglect this spring to 

 grade your barn j-ard to one corner or to the centre, and sink an 

 oil butt or hogsaead lo save the liquid manure The urine of your 

 animals is worth just as much as the solid droppings. When you 

 can afford to throw these away then 3'ou can afford to allow the 

 urine to run to waste, 'and not till then. 



Harrowing and Rolling meadows and winter wheat, as soon 

 as the frost is out, is an operation that pays. The ordinary long- 

 toothed harrow should not be used, but a harrow for this especial 

 purpose, with a large number of short, fine teeth. 



The roots of grains and grasses are raised to the surface by the 

 constant and severe freezings of winter. By passing the roller 

 over the field in the spring, the roots are pressed down into the 

 soil, so that the}' can at once take hold and grow. It is frequentl}' 

 the case that the use of the roller in wheat fields and meadows in 

 the spring will apparently double the number and size of the 

 plants. 



Spring Wieaf. — On underdrained land that has been thoroughly 

 plowed in the fall, spring wheat can be sowed, as soon as the frost 

 IS out, two or three inches deep. It will only need harrowing and 



