1859. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



107 



some of the things that she must not shift oflF 

 upon April oi* May — and first, because of the 

 first importance — 



i»Ianures. — There should be as much pride 

 with the farmer to keep everything systematic and 

 neat, as with the merchant to keep his store so, 

 or the captain the deck of his ship, or the me- 

 chanic his shop and tools ; for thrift usually fol- 

 lows neatness and systematic industry. 



In order to preserve these appearances upon 

 the farm, we think as much of the manure should 

 be hauled to the fields in the month of March, 

 as can conveniently be done. There will be lit- 

 tle or no loss while it freezes and remains so, and 

 as soon as the ground thaws it may be slightly 

 covered. Here it is, on the field where it is to 

 be used, and where twice or three times as much 

 can be applied to the soil in a day, as could be 

 done if it were to be taken from the barn-yard 

 or cellar. The finer it can be reduced, the morej 

 prompt will belts action, and larger the crop,i 

 other things being equal. In order to effect this, 

 as soon as the frost will permit, work over, pul- 

 verize and mingle the mass, returning it into a 

 well-rounded compact pile. Leave two or three 

 small, long stakes inserted in it, and occasionally 

 draw these up and notice by their warmth how 

 far fermentation has gone on, — as nothing more 

 than a gentle heat should be allowed to take 

 place. A manure heap in this condition, mingled 

 two to four inches deep in moist, porous soil, 

 cannot fail to produce favorable results. 



The Stock. — Milch cows will need especial 

 care, as if they become thin and weak, it will 

 take until near midsummer to get them into vig- 

 orous condition for the dairy. 



Calves should be generously treated. It is 

 thought by some that an early stunt is a stunt 

 for life; however that may be, it is clear that if 

 a calf once loses its healthy and vigorous habit j 

 of growth, it requires much time and high feed-| 

 ing to restore it to its oi'iginal condition. 



Sheep. — Bring to their yard, pine, hemlock, 

 black birch and other branches from the woods,] 

 and they will be "much obliged to ye." A lit-j 

 tie better feed than usual will strengthen them,! 

 and be of much service to the lambs. Liberal | 

 feed to them of the best kinds of fodder, will 

 afford the highest profit. 



Flax. — We have not forgotten the sunny days 

 in the open barn floor in February and March, 

 when the eaves were dripping, the bundles of 

 flax drying in the sun, and when the clatter of the 

 "brake" and the "swingling knife" merrily wore 

 away the day. In this region, the terms used 

 in speaking of the processes of getting out flax, 

 would scarcely be understood, so much has the 

 cultivation of this article fallen into decay. But 

 among some of our readers, the scene to which 



we have alluded must still be a familiar and 

 pleasant and profitable one. Let the flax be 

 broken, swingled and hatcheled or combed, be- 

 fore April, or it may become an unwelcome task. 



Wood. — A calm contentment is the crowning 

 glory of the family. What will more directly 

 tend to this than a wood-house filled with sea- 

 soned oak, maple, beech or birch, fitted for the 

 hearth or stove where it is intended to use it? 

 Not anything. It needs no suggestion of ours 

 to convince you that a good husband will pro- 

 vide this before planting time, if he can, and so 

 we will not suggest it. But we urge the pres- 

 ervation of peace in the family, if it does require 

 dry wood ! 



Watek. — As the hart panteth after the water- 

 brook, so does a neat, systematic housewife for 

 an abundance of pure, soft water. This is not 

 always to be found in wells, or to be brought by 

 aqueducts ; but every person who has a roof, may 

 have soft water. Make a cistern in the cellar, 

 either above or below ground, and conduct the 

 water from the roofs into it. This will be found 

 cheaper than lugging water from the brook, or 

 wasting soap to bring hard water into a condi- 

 tion fit for use. A plenty of pure, soft water in 

 the family, is a wonderful promoter of the vir- 

 tues and graces too ! 



All these things, and many more, are the prop- 

 er work for March — how can they be omitted, 

 without detriment to the business of the other 

 months ? 



F'>r the New England Farmer. 

 BOARDS OF AGRICULTURE FOB STATE, 

 TOWJSr OR COUNTY. 



What have they done, or what are they now 

 doing ? This is a fair inquiry, suggested by Lhe 

 perusal of his Excellency's address to the Legi- 

 lature. Among the expenses of the State, he er.a- 

 merates $12,000 annual payment to sustain the-e 

 boards. What is the benefit of this? To i^e 

 sure, certain gentlemen are prominent in oflUce, by 

 these organizations ; some are Presidents, some 

 Treasurers, some Trustees, &c. &c., all gratuitous- 

 ly, of course, except the consequence attached to 

 the title. But if no other benefit accrues, it is 

 hardly expedient to dravr upon the hard earnings 

 of the people for this. Can it be shown that the 

 grounds of the State are better cultivated ? that 

 the products are increased? that the condition 

 of the farmer is improved thereby ? that the well- 

 being of the community is improved thereby ? if 

 so, then we say, God speed the enterprise. Man 

 is a social being, and will often do in connection 

 wi;^ others what he would not presume to at- 

 tempt alone. This is illustrated in every benev- 

 olent eff'ort ; and why may it not be, when our 

 own good is the ol)ject of this effort ? We have 

 recently read with interest tlie doings of the B' ard 

 of Agriculture in the State of Maine ; and should 

 be pleased to see our own Boards giving as gooji 

 an account of themselves. 



Januanj, 1859. A Massachusetts Man. 



